Public Act 93-0262

HB1475 Enrolled                      LRB093 09906 BDD 10156 b

    AN ACT concerning port districts.

    Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:

    Section  1.  Short  title.  This  Act may be cited as the
Heart of Illinois Regional Port District Act.

    Section 5.  Definitions. In this Act:
    "Airport" means any locality, either land or water,  that
is  used  or  designed  for  the  landing  and  taking off of
aircraft or for the  location  of  runways,  landing  fields,
airdromes,  hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways,
and other facilities.
    "Board" means Heart of Illinois  Regional  Port  District
Board.
    "District"  means  the  Heart  of  Illinois Regional Port
District created by this Act.
    "Governmental agency" means the United States, the  State
of  Illinois,  any local governmental body, and any agency or
instrumentality, corporate or otherwise, thereof.
    "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.
    "Intermodal" means a type of international freight system
that permits transshipping among sea, highway, rail, and  air
modes  of  transportation  through  use of ANSI/International
Organization  for  Standardization  containers,   line   haul
assets, and handling equipment.
    "Navigable waters" mean any public waters that are or can
be made usable for water commerce.
    "Person"  means any individual, firm, partnership, trust,
corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association,
or  joint  stock  association  and  includes   any   trustee,
receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof.
    "Port  facilities"  mean  all public and other buildings,
structures,  works,  improvements,  and   equipment,   except
terminal  facilities  as  defined  in  this Section, that are
upon, in, over, under, adjacent, or near to navigable waters,
harbors, slips, and basins and that are necessary  or  useful
for or incident to the furtherance of water and land commerce
and  the  operation  of small boats and pleasure craft. "Port
facilities" includes the widening and  deepening  of  basins,
slips,  harbors, and navigable waters. "Port facilities" also
mean  all   lands,   buildings,   structures,   improvements,
equipment,  and  appliances located on district property that
are  used  for  industrial,  manufacturing,  commercial,   or
recreational purposes.
    "Terminal"  means a public place, station, depot, or area
for receiving and delivering articles, commodities,  baggage,
mail,  freight,  or express matter and for any combination of
those purposes in  connection  with  the  transportation  and
movement by water and land of persons and property.
    "Terminal   facilities"   mean   all   lands,  buildings,
structures, improvements, equipment, and appliances useful in
the   operation   of   public   warehouse,    storage,    and
transportation facilities for water and land commerce and for
handling,  docking,  storing,  and  servicing small boats and
pleasure craft.

    Section 10.  Heart of  Illinois  Regional  Port  District
created.  There  is  created  a  political  subdivision, body
politic, and municipal corporation by the name of  the  Heart
of  Illinois  Regional  Port  District embracing all the area
within the corporate  limits  of  Peoria,  Fulton,  Tazewell,
Woodford,  and  Marshall Counties and embracing the corporate
limits of Mason County except for Havana Township.  Territory
may be annexed to the district in the manner provided in this
Act.  The  district may sue and be sued in its corporate name
but execution  shall  not  in  any  case  issue  against  any
property  of  the  district.  It  may adopt a common seal and
change the same at its pleasure.

    Section  15.  Property  of   district;   exemption.   All
property  of  every  kind  belonging to the Heart of Illinois
Regional  Port  District  shall  be  exempt  from   taxation,
provided  that  a  tax  may  be  levied  upon a lessee of the
district by  reason  of  the  value  of  a  leasehold  estate
separate and apart from the fee or upon any improvements that
are constructed and owned by others than the district.
    All  property  of  the  Heart  of  Illinois Regional Port
District shall be construed as  constituting  public  grounds
owned  by  a  municipal  corporation and used exclusively for
public  purposes  within  the  tax  exemption  provisions  of
Sections 15-10, 15-15, 15-20, 15-30, 15-75,  15-140,  15-155,
and 15-160 of the Property Tax Code.

    Section  20.  Duties. The port district shall have all of
the following duties:
    (a)  To study the existing harbor plans within  the  area
of   the   district  and  to  recommend  to  the  appropriate
governmental  agency,  including  the  General  Assembly   of
Illinois, any changes and modifications that may from time to
time  be  required  by  continuing  development  and  to meet
changing business and commercial needs.
    (b)  To make an investigation of  conditions  within  the
area of the district and to prepare and adopt a comprehensive
plan  for  the  development of port facilities and intermodal
facilities for the district. In  preparing  and  recommending
changes  and  modifications  in  existing  harbor  plans or a
comprehensive plan for the development of port facilities and
intermodal  facilities,  the  district  may,  if   it   deems
desirable, set aside and allocate an area or areas within the
lands  held  by it to be used and operated by the district or
leased to  private  parties  for  industrial,  manufacturing,
commercial,  recreational, or harbor purposes, where the area
or areas are not, in the opinion of  the  district,  required
for  its  primary  purposes in the development of intermodal,
harbor, and port facilities for the use of public  water  and
land  transportation,  or  will not be immediately needed for
those purposes, and where the use and  operation  or  leasing
will  in  the  opinion  of  the  district aid and promote the
development of intermodal, terminal, and port facilities.
    (c)  To study and  make  recommendations  to  the  proper
authority   for  the  improvement  of  terminal,  lighterage,
wharfage,  warehousing,  transfer,   and   other   facilities
necessary  for  the promotion of commerce and the interchange
of traffic within, to, and from the district.
    (d)  To  study,  prepare,  and  recommend   by   specific
proposals to the General Assembly changes in the jurisdiction
of the district.
    (e)  To  petition any federal, State, municipal, or local
authority, administrative, judicial, and legislative,  having
jurisdiction  in  the district for the adoption and execution
of any physical improvement,  change  in  method,  system  of
handling   freight,  warehousing,  docking,  lightering,  and
transfer of freight that, in the opinion of the district, may
be designed to improve or better the handling of commerce  in
and   through   the   district   or   improve   terminal   or
transportation facilities within the district.
    (f)  To  foster,  stimulate,  and promote the shipment of
cargoes  and  commerce  through  ports,  whether  originating
within or without the State of Illinois.
    (g)  To  acquire,  construct,  own,  lease,  and  develop
terminals, wharf facilities, piers, docks,  warehouses,  bulk
terminals,  grain  elevators,  tug  boats,  and  other harbor
crafts, and any other port facility or port-related  facility
or service that it finds necessary and convenient.
    (h)  To  perform  any other act or function that may tend
to  or  be  useful  toward  development  and  improvement  of
harbors, sea ports, and port-related facilities and  services
and  to  increase  foreign  and domestic commerce through the
harbors and ports within the port district.
    (i)  To  study  and  make   recommendations   for   river
resources  management  and environmental education within the
district, including  but  not  limited  to,  wetlands  banks,
mitigation  areas,  water  retention and sedimentation areas,
fish hatcheries, or wildlife  sanctuaries,  natural  habitat,
and native plant research.

    Section  25.  Changes  in  harbor  plans. Any changes and
modifications in harbor plans within the  area  of  the  port
district from time to time recommended by the district or any
comprehensive plan for the development of the port facilities
adopted  by the district, under the authority granted by this
Act,  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Department  of   Natural
Resources  for  approval and approval by the Department shall
be conclusive evidence, for all purposes, that these  changes
and modifications conform to the provisions of this Act.

    Section  30.  Rights  and powers. The port district shall
have the following rights and powers:
    (a)  To  issue  permits  for  the  construction  of   all
wharves,   piers,   dolphins,   booms,   weirs,  breakwaters,
bulkheads, jetties, bridges, or other structures of any  kind
over,  under,  in,  or within 40 feet of any navigable waters
within the district; for the deposit of rock, earth, sand, or
other material; or for any matter of any kind or  description
in those waters;
    (b)  To  prevent  or  remove  obstructions, including the
removal of wrecks;
    (c)  To locate and establish  dock  lines  and  shore  or
harbor lines;
    (d)  To  acquire,  own,  construct, sell, lease, operate,
and maintain  port  and  harbor,  water,  and  land  terminal
facilities  and,  subject to the provisions of Section 35, to
operate or contract for the operation  of  those  facilities,
and    to    fix    and   collect   just,   reasonable,   and
non-discriminatory charges, rentals, or fees for the  use  of
those  facilities. The charges, rentals, or fees so collected
shall be made available to defray the reasonable expenses  of
the  district and to pay the principal of and interest on any
revenue bonds issued by the district;
    (e)  To enter into any agreement  or  contract  with  any
airport  for  the  use  of  airport  facilities to the extent
necessary to carry out any of the purposes of the district;
    (f)  To the extent authorized  by  the  Intergovernmental
Cooperation  Act, to enter into any agreements with any other
public agency of this State, including other port districts;
    (g)  To the extent authorized by any interstate  compact,
to  enter  into  agreements  with  any other state or unit of
local government of any other state; and
    (h)  To enter into contracts dealing in any  manner  with
the objects and purposes of this Act.

    Section  35.  Contracts  for  the operation of warehouses
and storage facilities. Any public warehouse or other  public
storage   facility  owned  or  otherwise  controlled  by  the
district shall be operated by persons  under  contracts  with
the  district.  Any contract shall reserve reasonable rentals
or other charges payable to the district  sufficient  to  pay
the cost of maintaining, repairing, regulating, and operating
the  facilities  and  to pay the principal of and interest on
any revenue bonds issued by the district and may contain  any
other  conditions  that may be mutually agreed upon. However,
upon the breach of  a  contract  or  if  no  contract  is  in
existence  as to any facility, the district shall temporarily
operate the facility until a contract for its  operation  can
be negotiated.

    Section   40.  Procedure  for  leases  or  contracts  for
operation of warehouses and storage facilities. All leases or
other contracts for operation  of  any  public  warehouse  or
public  grain  elevator  to  which this Section is applicable
owned or  otherwise  controlled  by  the  district  shall  be
governed  by  the following procedures. Notice shall be given
by the district that bids will be received for the  operation
of the public warehouse or public grain elevator. This notice
shall  state  the  time within which and the place where bids
may be submitted, the time and place of opening of bids,  and
shall  be  published  not  more than 30 days nor less than 15
days in advance of the first day for the submission  of  bids
in any one or more newspapers designated by the district that
have  a  general  circulation within the district. The notice
shall specify sufficient data of the  proposed  operation  to
enable  bidders  to  understand  the  scope of the operation;
provided, however, that contracts that by  their  nature  are
not   adapted  to  award  by  competitive  bidding,  such  as
contracts for the services of individuals possessing  a  high
degree  of  personal  skill,  contracts  for  the purchase or
binding of magazines, books, periodicals, pamphlets, reports,
and similar articles, and contracts for utility services such
as water, light, heat, telephone, or telegraph, shall not  be
subject  to  the  competitive  bidding  requirements  of this
Section, but may not be awarded without the affirmative  vote
of 3/5ths of the Board.
    The   Board  may,  by  ordinance,  promulgate  reasonable
regulations prescribing the qualifications of the bidders  as
to  experience,  adequacy  of  equipment, ability to complete
performance  within  the  time  set,  and  other  factors  in
addition to financial responsibility, and may, by  ordinance,
provide for suitable performance guaranties to qualify a bid.
Copies  of  all  regulations  shall  be made available to all
bidders.
    The district may determine in advance the minimum  rental
that  should  be  produced  by the public warehouse or public
grain elevator offered and, if no qualified bid will  produce
the minimum rental, all bids may be rejected and the district
shall then readvertise for bids. If after the readvertisement
no  responsible  and satisfactory bid within the terms of the
advertisement is received, the district may then negotiate  a
lease  for  not  less  than  the  amount of minimum rental so
determined. If, after negotiating for a lease as provided  in
this  Section,  it  is  found necessary to revise the minimum
rental to be produced by the facilities  offered  for  lease,
then  the  district  shall  again  readvertise  for  bids, as
provided in this Section, before negotiating a lease.
    If the district  shall  temporarily  operate  any  public
warehouse or public grain elevator as provided in Section 35,
the  temporary operation shall not continue for more than one
year without advertising for bids for the  operation  of  the
facility as provided in this Section.

    Section  45.  Obligations for expenses not to be incurred
until appropriations made. Unless and until the revenues from
operations conducted by the district are adequate to meet all
expenditures or unless and until otherwise determined  by  an
act of the General Assembly, the district shall not incur any
obligations  for salaries, office, or administrative expenses
before the making of appropriations to meet those expenses.

    Section 50.  Acquisition of property.
    (a)  The district shall have power to acquire and  accept
by  purchase,  lease,  gift,  grant, or otherwise any and all
real property, whether a fee  simple  absolute  or  a  lesser
estate,  and  personal  property either within or without its
corporate limits or any right that  may  be  useful  for  its
purposes  and  to  provide  for  the  development of adequate
channels,  ports,  harbors,   terminals,   port   facilities,
intermodal  facilities,  and  terminal facilities adequate to
serve the needs of commerce within the district. The district
shall have the right to grant easements and permits  for  the
use  of any real property, rights of way, or privileges that,
in the opinion of the Board, will not interfere with the  use
of  the  district's  property by the district for its primary
purposes and  the  easements  and  permits  may  contain  any
conditions and retain any interest therein that may be deemed
for the best interest of the district by the Board.
    (b)  Any   property   or  facility  shall  be  leased  or
operated, if at all, only by 2 or more unrelated  contracting
parties  in  parcels that are as nearly equal in all respects
as practicable unless the Board determines that it is in  the
best  interest  of  the  district  to  lease  the property or
facility to a single contracting party.
    The district, subject  to  the  public  bid  requirements
prescribed in Section 40 with respect to public warehouses or
public grain elevators, may lease to others for any period of
time not to exceed 99 years upon any terms that the Board may
determine  any  of  its  real  property,  rights  of  way, or
privileges, any interest therein, or  any  part  thereof  for
industrial,   manufacturing,   commercial,  recreational,  or
harbor purposes, that is in  the  opinion  of  the  Board  no
longer  required  for its primary purposes in the development
of port, intermodal, and harbor facilities or that may not be
immediately needed for those purposes. Where the leases  will
in  the  opinion of the Board aid and promote those purposes,
and in conjunction with those leases, the district may  grant
rights  of  way  and  privileges  across  the property of the
district,  which  rights  of  way  and  privileges   may   be
assignable  and  irrevocable during the term of any lease and
may include the right to  enter  upon  the  property  of  the
district  to  do  any  things  that  may be necessary for the
enjoyment of the leases, rights of way,  and  privileges  and
the leases may contain any conditions and retain any interest
that  may  be deemed for the best interest of the district by
the Board.
    With respect to any and all leases, easements, rights  of
way,  privileges,  and  permits made or granted by the Board,
the Board may agree upon and collect  the  rentals,  charges,
and  fees  that  may  be  deemed for the best interest of the
district by the Board. The rentals, charges, and  fees  shall
be used to defray the reasonable expenses of the district and
to  pay  the  principal  of and interest on any revenue bonds
issued by the district.
    (c)  The district may dedicate to the public for  highway
purposes  any  of its real property and those dedications may
be subject  to  any  conditions  and  the  retention  of  any
interest  that  may  be  deemed  for the best interest of the
district by the Board.
    (d)  The district may sell, convey, or operate any of its
buildings, structures, or  other  improvements  located  upon
district  property that may be deemed in the best interest of
the district by the Board.

    Section  55.  Grants,  loans,  and  appropriations.   The
district  has power to apply for and accept grants, loans, or
appropriations from the federal government or any  agency  or
instrumentality  thereof  or  the  State  of  Illinois or any
agency or instrumentality thereof to be used for any  of  the
purposes of the district and to enter into any agreement with
the  federal government, the State of Illinois, or any agency
or instrumentality thereof in relation to the grants,  loans,
or appropriations.

    Section  60.  Foreign  trade  zones  and  sub-zones.  The
district  has power to apply to the proper authorities of the
United States of America under the appropriate  law  for  the
right  to  establish,  operate,  maintain,  and lease foreign
trade zones and sub-zones  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the
United  States  Customs  Service  and  to establish, operate,
maintain, and lease the foreign trade zones and sub-zones.

    Section 65.  Insurance contracts. The district has  power
to procure and enter into contracts for any type of insurance
and  indemnity  against  loss  or damage to property from any
cause, including loss of use and occupancy, against death  or
injury  of  any person, against employers' liability, against
any act of any member, officer, or employee of the  Board  or
of  the  district  in the performance of the duties of his or
her office or employment or any other insurable risk.

    Section 70.  Borrowing money; revenue bonds.
    (a)  The district has  the  continuing  power  to  borrow
money   for   the   purpose   of   acquiring,   constructing,
reconstructing, extending, operating, or improving terminals,
terminal   facilities,   intermodal   facilities,   and  port
facilities; for acquiring any property and  equipment  useful
for the construction, reconstruction, extension, improvement,
or   operation   of   its   terminals,  terminal  facilities,
intermodal facilities, and port facilities; and for acquiring
necessary cash working funds. For the purpose  of  evidencing
the  obligation  of the district to repay any money borrowed,
the district may, by ordinances adopted  by  the  Board  from
time  to  time,  issue  and  dispose  of its interest bearing
revenue bonds, notes, or certificates and may also from  time
to  time  issue  and  dispose of its interest bearing revenue
bonds, notes, or certificates to refund any bonds, notes,  or
certificates  at  maturity  or by redemption provisions or at
any time before maturity with  the  consent  of  the  holders
thereof.
    (b)  All  bonds, notes, and certificates shall be payable
solely from the revenues or income to  be  derived  from  the
terminals,  terminal  facilities,  intermodal facilities, and
port facilities or any part thereof; may  bear  any  date  or
dates; may mature at any time or times not exceeding 40 years
from their respective dates; may bear interest at any rate or
rates payable semiannually; may be in any form; may carry any
registration  privileges;  may be executed in any manner; may
be payable at any place or places; may  be  made  subject  to
redemption  in any manner and upon any terms, with or without
premium  that  is  stated  on  the  face  thereof;   may   be
authenticated  in  any  manner; and may contain any terms and
covenants as may be provided in the ordinance. The holder  or
holders  of  any  bonds,  notes,  certificates,  or  interest
coupons  appertaining  to  the bonds, notes, and certificates
issued by the district may bring civil actions to compel  the
performance  and  observance  by  the  district or any of its
officers, agents, or employees of any  contract  or  covenant
made  by the district with the holders of those bonds, notes,
certificates, or interest coupons and to compel the  district
and  any of its officers, agents, or employees to perform any
duties required to  be  performed  for  the  benefit  of  the
holders  of  any  bonds,  notes,  certificates,  or  interest
coupons  by  the provision in the ordinance authorizing their
issuance, and to enjoin the district and any of its officers,
agents, or employees from taking any action in conflict  with
any such contract or covenant, including the establishment of
charges,  fees,  and  rates  for  the  use  of  facilities as
provided in this Act. Notwithstanding the form and  tenor  of
any  bonds,  notes, or certificates and in the absence of any
express recital on the face thereof that it is nonnegotiable,
all  bonds,  notes,  and  certificates  shall  be  negotiable
instruments. Pending the preparation  and  execution  of  any
bonds,  notes,  or  certificates,  temporary bonds, notes, or
certificates may be issued with or without  interest  coupons
as may be provided by ordinance.
    (c)  The  bonds,  notes, or certificates shall be sold by
the corporate authorities of the district in any manner  that
the  corporate  authorities  shall  determine, except that if
issued to bear interest at the minimum rate permitted by  the
Bond  Authorization Act, the bonds shall be sold for not less
than par and accrued interest and  except  that  the  selling
price  of  bonds  bearing  interest  at  a rate less than the
maximum rate permitted in that Act shall  be  such  that  the
interest  cost to the district of the money received from the
bond  sale  shall  not  exceed  such  maximum  rate  annually
computed to absolute maturity of said bonds  or  certificates
according to standard tables of bond values.
    (d)  From  and  after  the  issue of any bonds, notes, or
certificates as provided in this Section,  it  shall  be  the
duty  of the corporate authorities of the district to fix and
establish rates, charges, and fees for the use of  facilities
acquired,  constructed,  reconstructed, extended, or improved
with the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds,  notes,
or  certificates  sufficient at all times with other revenues
of the district, if any, to pay (i) the cost of  maintaining,
repairing,  regulating, and operating the facilities and (ii)
the bonds, notes, or certificates  and  interest  thereon  as
they shall become due, all sinking fund requirements, and all
other  requirements provided by the ordinance authorizing the
issuance of the bonds, notes, or certificates or as  provided
by any trust agreement executed to secure payment thereof. To
secure  the  payment  of  any  or  all  of  bonds,  notes, or
certificates  and  for  the  purpose  of  setting  forth  the
covenants and undertaking of the district in connection  with
the  issuance  of those bonds, notes, or certificates and the
issuance of any  additional  bonds,  notes,  or  certificates
payable from revenue income to be derived from the terminals,
terminal   facilities,   intermodal   facilities,   and  port
facilities the district  may  execute  and  deliver  a  trust
agreement or agreements. A lien upon any physical property of
the  district may be created by the trust agreement. A remedy
for any breach or default of the terms of any trust agreement
by the district may be by mandamus proceedings in the circuit
court  to  compel  performance  and   compliance   with   the
agreement,  but  the trust agreement may prescribe by whom or
on whose behalf the action may be instituted.

    Section  75.  Bonds  not  obligations  of  the  State  or
district. Under no circumstances shall any bonds,  notes,  or
certificates  issued  by the district or any other obligation
of the district be or become an indebtedness or obligation of
the State of Illinois or of any other  political  subdivision
of  or  municipality  within  the  State, nor shall any bond,
note, certificate, or obligation be or become an indebtedness
of the district within  the  purview  of  any  constitutional
limitation  or  provision.  It shall be plainly stated on the
face of each bond, note, and certificate  that  it  does  not
constitute  an  indebtedness  or  obligation  but  is payable
solely from the revenues or income of the district.

    Section 80.  Revenue  bonds  as  legal  investments.  The
State  and all counties, cities, villages, incorporated towns
and other  municipal  corporations,  political  subdivisions,
public bodies, and public officers of any thereof; all banks,
bankers,  trust  companies,  savings  banks and institutions,
building   and   loan   associations,   savings   and    loan
associations,   investment   companies,   and  other  persons
carrying on a  banking  business;  all  insurance  companies,
insurance  associations,  and  other  persons  carrying on an
insurance  business;  and  all   executors,   administrators,
guardians, trustees, and their fiduciaries may legally invest
any  sinking  funds, moneys, or other funds belonging to them
or within their control in any bonds, notes, or  certificates
issued  under  this Act. It is the purpose of this Section to
authorize the investment in bonds, notes, or certificates  of
all  sinking,  insurance,  retirement, compensation, pension,
and trust funds, whether owned or controlled  by  private  or
public  persons  or officers; provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Section may be construed as  relieving  any
person  from  any  duty  of  exercising  reasonable  care  in
selecting securities for purchase or investment.

    Section  90.  Permits.  It  shall be unlawful to make any
fill or deposit of rock, earth, sand, or other  material,  or
any  refuse  matter  of  any kind or description, or build or
commence the building of  any  wharf,  pier,  dolphin,  boom,
weir, breakwater, bulkhead, jetty, bridge, or other structure
over,  under,  in,  or within 40 feet of any navigable waters
within the  district  without  first  submitting  the  plans,
profiles,  and  specifications for it, and any other data and
information  that  may  be  required,  to  the  district  and
receiving a permit. Any person, corporation, company, city or
municipality, or other agency that does  any  of  the  things
prohibited  in  this  Section  without  securing  a permit is
guilty of a Class A  misdemeanor.  Any  structure,  fill,  or
deposit  erected or made in any of the public bodies of water
within the district in violation of the  provisions  of  this
Section  is declared to be a purpresture and may be abated as
such at the expense  of  the  person,  corporation,  company,
city, municipality, or other agency responsible for it. If in
the  discretion  of  the  district  it  is  decided  that the
structure, fill, or deposit may remain, the district may  fix
any  rule,  regulation, requirement, restrictions, or rentals
or require and compel any changes, modifications, and repairs
that shall be  necessary  to  protect  the  interest  of  the
district.

    Section  100.  Heart  of  Illinois Regional Port District
Board; compensation. The governing and administrative body of
the district shall be a board consisting of 9 members, to  be
known  as the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District Board.
Members of the Board shall be residents  of  a  county  whose
territory,  in  whole or in part, is embraced by the district
and persons of recognized business ability.  The  members  of
the  Board shall not receive compensation for their services.
Each member shall be reimbursed for actual expenses  incurred
in  the  performance  of his or her duties. Any person who is
appointed to the office of  secretary  or  treasurer  of  the
Board may receive compensation for services as an officer, as
determined  by  the Board. No member of the Board or employee
of the district shall have any  private  financial  interest,
profit,  or benefit in any contract, work, or business of the
district or in the sale or lease of any property to  or  from
the district.

    Section   105.  Board;  appointments;  terms  of  office;
certification and oath. The Governor, by and with the  advice
and  consent  of  the  Senate, shall appoint 3 members of the
Board. Of the 3 members appointed by the Governor,  at  least
one  must  be a member of a labor organization, as defined in
Section 3 of the Workplace Literacy Act. If the Senate is  in
recess  when the appointment is made, the Governor shall make
a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate.
The county board  chairmen  of  Tazewell,  Woodford,  Peoria,
Marshall,  Mason,  and Fulton Counties shall each appoint one
member of the Board with the  advice  and  consent  of  their
respective county boards. Of the members initially appointed,
the  3  appointed  by  the  Governor  shall  be appointed for
initial terms expiring June 1, 2009, and the 6  appointed  by
their  county  board  chairmen shall be appointed for initial
terms expiring June 1, 2010. All vacancies shall be filled in
a like manner and with like regard to the place of  residence
of  the  appointee.  After the expiration of initial terms, a
successor shall hold office for the term of 6 years beginning
the first day of June of the year in which the term of office
commences. The  Governor  and  the  respective  county  board
chairmen shall certify their appointments to the Secretary of
State. Within 30 days after certification of appointment, and
before entering upon the duties of his office, each member of
the Board shall take and subscribe the constitutional oath of
office and file it in the office of the Secretary of State.

    Section  110.  Resignation  and removal of Board members;
vacancies. Members of the Board shall hold office until their
respective successors have been appointed and qualified.  Any
member may resign from his or her office, to take effect when
his  or  her  successor has been appointed and has qualified.
The Governor and the county boards may remove any  member  of
the  Board appointed by them in case of incompetency, neglect
of duty, or malfeasance in office. They shall give the member
a copy of the charges against him or her and  an  opportunity
to  be  publicly  heard in person or by counsel in his or her
own defense upon not less than 10 days' notice.  In  case  of
failure  to  qualify within the time required, of abandonment
of office, or of death, conviction of  a  crime,  or  removal
from  office,  the  office  shall become vacant. Each vacancy
shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment in like
manner, and with like regard as to the place of residence  of
the  appointee,  as  in  case  of expiration of the term of a
member of the Board.

    Section 115.  Organization  of  the  Board.  As  soon  as
possible  after  the  appointment of the initial members, the
Board shall organize for the transaction of business,  select
a  chairperson and a temporary secretary from its own number,
and adopt by-laws and regulations to govern its  proceedings.
The  initial  chairperson  and successors shall be elected by
the Board from time to time for the term of his or her office
as a member of  the  Board  or  for  the  term  of  3  years,
whichever is shorter.

    Section   120.  Meetings;   ordinances  and  resolutions;
public records. Regular meetings of the Board shall  be  held
at  least  once in each calendar month, the time and place of
the meeting to be fixed by the Board.  Five  members  of  the
Board  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction of
business. All action of the Board shall be  by  ordinance  or
resolution  and  the  affirmative  vote of at least 5 members
shall be necessary for  the  adoption  of  any  ordinance  or
resolution.  All  ordinances  and  resolutions  before taking
effect shall be approved by the chairperson of the Board.  If
the chairperson shall approve the ordinance or resolution, he
or  she  shall  sign  it. Those ordinances or resolutions the
chairperson shall not approve the chairperson shall return to
the Board with his or her objections in writing at  the  next
regular  meeting  of the Board occurring after the passage of
the ordinances or resolutions. If the chairperson shall  fail
to  return  any  ordinance  or  resolution  with  his  or her
objections by the time required in this Section,  he  or  she
shall  be deemed to have approved it and it shall take effect
accordingly. Upon the return of any ordinance  or  resolution
by  the  chairperson  with his or her objections, the vote by
which  the  ordinance  or  resolution  was  passed  shall  be
reconsidered  by  the  Board.  If  upon  reconsideration  the
ordinance or resolution is passed by the affirmative vote  of
at  least  6 members, it shall go into effect notwithstanding
the veto of the chairperson. All ordinances, resolutions, all
proceedings of the district, and all documents and records in
its possession shall be public records, and  open  to  public
inspection,  except  any  documents and records that shall be
kept or prepared  by  the  Board  for  use  in  negotiations,
actions, or proceedings to which the district is a party.

    Section 125.  Secretary and treasurer; oath and bond. The
Board  shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer who need not
be members of the Board to hold office during the pleasure of
the Board. The Board shall fix their duties and compensation.
Before entering upon the duties of their respective  offices,
they  shall  take  and  subscribe  the constitutional oath of
office and the treasurer shall execute a bond with  corporate
sureties  to  be  approved  by  the  Board. The bond shall be
payable to the district in whatever penal sum may be directed
by the Board conditioned upon the faithful performance of the
duties to the office and the payment of all money received by
him or her according to law and the orders of the Board.  The
Board may, at any time, require a new bond from the treasurer
in  any  penal  sum  that may be determined by the Board. The
obligation of the sureties  shall  not  extend  to  any  loss
sustained  by  the  insolvency,  failure,  or  closing of any
savings and  loan  association  or  national  or  State  bank
wherein  the  treasurer  has  deposited  funds if the bank or
savings and loan association has been approved by  the  Board
as  a depositary for those funds. The oaths of office and the
treasurer's bond shall be filed in the  principal  office  of
the district.

    Section 130.  Deposits; checks or drafts.
    (a)  All  funds deposited by the treasurer in any bank or
savings and loan association shall be placed in the  name  of
the district and shall be withdrawn or paid out only by check
or  draft  upon  the  bank  or  savings and loan association,
signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the  chairperson
of  the  Board. The Board may designate any of its members or
any  officer  or  employee  of  the  district  to  affix  the
signature  of  the  chairperson  and  another  to  affix  the
signature of the treasurer to any check or draft for  payment
of  salaries or wages and for payment of any other obligation
of not more than $10,000.
    No bank or savings and  loan  association  shall  receive
public  funds  as  permitted  by  this  Section unless it has
complied with the requirements established under Section 6 of
the Public Funds Investment Act.
    (b)  In case any officer whose signature appears upon any
check or draft issued under this Act ceases to  hold  his  or
her  office  before the delivery of the check or draft to the
payee, his or her signature nevertheless shall be  valid  and
sufficient  for all purposes with the same effect as if he or
she had remained in office until delivery  of  the  check  or
draft.

    Section  135.  Prompt  payment. Purchases made under this
Act shall be made in compliance  with  the  Local  Government
Prompt Payment Act.

    Section    140.  Executive    director,   officers,   and
employees. The Board may appoint an executive  director,  who
shall   be  a  person  of  recognized  ability  and  business
experience, to hold office during the pleasure of the  Board.
The   executive   director   shall  have  management  of  the
properties, business,  and  the  employees  of  the  district
subject to the general control of the Board; shall direct the
enforcement   of  all  ordinances,  resolutions,  rules,  and
regulations of the Board; and shall perform any other  duties
that  may  be  prescribed from time to time by the Board. The
Board may appoint a general attorney and a chief engineer and
shall provide for the  appointment  of  any  other  officers,
attorneys, engineers, consultants, agents, and employees that
may  be  necessary.  The  Board shall define their duties and
require bonds of those that it may designate.
    The executive director, general attorney, chief engineer,
and all other officers provided for under this Section  shall
be  exempt from taking and subscribing any oath of office and
shall not be members of the Board. The  compensation  of  the
executive director, general attorney, chief engineer, and all
other officers, attorneys, consultants, agents, and employees
shall  be  fixed  by  the Board, subject to the provisions of
Section 125 of this Act.

    Section 145.  Fines and penalties. The Board  shall  have
power  to  pass  all  ordinances  and  to  make all rules and
regulations proper or necessary  to  carry  into  effect  the
powers  granted  to the district, with any fines or penalties
that may be deemed proper. All fines and penalties  shall  be
imposed  by ordinances that shall be published in a newspaper
of general circulation published in the area embraced by  the
district.  No ordinance shall take effect until 10 days after
its publication.

    Section 150.  Report and  financial  statement.  As  soon
after  the  end  of each fiscal year as may be expedient, the
Board shall prepare and print a complete and detailed  report
and  financial  statement of its operations and of its assets
and liabilities. A reasonably sufficient number of copies  of
the  report  shall  be  printed  for  distribution to persons
interested, upon request, and a copy of the report  shall  be
filed  with  the Governor and the county clerk of each county
that is within the area of the district. A copy of the report
shall be addressed to  and  mailed  to  the  mayor  and  city
council   or   president   and  board  of  trustees  of  each
municipality within the area of the district.

    Section 155.  Investigations by the Board. The Board  may
investigate conditions in which it has an interest within the
area  of  the  district;  the  enforcement of its ordinances,
rules,  and  regulations;  and  the  action,   conduct,   and
efficiency  of  all  officers,  agents,  and employees of the
district. In the conduct of investigations the Board may hold
public hearings  on  its  own  motion  and  shall  do  so  on
complaint  of  any  municipality  within  the  district. Each
member of the Board shall have power to administer oaths  and
the  secretary,  by order of the Board, shall issue subpoenas
to secure the attendance and testimony of witnesses  and  the
production of books and papers relevant to investigations and
to any hearing before the Board or any member of the Board.
    Any  circuit court of this State, upon application of the
Board or any member of  the  Board,  may  in  its  discretion
compel  the  attendance of witnesses, the production of books
and papers, and giving of testimony before the Board,  before
any  member  of  the Board, or before any officers' committee
appointed  by  the  Board  by  attachment  for  contempt   or
otherwise  in  the  same manner as the production of evidence
may be compelled before the court.

    Section 160.  Annexation. Territory that is contiguous to
the district and that is not included within any  other  port
district  may be annexed to and become a part of the district
in the manner provided in Section 165 or  170,  whichever  is
applicable.
    Section 165.  Petition for annexation. At least 5% of the
legal  voters  resident  within  the  limits  of the proposed
addition to the district shall petition the circuit court for
a county in which a major part of the district  is  situated,
to  cause  the  question  of  whether the proposed additional
territory shall become a part of the district to be submitted
to the legal voters of the proposed additional territory. The
petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain  a
definite description of the boundaries of the territory to be
embraced in the proposed addition.
    Upon  the  filing  of  any petition with the clerk of the
court, the court shall fix a time and  place  for  a  hearing
upon the subject of the petition.
    Notice  shall  be given by the court to whom the petition
is addressed or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the county
in which the petition is made at the order and  direction  of
the  court  of  the  time  and  place of the hearing upon the
subject of the petition at least 20 days before  the  hearing
by  at  least  one publication of the notice in any newspaper
having general circulation within the  area  proposed  to  be
annexed,  and by mailing a copy of the notice to the mayor or
president of the board of trustees of all  cities,  villages,
and incorporated towns within the district.
    At  the  hearing,  the  district, all persons residing or
owning property within the district, and all persons residing
in or owning property situated in the  area  proposed  to  be
annexed to the district may appear and be heard touching upon
the  sufficiency of the petition. If the court finds that the
petition does not comply with the requirements  of  the  law,
the court shall dismiss the petition. If the court finds that
the  petition  is  sufficient,  the  court  shall certify the
petition and the proposition to the proper election officials
who shall submit the proposition to the voters at an election
under  the  general  election  law.  In   addition   to   the
requirements  of  the general election law, the notice of the
referendum shall include a description of the  area  proposed
to be annexed to the district.
    The  proposition  shall be in substantially the following
form:
         Shall (description of the territory proposed  to  be
    annexed)   join  the  Heart  of  Illinois  Regional  Port
    District?
The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
    The court shall cause a statement of the  result  of  the
referendum to be filed in the records of the court.
    If  a  majority  of  the  votes cast upon the question of
annexation to the district are in favor of becoming a part of
the district, the court shall then  enter  an  order  stating
that   the  additional  territory  shall  thenceforth  be  an
integral part of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District
and  subject  to  all  of  the  benefits   of   service   and
responsibilities  of  the  district.  The circuit clerk shall
transmit a certified copy of the order to the  circuit  clerk
of any other county in which any of the territory affected is
situated.

    Section  170.  Annexation  of  territory  having no legal
voters. If there is territory contiguous to the district that
has no legal voters residing within it, a petition  to  annex
the  territory  signed  by  all  the  owners of record of the
territory may be filed with the circuit court for the  county
in which a major part of the district is situated. A time and
place  for  a hearing on the subject of the petition shall be
fixed and notice of the hearing shall be given in the  manner
provided  in Section 165. At the hearing any owner of land in
the territory proposed to be annexed, the district,  and  any
resident  of the district may appear and be heard touching on
the sufficiency of the petition. If the court finds that  the
petition satisfies the requirements of this Section, it shall
enter  an  order stating that thenceforth the territory shall
be an integral part of the Heart of  Illinois  Regional  Port
District  and  subject  to all of the benefits of service and
responsibilities of the district.  The  circuit  clerk  shall
transmit  a  certified  copy of the order of the court to the
circuit clerk of  any  other  county  in  which  the  annexed
territory is situated.

    Section  172.  Disconnection.  The registered voters of a
county included in the district may petition the State  Board
of  Elections  requesting  the  submission of the question of
whether the county should be disconnected from  the  district
to  the  electors  of  the  county.  The  petition  shall  be
circulated  in  the  manner  required  by Section 28-3 of the
Election Code and objections thereto and the manner of  their
disposition  shall  be in accordance with Section 28-4 of the
Election Code. If a petition is filed with the State Board of
Elections, signed by not  less  than  5%  of  the  registered
voters  of  the  county or that portion of the county that is
within  the  district,  requesting  that  the   question   of
disconnection be submitted to the electors of the county, the
State  Board  of  Elections  must certify the question to the
proper election authority, which must submit the question  at
a  regular  election held at least 78 days after the petition
is filed in accordance with the Election Code.
    The question  must  be  submitted  in  substantially  the
following form:
         Shall  (name  of  county)  be  disconnected from the
    Heart of Illinois   Regional Port District?
The votes must be recorded as "Yes" or "No". If a majority of
the electors voting on the question vote in the  affirmative,
the  county  or  portion  of  the  county  that is within the
district shall be disconnected from the district.
    Section  175.  Administrative  Review  Law.   All   final
administrative  decisions  of  the Board, shall be subject to
judicial review under the provisions  of  the  Administrative
Review  Law  and  the  rules adopted under that Act. The term
"administrative decision" means the same as in Section  3-101
of the Code of Civil Procedure.

    Section  180.  Severability. If any provision of this Act
or its application to any  person  or  circumstance  is  held
invalid, the invalidity of that provision or application does
not  affect other provisions or applications of this Act that
can  be  given  effect  without  the  invalid  provision   or
application.

    Section  185.  Interference  with private facilities. The
provisions of this Act shall not be considered as  impairing,
altering,  modifying,  repealing,  or  superseding any of the
jurisdiction or powers of the Illinois Commerce Commission or
of the Department of  Natural  Resources  under  the  Rivers,
Lakes, and Streams Act. Nothing in this Act or done under its
authority  shall apply to, restrict, limit, or interfere with
the  use  of  any  terminal,  terminal  facility,  intermodal
facility, or port facility owned or operated by  any  private
person  for  the  storage  or  handling  or  transfer  of any
commodity moving in interstate commerce or  the  use  of  the
land  and  facilities  of  a  common  carrier or other public
utility and the space above that land and those facilities or
the right to use  that  land  and  those  facilities  in  the
business  of  any  common  carrier  or  other public utility,
without approval of  the  Illinois  Commerce  Commission  and
without  the  payment  of  just  compensation  to  any common
carrier or other public utility for  damages  resulting  from
any restriction, limitation, or interference.
    Section 190.  Non-applicability of conflicting provisions
of  the  Illinois  Municipal  Code.  The  provisions  of  the
Illinois  Municipal  Code  shall  not be effective within the
area of the district insofar as the provisions  of  that  Act
conflict   with   the   provisions   of  this  Act  or  grant
substantially the same powers to  any  municipal  corporation
that are granted to the district by this Act.

    Section  999.  Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.