093_SB1526 LRB093 02384 MKM 02392 b 1 AN ACT in relation to municipalities. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by 5 changing Sections 7-1-3 and 7-1-4 as follows: 6 (65 ILCS 5/7-1-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 7-1-3) 7 Sec. 7-1-3. After the filing of the petition but not less 8 than 5 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing, any 9 interested person may file with the circuit clerk his 10 objections (1) that the territory described in the petition 11 or ordinance, as the case may be, is not contiguous to the 12 annexing municipality, (2) that the petition is not signed by 13 the requisite number of electors or property owners of 14 record, (3) that the description of the territory contained 15 in the petition or ordinance, as the case may be, is 16 inadequate,or(4) that the objector's land is located on the 17 perimeter of such territory, that he does not desire 18 annexation, and that exclusion of his land will not destroy 19 the contiguity of such described property with the annexing 20 municipality, or (5) that the objector does not desire 21 annexation, and that exclusion of all or a specifically 22 described portion of the objector's land will not destroy the 23 contiguity of the territory that is proposed to be annexed 24 with the annexing municipality, provided that the objector 25 may also or instead propose the annexation of other territory 26 owned by the objector in order to maintain contiguity. 27 (Source: Laws 1967, p. 3740.) 28 (65 ILCS 5/7-1-4) (from Ch. 24, par. 7-1-4) 29 Sec. 7-1-4. The cause shall be heard without further 30 pleadings. At the hearing the objector may be heard in person -2- LRB093 02384 MKM 02392 b 1 or by counsel. 2 Prior to hearing evidence on the validity of the 3 annexation petition or ordinance, the court shall hear and 4 determine any objection under sub-paragraph (4) or (5) of 5 Section 7-1-3. If the court is satisfied that such objection 6 is valid, it shall order the petition or ordinance to be 7 amended to eliminate such objector's land from the territory 8 sought to be annexed or to otherwise alter the boundaries of 9 the territory to be annexed in accordance with that Section. 10 Thereafter upon this hearing the only matter for 11 determination shall be the validity of the annexation 12 petition or ordinance, as the case may be, and the decision 13 of the court shall be final. All petitions shall be supported 14 by an affidavit of one or more of the petitioners, or some 15 one on their behalf, that the signatures on the petition 16 represent a majority of the property owners of record of land 17 in the territory described and a majority of the electors of 18 the territory therein described. Petitions so verified shall 19 be accepted as prima facie evidence of such facts. If the 20 court finds that (1) the annexation petition is not signed by 21 the requisite number of electors or property owners of 22 record; or (2) that the described property is not contiguous 23 to the annexing municipality; or (3) that the description is 24 materially defective; or (4) that the petition or ordinance, 25 as the case may be, is otherwise invalid, the court shall 26 dismiss the petition or ordinance, as the case may be. 27 But if the court finds that the petition or ordinance, as 28 the case may be, is valid, the court shall (1) enter an order 29 describing the territory to be annexed, (2) find that the 30 petition or ordinance, as the case may be, conforms to this 31 Article, and (3) direct that the question of annexation be 32 submitted to the corporate authorities of the annexing 33 municipality or to the electors of the unincorporated 34 territory, as the case may be, for final action. A certified -3- LRB093 02384 MKM 02392 b 1 copy of the order of the court directing that the question of 2 annexation be submitted to the corporate authorities shall be 3 sent to the clerk of the annexing municipality. 4 Appeals shall lie from any final order of the court as in 5 other civil actions. 6 (Source: P.A. 81-448.)