SB1703 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB095 11147 HLH 31487 b

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008
SB1703

Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Pamela J. Althoff

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

70 ILCS 410/5

from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7105

Amends the Conservation District Act. Makes a technical change in a Section concerning the board of trustees.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning local government.

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

Section 5. The Conservation District Act is amended by changing Section 5 as follows:

(70 ILCS 410/5) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7105)

Sec. 5. Board of trustees.

(a) The affairs of a conservation district shall be managed by a board which shall consist of 5 trustees, except as otherwise provided in this Section. If the boundaries of the district are coextensive with the the boundaries of one county, the trustees shall be residents of that county. If the district embraces 2 counties, 3 trustees shall be residents of the county with the larger population and 2 trustees shall be residents of the other county. If the district embraces 3 counties, one trustee shall be a resident of the county with the smallest population and each of the other counties shall have 2 resident trustees. If the district embraces 4 counties, 2 trustees shall be residents of the county with the largest population and each of the other counties shall have one resident trustee. If the district embraces 5 counties, each county shall have one resident trustee.

(b) A district that is entirely within a county of under 750,000 inhabitants and contiguous to a county of more than 2,000,000 inhabitants and that is authorized by referendum as provided in subsection (d) of Section 15 to incur indebtedness over 0.575% but not to exceed 1.725% shall have a board consisting of 7 trustees, all of whom shall be residents of the county. The additional 2 trustees shall be appointed by the chairman of the county board, with the consent of the county board, and shall hold office for terms expiring on June 30 as follows: one trustee after 4 years and one trustee after 5 years from the date of the referendum. Successor trustees shall be appointed in the same manner no later than June 1 before the commencement of the term of the trustee.

(c) Trustees shall be qualified voters of such district who do not hold any other public office and are not officers of any political party. Trustees, if nominated by the county board chairman as hereinafter provided, shall be selected on the basis of their demonstrated interest in the purpose of conservation districts.

(d) The chairman of the county board for the county of which the trustee is a resident shall, with the consent of the county board of that county, appoint the first trustees who shall hold office for terms expiring on June 30 after one, 2, 3, 4, and 5 year periods respectively as determined and fixed by lot. Thereafter, successor trustees shall be appointed in the same manner no later than June 1 prior to the commencement of term of the trustee.

(e) Each successor trustee shall serve for a term of 5 years. A vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of a trustee by the county board chairman of the county of which the trustee shall be a resident, with the approval of the county board of that county. A trustee who has served a full term of 5 years is ineligible to serve as a trustee for a period of one year following the expiration of his term. When any trustee during his term of office shall cease to be a bona fide resident of the district he is disqualified as a trustee and his office becomes vacant.

(f) Trustees shall serve without compensation, but may be paid their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(g) A trustee may be removed for cause by the county board chairman for the county of which the trustee is a resident, with the approval of the county board of that county, but every such removal shall be by a written order, which shall be filed with the county clerk.

(h) A conservation district with 5 trustees may determine by majority vote of the board to increase the size of the board to 7 trustees. With respect to a 7-member board, no more than 3 members may be residents of any township in a county under township organization or of any congressional township in a county not under township organization. In the case of a 7-member board representing a district that embraces 2 counties, 4 trustees shall be residents of the county with the larger population and 3 trustees shall be residents of the other county. If the district embraces 3 counties, 2 trustees shall be residents of each of the 2 counties with the smallest population and the largest county shall have 3 resident trustees. If the district embraces 4 counties, one trustee shall be a resident of the county with the smallest population and each of the other counties shall have 2 resident trustees. If the district embraces 5 counties, the 2 counties with the largest population shall each have 2 resident trustees and each of the other counties shall have one resident trustee. The pertinent appointing authorities shall appoint the additional 2 trustees to initial terms as equally staggered as possible from the terms of the trustees already appointed from that township or county so that 2 trustees representing the same area shall not be succeeded in the same year.

(Source: P.A. 94-617, eff. 8-18-05.)