(615 ILCS 20/3) (from Ch. 19, par. 47c)
Sec. 3.
Whenever the public use of any river, lake, harbor, sound, bay,
canal, or other public or navigable waters of this state is obstructed or
endangered by any sunken vessel, boat, water craft, raft, or other similar
obstruction, and such obstruction has existed for a longer period than
thirty (30) days, the sunken vessel, boat, water craft, raft, or other
obstruction shall be subject to be broken up, removed, sold or otherwise
disposed of by the Department of Natural Resources, in its discretion, without
liability for any damage to the owners of the same: provided, the said
Department shall first give a thirty-day notice in writing, by United
States registered mail, to the owner thereof, if known, or if unknown, by
publication addressed "To whom it may concern," in a newspaper of general
circulation published in the county in which the obstruction is located, or
if the obstruction is located in two or more counties, in any one of such
counties, requesting the removal thereof.
The Department of Natural Resources may, in its discretion, at or after the
time of giving any such notice advertise in one or more newspapers of
general circulation published in this State, at least ten (10) days before
the bids are to be opened, for sealed bids for the removal of such
obstruction as soon as possible after the expiration of the thirty-day
period for notice specified in the preceding paragraph, in case it has not
in the meantime been so removed. Any such proposal for bids may be
conditioned that such vessels, boat, water craft, raft or other obstruction
and all cargo and property contained therein, shall become the property of
the contractor and the contract shall be awarded to the bidder making the
proposition most advantageous to the state. Any such bidder shall give
satisfactory security for the execution of his contract. Any money received
from the sale of any such wreck, or from any contractor for the removal of
such wreck, under the provisions of this section, shall be paid over to the
State Treasurer. If the proceeds of any such sale are not sufficient in
amount to reimburse the State for such expense, the State of Illinois,
acting by and through its Department of Natural Resources, may, by civil
action, obtain judgment against the owners of such craft, cargo, or both
for the difference between the proceeds of such sale and the actual expense
incurred by the State of Illinois, acting by and through its Department of
Natural Resources, in connection with such removal.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
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