(70 ILCS 810/0.01)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6400) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act. (Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)
(70 ILCS 810/1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6401) Sec. 1. This Act shall apply only to forest preserve districts lying wholly within counties having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6402) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in Section 2.1 through 2.3 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6403) Sec. 2.1. "Board" means the county board of commissioners when acting as the governing body of a forest preserve district. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6404) Sec. 2.2. "County" means a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6405) Sec. 2.3. "District" means a forest preserve district wholly within a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6406) Sec. 3. Any contiguous territory lying wholly within one county may be incorporated as a forest preserve district under the conditions and in the manner prescribed in Sections 1 and 2 of "An Act to provide for the creation and management of forest preserve districts in counties having a population of less than 1,000,000", approved June 27, 1913, as now or hereafter amended, and the provisions of those Sections shall apply to the same extent as if included herein. Nothing in this Act shall impair the validity of a forest preserve district organized prior to the effective date of this Act or affect any rights, obligations or privileges of such a forest preserve district, or those of any person, existing prior to the effective date of this Act. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/4)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6407) Sec. 4. All courts shall take judicial notice of all forest preserve districts organized under or otherwise subject to this Act and every such district shall constitute a body politic and corporate, may sue and be sued in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had, and take any action authorized by law. Every such district may contract, acquire and hold real and personal property necessary for its corporate purposes and adopt a seal and alter the same at its pleasure. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/5)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6408) Sec. 5. The county board of commissioners of the county in which a forest preserve district is located shall be the forest preserve district board of such district and the president of the county board shall be the president of the forest preserve district board. The members shall act without any other pay than that already provided by law. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/6)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6409) Sec. 6. The board shall comply with the provisions of "An Act concerning the use of Illinois mined coal in certain plants and institutions", filed July 13, 1937, as heretofore or hereafter amended. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/7)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6410) Sec. 7. Any forest preserve district shall have the power to create forest preserves, and for that purpose shall have the power to acquire in fee simple in the manner hereinafter provided, and hold lands containing one or more natural forests or parts thereof or land or lands connecting such forests or parts thereof, or lands capable of being forested, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna, and scenic beauties within such district, and to restore, restock, protect and preserve the natural forests and such lands together with their flora and fauna, as nearly as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the purpose of the education, pleasure, and recreation of the public. Lands may be acquired in fee simple for the consolidation of such preserves into unit areas of size and form convenient and desirable for public use and economical maintenance and improvement and when in the judgment of the Board the public access, use, and enjoyment of such preserves and other purposes of this Act will be served by connecting any such preserves with forested ways or links, lands for connecting links of such width, length, and location as the Board deem necessary or desirable may be acquired in fee simple and held for such purposes and improved by forestation, roads, and pathways. Any such district may also acquire lands in fee simple along or enclosing water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned impoundments or elsewhere which, in the judgment of its Board are required to store flood waters, or control other drainage and water conditions, or to recycle secondary treated sewage effluents or wastewater through the production and sale of agricultural, silvicultural or aquacultural products, necessary for the preservation and management of the water resources of the district, provided no debris, tree, tree limbs, logs, shrubbery, or related growths and trimmings therefrom shall be deposited in, along, or upon the bank of any waters and water courses within the State of Illinois or any tributary thereto where the same shall be liable to be washed into or deposited along waters and water courses, either by normal or flood flows, as a result of storms or otherwise, which may in any manner impede or obstruct the natural flow of such waters and water courses. Unforested lands adjacent to forest preserves may also be acquired in fee simple to provide for extension of roads and forested ways around and by such preserves and for parking space for automobiles and other facilities not requiring forested areas but incidental to the use and protection thereof. All work done in or along any water course shall be done in accordance with the provisions of "An Act in relation to the regulation of the rivers, lakes, and streams of the State of Illinois," approved June 10, 1911, as heretofore and hereafter amended, insofar as such Act may be applicable. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/8)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411) Sec. 8. Any forest preserve district shall have power to acquire lands in fee simple and grounds within such district for the aforesaid purposes by gift, grant, legacy, purchase or condemnation and to construct, lay out, improve and maintain wells, power plants, comfort stations, shelter houses, paths, driveways, roadways and other improvements and facilities in and through such forest preserves as it shall deem necessary or desirable for the use of such forest preserves by the public. Such forest preserve districts shall also have power to lease not to exceed 40 acres of the lands and grounds acquired by it, for a term of not more than 99 years to veterans' organizations as grounds for convalescing sick and disabled veterans, and as a place upon which to construct rehabilitation quarters, or to a county as grounds for a county nursing home or convalescent home. Any such forest preserve district shall also have power to grant licenses, easements and rights‑of‑way for the construction, operation and maintenance upon, under or across any property of such district of facilities for water, sewage, telephone, telegraph, electric, gas or other public service, subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by such district. Whenever the board determines that the public interest will be subserved by vacating any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, located within a forest preserve, it may vacate that street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, by an ordinance passed by the affirmative vote of at least 3/4 of all the members of the board. The determination of the board that the nature and extent of the public use or public interest to be subserved is such as to warrant the vacation of any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, is conclusive, and the passage of such an ordinance is sufficient evidence of that determination, whether so recited in the ordinance or not. The relief to the public from further burden and responsibility of maintaining any street, roadway or driveway, or part thereof, constitutes a public use or public interest authorizing the vacation. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to authorize the board to vacate any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, that is part of any State or county highway. When property is damaged by the vacation or closing of any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, damage shall be ascertained and paid as provided by law. Except in cases where the deed, or other instrument dedicating a street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, has expressly provided for a specific devolution of the title thereto upon the abandonment or vacation thereof, whenever any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof is vacated under or by virtue of any ordinance of any forest preserve district, the title to the land in fee simple included within the street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, so vacated vests in the forest preserve district. The board of any forest preserve district is authorized to sell at fair market price, gravel, sand, earth and any other material obtained from the lands and waters owned by the district. (Source: P.A. 83‑388.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.1) Sec. 8.1. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to eminent domain or condemnation proceedings. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.2) Sec. 8.2. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to special assessments by any other unit of local government. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.3) Sec. 8.3. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to annexation without express consent of the district. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.4) Sec. 8.4. Building codes. The building codes of a county, and not the building codes of any other unit of local government in which the affected district property is located, shall apply to all construction projects on property owned by the district. (Source: P.A. 90‑481, eff. 8‑17‑97.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.5) Sec. 8.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94‑1055, eff. 1‑1‑07.)
(70 ILCS 810/9)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6412) Sec. 9. Every forest preserve district board is empowered to dedicate areas as nature preserves as provided in the "Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act", as now or hereafter amended, and to cooperate with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in matters relating to the purposes of that Act. (Source: P.A. 82‑445.)
(70 ILCS 810/10)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6413) Sec. 10. The board of each forest preserve district has the power by ordinance to purchase or lease as lessee real or personal property (including, without limitation, purchases from and leases with other units of local government, school districts, or the federal government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) for public purposes pursuant to contracts or leases which provide that the consideration for the purchase or lease may be paid in annual installments during the period not to exceed 40 years; to lease as lessee or to purchase real property or personal property for public purposes pursuant to a lease or purchase agreement which may provide that the district may, at its option, purchase the property which is subject to the agreement or lease upon terms wherein payments previously made, or a portion of them, are deducted from the purchase price of the property as provided for in the lease or agreement. The maximum amounts that will become due under the terms of the purchase or lease agreements, together with all other indebtedness of the district, however, must be within the constitutional limitations on the incurring of indebtedness for the district and for pertinent public purposes. (Source: P.A. 87‑1191; 88‑503.)
(70 ILCS 810/11)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6414) Sec. 11. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance regulate and control the speed of travel on all paths, driveways and roadways within forest preserves, and prohibit the use of such paths, driveways and roadways for racing or speeding purposes, and may exclude therefrom traffic, teams and vehicles, and may by ordinance prescribe such fines and penalties for the violation of their ordinances as cities and villages are allowed to prescribe for the violation of their ordinances. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/12)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6415) Sec. 12. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance regulate, control and license all modes of travel within forest preserves. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/13)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6416) Sec. 13. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance issue licenses for any activity reasonably connected with the purpose for which the forest preserve district has been created. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/14)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6417) Sec. 14. The board, as corporate authority of a forest preserve district, shall have power to pass and enforce all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the management of the property and conduct of the business of such district. The president of such board shall have power to appoint a secretary and an assistant secretary, and treasurer and an assistant treasurer and such other officers and such employees as may be necessary, all of whom, excepting the treasurer and attorneys, shall be under civil service rules and regulations, as provided in Section 17 of this Act. The assistant secretary and assistant treasurer shall perform the duties of the secretary and treasurer, respectively, in case of death of said officers or when said officers are unable to perform the duties of their respective offices because of absence or inability to act. All contracts for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure by forest preserve districts in excess of $25,000 shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after due advertisement, excepting work requiring personal confidence or necessary supplies under the control of monopolies, where competitive bidding is impossible. Contracts for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure of $25,000 or less may be let without advertising for bids, but whenever practicable, at least 3 competitive bids shall be obtained before letting such contract. All contracts for supplies, material or work shall be signed by the president of the board and by any such other officer as the board in its discretion may designate. Salaries of employees shall be fixed by ordinance. (Source: P.A. 94‑951, eff. 6‑27‑06.)
(70 ILCS 810/14.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6417.1) Sec. 14.1. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty‑fourth General Assembly. (Source: P.A. 84‑731.)
(70 ILCS 810/15)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6418) Sec. 15. The board shall have the right and power to appoint and maintain a sufficient police force, the members of which may have and exercise police powers over the territory within such forest preserves for the preservation of the public peace, and the observance and enforcement of the ordinances and laws, such as are conferred upon and exercised by the police of organized cities and villages; but such police force, when acting within the limits of any city or village, shall act in aid of the regular police force of such city or village and shall then be subject to the direction of its chief of police, city or village marshals, or other head thereof. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/16)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6419) Sec. 16. The board of any forest preserve district, when so requested by the treasurer of the district, shall designate one or more banks or savings and loan associations in which the funds and moneys received by the treasurer, by virtue of his office, may be deposited. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and is qualified by furnishing the statements of resources and liabilities as is required by this Section. When a new depository is designated, the board shall notify the sureties of the treasurer of that fact in writing at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The treasurer of the district shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds and moneys deposited in a bank or savings and loan association, so designated, while such funds and moneys are so deposited. No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended. Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or of any other law, each official custodian of forest preserve district funds, including, without limitation, each forest preserve district treasurer and each person properly designated as custodian for funds held by an intergovernmental risk management association or self‑insurance pool composed solely of participating park districts, forest preserve districts or park district joint recreational programs, is permitted to (i) combine moneys from more than one fund of a single forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool for the purpose of investing such moneys, (ii) enter into agreements of any definite or indefinite term regarding the deposit, redeposit, investment, reinvestment or withdrawal of forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds and (iii) join with any custodians or treasurers of forest preserve district, park district, Chicago Park District, park district joint recreational program, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds for the purpose of investing any forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds in his custody. When funds are combined for investment purposes as authorized herein, the moneys combined for such purposes shall be accounted for separately in all respects, and the earnings from such investments shall be separately and individually computed and recorded, and credited to the fund, district, park district joint recreational program, risk management association, self‑insurance pool or other entity, as the case may be, for which the investment was acquired. The grant of authority contained in this Section is cumulative and in addition to all other power or authority granted by any other law and shall not be construed as a limitation of any power or authority otherwise granted. (Source: P.A. 85‑460.)
(70 ILCS 810/17)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6420) Sec. 17. Application of human resource ordinance. Whenever the county in which any such forest preserve district is located shall be governed by any county human resource ordinance, all employees of such forest preserve district shall be selected in accordance with the human resource ordinance in such county and all such employees shall be subject at all times to the provisions of such ordinance. (Source: P.A. 90‑481, eff. 8‑17‑97.)
(70 ILCS 810/17.5) Sec. 17.5. Power to deduct wages for debts. (a) Upon receipt of notice from the comptroller of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more, a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or a housing authority of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more that a debt is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority by an employee of the District, the District may withhold, from the compensation of that employee, the amount of the debt that is due and owing and pay the amount withheld to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority; provided, however, that the amount deducted from any one salary or wage payment shall not exceed 25% of the net amount of the payment. (b) Before the District deducts any amount from any salary or wage of an employee under this Section, the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority shall certify that (i) the employee has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to dispute the debt that is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority and (ii) the employee has received notice of a wage deduction order and has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to object to the order. (c) For purposes of this Section: (1) "Net amount" means that part of the salary or
wage payment remaining after the deduction of any amounts required by law to be deducted.
(2) "Debt due and owing" means (i) a specified sum
of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority for services, work, or goods, after the period granted for payment has expired, or (ii) a specified sum of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority pursuant to a court order or order of an administrative hearing officer after the exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review.
(Source: P.A. 92‑109, eff. 7‑20‑01.)
(70 ILCS 810/18)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6421) Sec. 18. The board shall keep a record of all ordinances and other proceedings which shall be open to the inspection of any person residing in such district at all reasonable and proper times. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/19)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6422) Sec. 19. All ordinances imposing any fine or penalty or making any appropriation of money, shall within ten days after their passage, be published at least once in some newspaper published in such district or having a general circulation therein to be designated by the board and no such ordinance shall take effect until ten days after it is so published. All other ordinances and all orders or resolutions shall take effect from and after their passage unless otherwise provided therein. All ordinances, orders and resolutions and the date of publication thereof may be proven by the certificate of the secretary of such district under the seal of the corporation and when printed in book or pamphlet form and published by authority of such board, such book or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and publication of such ordinances, orders and resolutions as of the date mentioned in such book or pamphlet in all courts and places without further proof. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/20)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6423) Sec. 20. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board and be the executive officer of the district. He shall sign all ordinances, resolutions and other papers necessary to be signed and shall execute all contracts entered into by the district and perform other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance. He may veto any ordinance and any orders, resolutions and actions, or any items therein contained, of the board which provide for the purchase of real estate, or for the construction of improvements within the preserves of the district. Such veto shall be filed with the secretary of the board within 5 days after the passage of the ordinance, order, resolution or action and when so vetoed the ordinance, order, resolution or action or any item therein contained is not effective unless it is again passed by two‑thirds vote of all the members of the board. The president may vote in the same manner as the other members of the board. In the temporary absence or inability of the president, the members of the board may elect from their own number a president, pro tem. The "Yeas" and "Nays" shall be taken, and entered on the journal of the board's proceedings, upon the passage of all ordinances and all proposals to create any liability, or for the expenditure or appropriation of money. The concurrence of a majority of all the members appointed to the board is necessary to the passage of any such ordinance or proposal. In all other cases the "Yeas" and "Nays" shall be taken at the request of any member of the board and shall be entered on the journal of the board's proceedings. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/21)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6424) Sec. 21. The board may, for any of the purposes enumerated in this Act, borrow money upon the faith and credit of such district, and may issue bonds therefor. However, a district may not become indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an amount including existing indebtedness in the aggregate exceeding .345% of the assessed value of the taxable property therein, as ascertained by the last equalized assessment for State and county purposes. Except for indebtedness incurred under Section 21.1 of this Act and except for indebtedness incurred to construct, acquire, equip, repair, and renovate buildings or other improvements to land of the district or to acquire equipment for the district, no district may incur indebtedness for any purpose other than the acquisition of land including acquiring lands in fee simple along or enclosing water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned impoundments or elsewhere which are required to store flood waters or control other drainage and water conditions necessary for the preservation and management of the water resources of the district, unless the proposition to issue bonds or otherwise incur indebtedness is first certified by the district to the proper election offici
(70 ILCS 810/0.01)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6400) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act. (Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)
(70 ILCS 810/1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6401) Sec. 1. This Act shall apply only to forest preserve districts lying wholly within counties having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6402) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in Section 2.1 through 2.3 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6403) Sec. 2.1. "Board" means the county board of commissioners when acting as the governing body of a forest preserve district. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6404) Sec. 2.2. "County" means a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6405) Sec. 2.3. "District" means a forest preserve district wholly within a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6406) Sec. 3. Any contiguous territory lying wholly within one county may be incorporated as a forest preserve district under the conditions and in the manner prescribed in Sections 1 and 2 of "An Act to provide for the creation and management of forest preserve districts in counties having a population of less than 1,000,000", approved June 27, 1913, as now or hereafter amended, and the provisions of those Sections shall apply to the same extent as if included herein. Nothing in this Act shall impair the validity of a forest preserve district organized prior to the effective date of this Act or affect any rights, obligations or privileges of such a forest preserve district, or those of any person, existing prior to the effective date of this Act. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/4)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6407) Sec. 4. All courts shall take judicial notice of all forest preserve districts organized under or otherwise subject to this Act and every such district shall constitute a body politic and corporate, may sue and be sued in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had, and take any action authorized by law. Every such district may contract, acquire and hold real and personal property necessary for its corporate purposes and adopt a seal and alter the same at its pleasure. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/5)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6408) Sec. 5. The county board of commissioners of the county in which a forest preserve district is located shall be the forest preserve district board of such district and the president of the county board shall be the president of the forest preserve district board. The members shall act without any other pay than that already provided by law. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/6)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6409) Sec. 6. The board shall comply with the provisions of "An Act concerning the use of Illinois mined coal in certain plants and institutions", filed July 13, 1937, as heretofore or hereafter amended. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/7)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6410) Sec. 7. Any forest preserve district shall have the power to create forest preserves, and for that purpose shall have the power to acquire in fee simple in the manner hereinafter provided, and hold lands containing one or more natural forests or parts thereof or land or lands connecting such forests or parts thereof, or lands capable of being forested, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna, and scenic beauties within such district, and to restore, restock, protect and preserve the natural forests and such lands together with their flora and fauna, as nearly as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the purpose of the education, pleasure, and recreation of the public. Lands may be acquired in fee simple for the consolidation of such preserves into unit areas of size and form convenient and desirable for public use and economical maintenance and improvement and when in the judgment of the Board the public access, use, and enjoyment of such preserves and other purposes of this Act will be served by connecting any such preserves with forested ways or links, lands for connecting links of such width, length, and location as the Board deem necessary or desirable may be acquired in fee simple and held for such purposes and improved by forestation, roads, and pathways. Any such district may also acquire lands in fee simple along or enclosing water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned impoundments or elsewhere which, in the judgment of its Board are required to store flood waters, or control other drainage and water conditions, or to recycle secondary treated sewage effluents or wastewater through the production and sale of agricultural, silvicultural or aquacultural products, necessary for the preservation and management of the water resources of the district, provided no debris, tree, tree limbs, logs, shrubbery, or related growths and trimmings therefrom shall be deposited in, along, or upon the bank of any waters and water courses within the State of Illinois or any tributary thereto where the same shall be liable to be washed into or deposited along waters and water courses, either by normal or flood flows, as a result of storms or otherwise, which may in any manner impede or obstruct the natural flow of such waters and water courses. Unforested lands adjacent to forest preserves may also be acquired in fee simple to provide for extension of roads and forested ways around and by such preserves and for parking space for automobiles and other facilities not requiring forested areas but incidental to the use and protection thereof. All work done in or along any water course shall be done in accordance with the provisions of "An Act in relation to the regulation of the rivers, lakes, and streams of the State of Illinois," approved June 10, 1911, as heretofore and hereafter amended, insofar as such Act may be applicable. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/8)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411) Sec. 8. Any forest preserve district shall have power to acquire lands in fee simple and grounds within such district for the aforesaid purposes by gift, grant, legacy, purchase or condemnation and to construct, lay out, improve and maintain wells, power plants, comfort stations, shelter houses, paths, driveways, roadways and other improvements and facilities in and through such forest preserves as it shall deem necessary or desirable for the use of such forest preserves by the public. Such forest preserve districts shall also have power to lease not to exceed 40 acres of the lands and grounds acquired by it, for a term of not more than 99 years to veterans' organizations as grounds for convalescing sick and disabled veterans, and as a place upon which to construct rehabilitation quarters, or to a county as grounds for a county nursing home or convalescent home. Any such forest preserve district shall also have power to grant licenses, easements and rights‑of‑way for the construction, operation and maintenance upon, under or across any property of such district of facilities for water, sewage, telephone, telegraph, electric, gas or other public service, subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by such district. Whenever the board determines that the public interest will be subserved by vacating any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, located within a forest preserve, it may vacate that street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, by an ordinance passed by the affirmative vote of at least 3/4 of all the members of the board. The determination of the board that the nature and extent of the public use or public interest to be subserved is such as to warrant the vacation of any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, is conclusive, and the passage of such an ordinance is sufficient evidence of that determination, whether so recited in the ordinance or not. The relief to the public from further burden and responsibility of maintaining any street, roadway or driveway, or part thereof, constitutes a public use or public interest authorizing the vacation. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to authorize the board to vacate any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, that is part of any State or county highway. When property is damaged by the vacation or closing of any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, damage shall be ascertained and paid as provided by law. Except in cases where the deed, or other instrument dedicating a street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, has expressly provided for a specific devolution of the title thereto upon the abandonment or vacation thereof, whenever any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof is vacated under or by virtue of any ordinance of any forest preserve district, the title to the land in fee simple included within the street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, so vacated vests in the forest preserve district. The board of any forest preserve district is authorized to sell at fair market price, gravel, sand, earth and any other material obtained from the lands and waters owned by the district. (Source: P.A. 83‑388.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.1) Sec. 8.1. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to eminent domain or condemnation proceedings. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.2) Sec. 8.2. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to special assessments by any other unit of local government. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.3) Sec. 8.3. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to annexation without express consent of the district. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.4) Sec. 8.4. Building codes. The building codes of a county, and not the building codes of any other unit of local government in which the affected district property is located, shall apply to all construction projects on property owned by the district. (Source: P.A. 90‑481, eff. 8‑17‑97.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.5) Sec. 8.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94‑1055, eff. 1‑1‑07.)
(70 ILCS 810/9)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6412) Sec. 9. Every forest preserve district board is empowered to dedicate areas as nature preserves as provided in the "Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act", as now or hereafter amended, and to cooperate with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in matters relating to the purposes of that Act. (Source: P.A. 82‑445.)
(70 ILCS 810/10)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6413) Sec. 10. The board of each forest preserve district has the power by ordinance to purchase or lease as lessee real or personal property (including, without limitation, purchases from and leases with other units of local government, school districts, or the federal government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) for public purposes pursuant to contracts or leases which provide that the consideration for the purchase or lease may be paid in annual installments during the period not to exceed 40 years; to lease as lessee or to purchase real property or personal property for public purposes pursuant to a lease or purchase agreement which may provide that the district may, at its option, purchase the property which is subject to the agreement or lease upon terms wherein payments previously made, or a portion of them, are deducted from the purchase price of the property as provided for in the lease or agreement. The maximum amounts that will become due under the terms of the purchase or lease agreements, together with all other indebtedness of the district, however, must be within the constitutional limitations on the incurring of indebtedness for the district and for pertinent public purposes. (Source: P.A. 87‑1191; 88‑503.)
(70 ILCS 810/11)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6414) Sec. 11. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance regulate and control the speed of travel on all paths, driveways and roadways within forest preserves, and prohibit the use of such paths, driveways and roadways for racing or speeding purposes, and may exclude therefrom traffic, teams and vehicles, and may by ordinance prescribe such fines and penalties for the violation of their ordinances as cities and villages are allowed to prescribe for the violation of their ordinances. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/12)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6415) Sec. 12. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance regulate, control and license all modes of travel within forest preserves. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/13)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6416) Sec. 13. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance issue licenses for any activity reasonably connected with the purpose for which the forest preserve district has been created. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/14)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6417) Sec. 14. The board, as corporate authority of a forest preserve district, shall have power to pass and enforce all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the management of the property and conduct of the business of such district. The president of such board shall have power to appoint a secretary and an assistant secretary, and treasurer and an assistant treasurer and such other officers and such employees as may be necessary, all of whom, excepting the treasurer and attorneys, shall be under civil service rules and regulations, as provided in Section 17 of this Act. The assistant secretary and assistant treasurer shall perform the duties of the secretary and treasurer, respectively, in case of death of said officers or when said officers are unable to perform the duties of their respective offices because of absence or inability to act. All contracts for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure by forest preserve districts in excess of $25,000 shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after due advertisement, excepting work requiring personal confidence or necessary supplies under the control of monopolies, where competitive bidding is impossible. Contracts for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure of $25,000 or less may be let without advertising for bids, but whenever practicable, at least 3 competitive bids shall be obtained before letting such contract. All contracts for supplies, material or work shall be signed by the president of the board and by any such other officer as the board in its discretion may designate. Salaries of employees shall be fixed by ordinance. (Source: P.A. 94‑951, eff. 6‑27‑06.)
(70 ILCS 810/14.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6417.1) Sec. 14.1. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty‑fourth General Assembly. (Source: P.A. 84‑731.)
(70 ILCS 810/15)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6418) Sec. 15. The board shall have the right and power to appoint and maintain a sufficient police force, the members of which may have and exercise police powers over the territory within such forest preserves for the preservation of the public peace, and the observance and enforcement of the ordinances and laws, such as are conferred upon and exercised by the police of organized cities and villages; but such police force, when acting within the limits of any city or village, shall act in aid of the regular police force of such city or village and shall then be subject to the direction of its chief of police, city or village marshals, or other head thereof. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/16)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6419) Sec. 16. The board of any forest preserve district, when so requested by the treasurer of the district, shall designate one or more banks or savings and loan associations in which the funds and moneys received by the treasurer, by virtue of his office, may be deposited. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and is qualified by furnishing the statements of resources and liabilities as is required by this Section. When a new depository is designated, the board shall notify the sureties of the treasurer of that fact in writing at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The treasurer of the district shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds and moneys deposited in a bank or savings and loan association, so designated, while such funds and moneys are so deposited. No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended. Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or of any other law, each official custodian of forest preserve district funds, including, without limitation, each forest preserve district treasurer and each person properly designated as custodian for funds held by an intergovernmental risk management association or self‑insurance pool composed solely of participating park districts, forest preserve districts or park district joint recreational programs, is permitted to (i) combine moneys from more than one fund of a single forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool for the purpose of investing such moneys, (ii) enter into agreements of any definite or indefinite term regarding the deposit, redeposit, investment, reinvestment or withdrawal of forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds and (iii) join with any custodians or treasurers of forest preserve district, park district, Chicago Park District, park district joint recreational program, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds for the purpose of investing any forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds in his custody. When funds are combined for investment purposes as authorized herein, the moneys combined for such purposes shall be accounted for separately in all respects, and the earnings from such investments shall be separately and individually computed and recorded, and credited to the fund, district, park district joint recreational program, risk management association, self‑insurance pool or other entity, as the case may be, for which the investment was acquired. The grant of authority contained in this Section is cumulative and in addition to all other power or authority granted by any other law and shall not be construed as a limitation of any power or authority otherwise granted. (Source: P.A. 85‑460.)
(70 ILCS 810/17)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6420) Sec. 17. Application of human resource ordinance. Whenever the county in which any such forest preserve district is located shall be governed by any county human resource ordinance, all employees of such forest preserve district shall be selected in accordance with the human resource ordinance in such county and all such employees shall be subject at all times to the provisions of such ordinance. (Source: P.A. 90‑481, eff. 8‑17‑97.)
(70 ILCS 810/17.5) Sec. 17.5. Power to deduct wages for debts. (a) Upon receipt of notice from the comptroller of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more, a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or a housing authority of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more that a debt is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority by an employee of the District, the District may withhold, from the compensation of that employee, the amount of the debt that is due and owing and pay the amount withheld to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority; provided, however, that the amount deducted from any one salary or wage payment shall not exceed 25% of the net amount of the payment. (b) Before the District deducts any amount from any salary or wage of an employee under this Section, the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority shall certify that (i) the employee has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to dispute the debt that is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority and (ii) the employee has received notice of a wage deduction order and has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to object to the order. (c) For purposes of this Section: (1) "Net amount" means that part of the salary or
wage payment remaining after the deduction of any amounts required by law to be deducted.
(2) "Debt due and owing" means (i) a specified sum
of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority for services, work, or goods, after the period granted for payment has expired, or (ii) a specified sum of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority pursuant to a court order or order of an administrative hearing officer after the exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review.
(Source: P.A. 92‑109, eff. 7‑20‑01.)
(70 ILCS 810/18)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6421) Sec. 18. The board shall keep a record of all ordinances and other proceedings which shall be open to the inspection of any person residing in such district at all reasonable and proper times. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/19)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6422) Sec. 19. All ordinances imposing any fine or penalty or making any appropriation of money, shall within ten days after their passage, be published at least once in some newspaper published in such district or having a general circulation therein to be designated by the board and no such ordinance shall take effect until ten days after it is so published. All other ordinances and all orders or resolutions shall take effect from and after their passage unless otherwise provided therein. All ordinances, orders and resolutions and the date of publication thereof may be proven by the certificate of the secretary of such district under the seal of the corporation and when printed in book or pamphlet form and published by authority of such board, such book or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and publication of such ordinances, orders and resolutions as of the date mentioned in such book or pamphlet in all courts and places without further proof. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/20)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6423) Sec. 20. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board and be the executive officer of the district. He shall sign all ordinances, resolutions and other papers necessary to be signed and shall execute all contracts entered into by the district and perform other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance. He may veto any ordinance and any orders, resolutions and actions, or any items therein contained, of the board which provide for the purchase of real estate, or for the construction of improvements within the preserves of the district. Such veto shall be filed with the secretary of the board within 5 days after the passage of the ordinance, order, resolution or action and when so vetoed the ordinance, order, resolution or action or any item therein contained is not effective unless it is again passed by two‑thirds vote of all the members of the board. The president may vote in the same manner as the other members of the board. In the temporary absence or inability of the president, the members of the board may elect from their own number a president, pro tem. The "Yeas" and "Nays" shall be taken, and entered on the journal of the board's proceedings, upon the passage of all ordinances and all proposals to create any liability, or for the expenditure or appropriation of money. The concurrence of a majority of all the members appointed to the board is necessary to the passage of any such ordinance or proposal. In all other cases the "Yeas" and "Nays" shall be taken at the request of any member of the board and shall be entered on the journal of the board's proceedings. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/21)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6424) Sec. 21. The board may, for any of the purposes enumerated in this Act, borrow money upon the faith and credit of such district, and may issue bonds therefor. However, a district may not become indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an amount including existing indebtedness in the aggregate exceeding .345% of the assessed value of the taxable property therein, as ascertained by the last equalized assessment for State and county purposes. Except for indebtedness incurred under Section 21.1 of this Act and except for indebtedness incurred to construct, acquire, equip, repair, and renovate buildings or other improvements to land of the district or to acquire equipment for the district, no district may incur indebtedness for any purpose other than the acquisition of land including acquiring lands in fee simple along or enclosing water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned impoundments or elsewhere which are required to store flood waters or control other drainage and water conditions necessary for the preservation and management of the water resources of the district, unless the proposition to issue bonds or otherwise incur indebtedness is first certified by the district to the proper election offici
(70 ILCS 810/0.01)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6400) Sec. 0.01. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Cook County Forest Preserve District Act. (Source: P.A. 86‑1324.)
(70 ILCS 810/1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6401) Sec. 1. This Act shall apply only to forest preserve districts lying wholly within counties having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6402) Sec. 2. As used in this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms specified in Section 2.1 through 2.3 have the meanings ascribed to them in those Sections. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6403) Sec. 2.1. "Board" means the county board of commissioners when acting as the governing body of a forest preserve district. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6404) Sec. 2.2. "County" means a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/2.3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6405) Sec. 2.3. "District" means a forest preserve district wholly within a county having a population of 3,000,000 or more. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6406) Sec. 3. Any contiguous territory lying wholly within one county may be incorporated as a forest preserve district under the conditions and in the manner prescribed in Sections 1 and 2 of "An Act to provide for the creation and management of forest preserve districts in counties having a population of less than 1,000,000", approved June 27, 1913, as now or hereafter amended, and the provisions of those Sections shall apply to the same extent as if included herein. Nothing in this Act shall impair the validity of a forest preserve district organized prior to the effective date of this Act or affect any rights, obligations or privileges of such a forest preserve district, or those of any person, existing prior to the effective date of this Act. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/4)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6407) Sec. 4. All courts shall take judicial notice of all forest preserve districts organized under or otherwise subject to this Act and every such district shall constitute a body politic and corporate, may sue and be sued in all courts and places where judicial proceedings are had, and take any action authorized by law. Every such district may contract, acquire and hold real and personal property necessary for its corporate purposes and adopt a seal and alter the same at its pleasure. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/5)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6408) Sec. 5. The county board of commissioners of the county in which a forest preserve district is located shall be the forest preserve district board of such district and the president of the county board shall be the president of the forest preserve district board. The members shall act without any other pay than that already provided by law. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/6)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6409) Sec. 6. The board shall comply with the provisions of "An Act concerning the use of Illinois mined coal in certain plants and institutions", filed July 13, 1937, as heretofore or hereafter amended. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/7)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6410) Sec. 7. Any forest preserve district shall have the power to create forest preserves, and for that purpose shall have the power to acquire in fee simple in the manner hereinafter provided, and hold lands containing one or more natural forests or parts thereof or land or lands connecting such forests or parts thereof, or lands capable of being forested, for the purpose of protecting and preserving the flora, fauna, and scenic beauties within such district, and to restore, restock, protect and preserve the natural forests and such lands together with their flora and fauna, as nearly as may be, in their natural state and condition, for the purpose of the education, pleasure, and recreation of the public. Lands may be acquired in fee simple for the consolidation of such preserves into unit areas of size and form convenient and desirable for public use and economical maintenance and improvement and when in the judgment of the Board the public access, use, and enjoyment of such preserves and other purposes of this Act will be served by connecting any such preserves with forested ways or links, lands for connecting links of such width, length, and location as the Board deem necessary or desirable may be acquired in fee simple and held for such purposes and improved by forestation, roads, and pathways. Any such district may also acquire lands in fee simple along or enclosing water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned impoundments or elsewhere which, in the judgment of its Board are required to store flood waters, or control other drainage and water conditions, or to recycle secondary treated sewage effluents or wastewater through the production and sale of agricultural, silvicultural or aquacultural products, necessary for the preservation and management of the water resources of the district, provided no debris, tree, tree limbs, logs, shrubbery, or related growths and trimmings therefrom shall be deposited in, along, or upon the bank of any waters and water courses within the State of Illinois or any tributary thereto where the same shall be liable to be washed into or deposited along waters and water courses, either by normal or flood flows, as a result of storms or otherwise, which may in any manner impede or obstruct the natural flow of such waters and water courses. Unforested lands adjacent to forest preserves may also be acquired in fee simple to provide for extension of roads and forested ways around and by such preserves and for parking space for automobiles and other facilities not requiring forested areas but incidental to the use and protection thereof. All work done in or along any water course shall be done in accordance with the provisions of "An Act in relation to the regulation of the rivers, lakes, and streams of the State of Illinois," approved June 10, 1911, as heretofore and hereafter amended, insofar as such Act may be applicable. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/8)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411) Sec. 8. Any forest preserve district shall have power to acquire lands in fee simple and grounds within such district for the aforesaid purposes by gift, grant, legacy, purchase or condemnation and to construct, lay out, improve and maintain wells, power plants, comfort stations, shelter houses, paths, driveways, roadways and other improvements and facilities in and through such forest preserves as it shall deem necessary or desirable for the use of such forest preserves by the public. Such forest preserve districts shall also have power to lease not to exceed 40 acres of the lands and grounds acquired by it, for a term of not more than 99 years to veterans' organizations as grounds for convalescing sick and disabled veterans, and as a place upon which to construct rehabilitation quarters, or to a county as grounds for a county nursing home or convalescent home. Any such forest preserve district shall also have power to grant licenses, easements and rights‑of‑way for the construction, operation and maintenance upon, under or across any property of such district of facilities for water, sewage, telephone, telegraph, electric, gas or other public service, subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by such district. Whenever the board determines that the public interest will be subserved by vacating any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, located within a forest preserve, it may vacate that street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, by an ordinance passed by the affirmative vote of at least 3/4 of all the members of the board. The determination of the board that the nature and extent of the public use or public interest to be subserved is such as to warrant the vacation of any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, is conclusive, and the passage of such an ordinance is sufficient evidence of that determination, whether so recited in the ordinance or not. The relief to the public from further burden and responsibility of maintaining any street, roadway or driveway, or part thereof, constitutes a public use or public interest authorizing the vacation. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to authorize the board to vacate any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, that is part of any State or county highway. When property is damaged by the vacation or closing of any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, damage shall be ascertained and paid as provided by law. Except in cases where the deed, or other instrument dedicating a street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, has expressly provided for a specific devolution of the title thereto upon the abandonment or vacation thereof, whenever any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof is vacated under or by virtue of any ordinance of any forest preserve district, the title to the land in fee simple included within the street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, so vacated vests in the forest preserve district. The board of any forest preserve district is authorized to sell at fair market price, gravel, sand, earth and any other material obtained from the lands and waters owned by the district. (Source: P.A. 83‑388.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.1) Sec. 8.1. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to eminent domain or condemnation proceedings. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.2)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.2) Sec. 8.2. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to special assessments by any other unit of local government. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.3)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6411.3) Sec. 8.3. Property owned by a forest preserve district shall not be subject to annexation without express consent of the district. (Source: P.A. 80‑1443.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.4) Sec. 8.4. Building codes. The building codes of a county, and not the building codes of any other unit of local government in which the affected district property is located, shall apply to all construction projects on property owned by the district. (Source: P.A. 90‑481, eff. 8‑17‑97.)
(70 ILCS 810/8.5) Sec. 8.5. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94‑1055, eff. 1‑1‑07.)
(70 ILCS 810/9)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6412) Sec. 9. Every forest preserve district board is empowered to dedicate areas as nature preserves as provided in the "Illinois Natural Areas Preservation Act", as now or hereafter amended, and to cooperate with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission in matters relating to the purposes of that Act. (Source: P.A. 82‑445.)
(70 ILCS 810/10)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6413) Sec. 10. The board of each forest preserve district has the power by ordinance to purchase or lease as lessee real or personal property (including, without limitation, purchases from and leases with other units of local government, school districts, or the federal government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities) for public purposes pursuant to contracts or leases which provide that the consideration for the purchase or lease may be paid in annual installments during the period not to exceed 40 years; to lease as lessee or to purchase real property or personal property for public purposes pursuant to a lease or purchase agreement which may provide that the district may, at its option, purchase the property which is subject to the agreement or lease upon terms wherein payments previously made, or a portion of them, are deducted from the purchase price of the property as provided for in the lease or agreement. The maximum amounts that will become due under the terms of the purchase or lease agreements, together with all other indebtedness of the district, however, must be within the constitutional limitations on the incurring of indebtedness for the district and for pertinent public purposes. (Source: P.A. 87‑1191; 88‑503.)
(70 ILCS 810/11)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6414) Sec. 11. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance regulate and control the speed of travel on all paths, driveways and roadways within forest preserves, and prohibit the use of such paths, driveways and roadways for racing or speeding purposes, and may exclude therefrom traffic, teams and vehicles, and may by ordinance prescribe such fines and penalties for the violation of their ordinances as cities and villages are allowed to prescribe for the violation of their ordinances. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/12)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6415) Sec. 12. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance regulate, control and license all modes of travel within forest preserves. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/13)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6416) Sec. 13. The board of any forest preserve district may by ordinance issue licenses for any activity reasonably connected with the purpose for which the forest preserve district has been created. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/14)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6417) Sec. 14. The board, as corporate authority of a forest preserve district, shall have power to pass and enforce all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the management of the property and conduct of the business of such district. The president of such board shall have power to appoint a secretary and an assistant secretary, and treasurer and an assistant treasurer and such other officers and such employees as may be necessary, all of whom, excepting the treasurer and attorneys, shall be under civil service rules and regulations, as provided in Section 17 of this Act. The assistant secretary and assistant treasurer shall perform the duties of the secretary and treasurer, respectively, in case of death of said officers or when said officers are unable to perform the duties of their respective offices because of absence or inability to act. All contracts for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure by forest preserve districts in excess of $25,000 shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after due advertisement, excepting work requiring personal confidence or necessary supplies under the control of monopolies, where competitive bidding is impossible. Contracts for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure of $25,000 or less may be let without advertising for bids, but whenever practicable, at least 3 competitive bids shall be obtained before letting such contract. All contracts for supplies, material or work shall be signed by the president of the board and by any such other officer as the board in its discretion may designate. Salaries of employees shall be fixed by ordinance. (Source: P.A. 94‑951, eff. 6‑27‑06.)
(70 ILCS 810/14.1)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6417.1) Sec. 14.1. Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved by the Eighty‑fourth General Assembly. (Source: P.A. 84‑731.)
(70 ILCS 810/15)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6418) Sec. 15. The board shall have the right and power to appoint and maintain a sufficient police force, the members of which may have and exercise police powers over the territory within such forest preserves for the preservation of the public peace, and the observance and enforcement of the ordinances and laws, such as are conferred upon and exercised by the police of organized cities and villages; but such police force, when acting within the limits of any city or village, shall act in aid of the regular police force of such city or village and shall then be subject to the direction of its chief of police, city or village marshals, or other head thereof. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/16)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6419) Sec. 16. The board of any forest preserve district, when so requested by the treasurer of the district, shall designate one or more banks or savings and loan associations in which the funds and moneys received by the treasurer, by virtue of his office, may be deposited. When a bank or savings and loan association has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and is qualified by furnishing the statements of resources and liabilities as is required by this Section. When a new depository is designated, the board shall notify the sureties of the treasurer of that fact in writing at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. The treasurer of the district shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds and moneys deposited in a bank or savings and loan association, so designated, while such funds and moneys are so deposited. No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as now or hereafter amended. Notwithstanding any provision of this Act or of any other law, each official custodian of forest preserve district funds, including, without limitation, each forest preserve district treasurer and each person properly designated as custodian for funds held by an intergovernmental risk management association or self‑insurance pool composed solely of participating park districts, forest preserve districts or park district joint recreational programs, is permitted to (i) combine moneys from more than one fund of a single forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool for the purpose of investing such moneys, (ii) enter into agreements of any definite or indefinite term regarding the deposit, redeposit, investment, reinvestment or withdrawal of forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds and (iii) join with any custodians or treasurers of forest preserve district, park district, Chicago Park District, park district joint recreational program, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds for the purpose of investing any forest preserve district, risk management association or self‑insurance pool funds in his custody. When funds are combined for investment purposes as authorized herein, the moneys combined for such purposes shall be accounted for separately in all respects, and the earnings from such investments shall be separately and individually computed and recorded, and credited to the fund, district, park district joint recreational program, risk management association, self‑insurance pool or other entity, as the case may be, for which the investment was acquired. The grant of authority contained in this Section is cumulative and in addition to all other power or authority granted by any other law and shall not be construed as a limitation of any power or authority otherwise granted. (Source: P.A. 85‑460.)
(70 ILCS 810/17)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6420) Sec. 17. Application of human resource ordinance. Whenever the county in which any such forest preserve district is located shall be governed by any county human resource ordinance, all employees of such forest preserve district shall be selected in accordance with the human resource ordinance in such county and all such employees shall be subject at all times to the provisions of such ordinance. (Source: P.A. 90‑481, eff. 8‑17‑97.)
(70 ILCS 810/17.5) Sec. 17.5. Power to deduct wages for debts. (a) Upon receipt of notice from the comptroller of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more, a county with a population of 3,000,000 or more, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or a housing authority of a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more that a debt is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority by an employee of the District, the District may withhold, from the compensation of that employee, the amount of the debt that is due and owing and pay the amount withheld to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority; provided, however, that the amount deducted from any one salary or wage payment shall not exceed 25% of the net amount of the payment. (b) Before the District deducts any amount from any salary or wage of an employee under this Section, the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority shall certify that (i) the employee has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to dispute the debt that is due and owing the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority and (ii) the employee has received notice of a wage deduction order and has been afforded an opportunity for a hearing to object to the order. (c) For purposes of this Section: (1) "Net amount" means that part of the salary or
wage payment remaining after the deduction of any amounts required by law to be deducted.
(2) "Debt due and owing" means (i) a specified sum
of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority for services, work, or goods, after the period granted for payment has expired, or (ii) a specified sum of money owed to the municipality, the county, the Chicago Park District, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Board of Education, or the housing authority pursuant to a court order or order of an administrative hearing officer after the exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review.
(Source: P.A. 92‑109, eff. 7‑20‑01.)
(70 ILCS 810/18)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6421) Sec. 18. The board shall keep a record of all ordinances and other proceedings which shall be open to the inspection of any person residing in such district at all reasonable and proper times. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/19)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6422) Sec. 19. All ordinances imposing any fine or penalty or making any appropriation of money, shall within ten days after their passage, be published at least once in some newspaper published in such district or having a general circulation therein to be designated by the board and no such ordinance shall take effect until ten days after it is so published. All other ordinances and all orders or resolutions shall take effect from and after their passage unless otherwise provided therein. All ordinances, orders and resolutions and the date of publication thereof may be proven by the certificate of the secretary of such district under the seal of the corporation and when printed in book or pamphlet form and published by authority of such board, such book or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and publication of such ordinances, orders and resolutions as of the date mentioned in such book or pamphlet in all courts and places without further proof. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/20)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6423) Sec. 20. The president shall preside at all meetings of the board and be the executive officer of the district. He shall sign all ordinances, resolutions and other papers necessary to be signed and shall execute all contracts entered into by the district and perform other duties as may be prescribed by ordinance. He may veto any ordinance and any orders, resolutions and actions, or any items therein contained, of the board which provide for the purchase of real estate, or for the construction of improvements within the preserves of the district. Such veto shall be filed with the secretary of the board within 5 days after the passage of the ordinance, order, resolution or action and when so vetoed the ordinance, order, resolution or action or any item therein contained is not effective unless it is again passed by two‑thirds vote of all the members of the board. The president may vote in the same manner as the other members of the board. In the temporary absence or inability of the president, the members of the board may elect from their own number a president, pro tem. The "Yeas" and "Nays" shall be taken, and entered on the journal of the board's proceedings, upon the passage of all ordinances and all proposals to create any liability, or for the expenditure or appropriation of money. The concurrence of a majority of all the members appointed to the board is necessary to the passage of any such ordinance or proposal. In all other cases the "Yeas" and "Nays" shall be taken at the request of any member of the board and shall be entered on the journal of the board's proceedings. (Source: P.A. 80‑320.)
(70 ILCS 810/21)(from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6424) Sec. 21. The board may, for any of the purposes enumerated in this Act, borrow money upon the faith and credit of such district, and may issue bonds therefor. However, a district may not become indebted in any manner or for any purpose to an amount including existing indebtedness in the aggregate exceeding .345% of the assessed value of the taxable property therein, as ascertained by the last equalized assessment for State and county purposes. Except for indebtedness incurred under Section 21.1 of this Act and except for indebtedness incurred to construct, acquire, equip, repair, and renovate buildings or other improvements to land of the district or to acquire equipment for the district, no district may incur indebtedness for any purpose other than the acquisition of land including acquiring lands in fee simple along or enclosing water courses, drainage ways, lakes, ponds, planned impoundments or elsewhere which are required to store flood waters or control other drainage and water conditions necessary for the preservation and management of the water resources of the district, unless the proposition to issue bonds or otherwise incur indebtedness is first certified by the district to the proper election offici
