Illinois Compiled Statutes 70 ILCS 410 — Conservation District Act.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Conservation District Act

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Conservation District Act. (Source: Laws 1963, p. 3000.)

As used in this Act unless the context otherwise requires: (a) "District" means a conservation district organized under this Act, "board" means the board of trustees of such district and "trustee" means a trustee of such district. (b) "Open land" or "open space" means any space or area of land or water the preservation…

The purpose of this Act is to provide for the creation of conservation districts

The purpose of this Act is to provide for the creation of conservation districts. Such districts may, and their principal purpose is to, acquire in fee or a lesser right or interest, preserve and maintain wildland, other open land, scenic roadways and pathways; hold such real property, with or without public access, fo…

Not less than 1% of the voters in any county having less than 1,000,000 population which is not organized as a forest preserve district may petition the circuit court of such county to order the question to be submitted to the voters of such county whether a conservation district, the boundaries of which shall be coext…

Board of trustees

Board of trustees. (a) The affairs of a conservation district shall be managed by a board consisting of 5 trustees, except as otherwise provided in this Section. If the boundaries of the district are coextensive with the boundaries of one county, the trustees shall be residents of that county. If the district embraces…

Officers and employees

Officers and employees. As soon as possible after the initial election or the initial appointments, as the case may be, the trustees shall organize by selecting from their members a president, secretary, treasurer, and other officers as are deemed necessary, who shall hold office for 2 years in the case of an elected b…

Deposits

Deposits. The board of any 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. Each bank or savings and loan association designated as a deposi…

Actions of the board of a legislative character shall be in the form of ordinances

Actions of the board of a legislative character shall be in the form of ordinances. All ordinances imposing any penalty or making any appropriations shall be published once in at least one newspaper published in said district, or if no newspaper of general circulation is published therein, by posting copies of the same…

All courts shall take judicial notice of the existence of a conservation district and of the area of jurisdiction of an existing district and every such district shall constitute a body corporate and politic and as such may sue and be sued in all courts. (Source: P.A. 83-345.)

Every district shall seek the guidance of and consult with the Department of Natural Resources on all matters relating to conservation and recreation policies and plans

Every district shall seek the guidance of and consult with the Department of Natural Resources on all matters relating to conservation and recreation policies and plans. In addition to the limitations and restrictions on districts otherwise provided in this Act, the Department of Natural Resources may adopt rules which…

Every district shall consider the preservation of natural conditions and protection of flora and fauna as part of its principal purpose and to that end shall set aside a substantial portion of its land to remain in an essentially undisturbed condition. A district is empowered to dedicate areas as nature preserves as pr…

To the extent necessary to carry out the purpose of this Act and in addition to any other powers, duties and functions vested in a district by law, but subject to such limitations and restrictions as are imposed elsewhere by this Act or another law, a district is authorized and empowered: (a) To adopt by-laws, adopt an…

In acquiring the fee or any lesser right in real property, or in acquiring equipment or other personal property by purchase under this Act, a district may enter into contracts for such purchases providing for payment in installments over a period of time not more than 10 years. The indebtedness incurred under this Sect…

Eminent domain or condemnation

Eminent domain or condemnation. Property owned by a conservation district may not be subject to eminent domain or condemnation proceedings. (Source: P.A. 91-629, eff. 8-19-99.)

Special assessments

Special assessments. Property owned by a conservation district may not be subject to special assessments by any other unit of local government. (Source: P.A. 91-629, eff. 8-19-99.)

Annexation

Annexation. Property owned by a conservation district may not be subject to annexation without the express consent of the district. (Source: P.A. 91-629, eff. 8-19-99.)

Eminent domain

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.)

The fiscal year of each district shall commence April 1 and extend through the following March 31

The fiscal year of each district shall commence April 1 and extend through the following March 31. The board shall, within the first quarter of each fiscal year, adopt a combined annual budget and appropriation ordinance as provided in the Illinois Municipal Budget Law. In a district located entirely within a county wi…

(a) Not less than 5% of the voters in any district may petition the board of that district to levy, in addition to all other taxes which the board is now or may hereafter be authorized to levy, an annual tax for the purpose of providing staff, special educational programming, equipment, supplies, maintenance of facilit…

Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved September 21, 1985

Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in compliance with the "Local Government Prompt Payment Act", approved September 21, 1985. (Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

Gifts, contributions and bequests of money and all licenses, fees and charges and other revenue or other money received or collected by the district shall be deposited in the treasury of the district to be used for the purchase of land, property and equipment and the payment of expenses incurred in carrying out the act…

(a) Whenever a district does not have sufficient money in its treasury to meet all necessary expenses and liabilities thereof, it may issue tax anticipation warrants

(a) Whenever a district does not have sufficient money in its treasury to meet all necessary expenses and liabilities thereof, it may issue tax anticipation warrants. Such issue of tax anticipation warrants shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2 of the Warrants and Jurors Certificates Act. (b) For the purpose…

When the board of a district proposes to incur indebtedness and issue bonds, other than tax anticipation warrants, for the purpose of development of real property as provided in subsection (c) of Section 15 of this Act, or for the purpose of incurring indebtedness in the aggregate over 0.575% as provided in subsection…

Any district has the power from time to time to construct, equip, extend, improve, maintain, and operate recreational facilities, including but not limited to sand beaches, swimming pools, lodges, housekeeping and sleeping cabins, golf courses, toboggan slides and ski areas, campgrounds, marinas or any combination ther…

Whenever the Board of Trustees of any district determines to construct, equip, extend or improve any such facility or facilities or any combination thereof and to issue bonds pursuant to Sections 15

Whenever the Board of Trustees of any district determines to construct, equip, extend or improve any such facility or facilities or any combination thereof and to issue bonds pursuant to Sections 15.2 through 15.9 of this Act to pay the cost thereof, such board shall adopt an ordinance describing in a general way the c…