(70 ILCS 1855/37) (from Ch. 19, par. 487)

Sec. 37.

At least 5% of the legal voters resident within the limits
of such proposed addition to the District shall petition the circuit
court for St. Clair county to cause the question to be submitted to the
legal voters of such proposed additional territory, whether such
proposed additional territory shall become a part of the District and
assume a proportionate share of the general obligation bonded
indebtedness, if any, of the District. Such petition shall be addressed
to the court and shall contain a definite description of the boundaries
of the territory to be embraced in the proposed addition.

Upon filing any such petition with the clerk of the court, the court shall
fix a time and place for a hearing upon the subject of the petition.

Notice shall be given by the court, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff,
at the order and direction of the court, of the time and place of the hearing
upon the subject of the petition at least 20 days prior thereto by at least
one publication thereof in any newspaper having general circulation within
the area proposed to be annexed, and by mailing a copy of such notice to
the mayor or president of the board of trustees of all cities, villages
and incorporated towns within the District.

At the hearing all persons residing in or owning property situated in
the area proposed to be annexed to the District may appear and be heard
touching upon the sufficiency of the petition. If the court finds that
the petition does not comply with the requirements, of the law, the court
shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the petition
is sufficient the court shall certify the proposition to the proper election
officials, who shall submit the proposition to the voters at an election
in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the requirements
of the general election law, the notice of such referendum
shall specify the purpose of such referendum with a description of the area
proposed to be annexed to the District.

The proposition shall be in substantially
the following form:

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For joining the Southwest
Regional Port District and
assuming a proportionate share
of general obligation bonded
indebtedness, if any.
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Against Joining the Southwest
Regional Port District and
assuming a proportionate share
of general obligation bonded
indebtedness, if any.
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The court shall cause a statement of the result of such election to be
filed in the records of the court.

If a majority of the votes cast upon the question of
annexation to the District are in favor of becoming a part of such
District, the court shall then enter an order stating that such
additional territory shall thenceforth be an integral part of the
Southwest Regional Port District and subject to all of the benefits of
service and responsibilities of the District. The circuit clerk shall
transmit a certified copy of the order to the circuit clerk of any other
county in which any of the territory affected is situated.

(Source: P.A. 83-343.)