Sen. Suzi Schmidt

Filed: 4/30/2012

 

 


 

 


 
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1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3892

2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3892 by replacing
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4    "Section 5. The Downstate Forest Preserve District Act is
5amended by changing Sections 6 and 8 as follows:
 
6    (70 ILCS 805/6)  (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6309)
7    Sec. 6. Acquisition of property. Any such District shall
8have power to acquire lands and grounds for the aforesaid
9purposes by lease, or in fee simple by gift, grant, legacy,
10purchase or condemnation, or to acquire easements in land, and
11to construct, lay out, improve and maintain wells, power
12plants, comfort stations, shelter houses, paths, driveways,
13public roads, roadways and other improvements and facilities in
14and through such forest preserves as they shall deem necessary
15or desirable for the use of such forest preserves by the public
16and may acquire, develop, improve and maintain waterways in

 

 

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1conjunction with the district. No district with a population
2less than 600,000 shall have the power to purchase, condemn,
3lease or acquire an easement in property within a municipality
4without the concurrence of the governing body of the
5municipality, except where such district is acquiring land for
6a linear park or trail not to exceed 100 yards in width or is
7acquiring land contiguous to an existing park or forest
8preserve, and no municipality shall annex any land for the
9purpose of defeating a District acquisition once the District
10has given notice of intent to acquire a specified parcel of
11land. No district with a population of less than 500,000 shall
12(i) have the power to condemn property for a linear park or
13trail within a municipality without the concurrence of the
14governing body of the municipality or (ii) have the power to
15condemn property for a linear park or trail in an
16unincorporated area without the concurrence of the governing
17body of the township within which the property is located or
18(iii) once having commenced a proceeding to acquire land by
19condemnation, dismiss or abandon that proceeding without the
20consent of the property owners. No district shall establish a
21trail surface within 50 feet of an occupied dwelling which was
22in existence prior to the approval of the acquisition by the
23district without obtaining permission of the owners of the
24premises or the concurrence of the governing body of the
25municipality or township within which the property is located.
26All acquisitions of land by a district with a population less

 

 

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1than 600,000 within 1 1/2 miles of a municipality shall be
2preceded by a conference with the mayor or president of the
3municipality or his designated agent. If a forest preserve
4district is in negotiations for acquisition of land with owners
5of land adjacent to a municipality, the annexation of that land
6shall be deferred for 6 months. The district shall have no
7power to acquire an interest in real estate situated outside
8the district by the exercise of the right of eminent domain, by
9purchase or by lease, but shall have the power to acquire any
10such property, or an easement in any such property, which is
11contiguous to the district by gift, legacy, grant, or lease by
12the State of Illinois, subject to approval of the county board
13of the county, and of any forest preserve district or
14conservation district, within which the property is located.
15The district shall have the same control of and power over
16land, an interest in which it has so acquired, as over forest
17preserves within the district. If any of the powers to acquire
18lands and hold or improve the same given to Forest Preserve
19Districts, by Sections 5 and 6 of this Act should be held
20invalid, such invalidity shall not invalidate the remainder of
21this Act or any of the other powers herein given and conferred
22upon the Forest Preserve Districts. Such Forest Preserve
23Districts shall also have power to lease not to exceed 40 acres
24of the lands and grounds acquired by it, for a term of not more
25than 99 years to veterans' organizations as grounds for
26convalescing sick and disabled veterans, and as a place upon

 

 

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1which to construct rehabilitation quarters, or to a county as
2grounds for a county nursing home or convalescent home. Any
3such Forest Preserve District shall also have power to grant
4licenses, easements and rights-of-way for the construction,
5operation and maintenance upon, under or across any property of
6such District of facilities for water, sewage, telephone,
7telegraph, electric, gas or other public service, subject to
8such terms and conditions as may be determined by such
9District.
10    Any such District may purchase, but not condemn, a parcel
11of land and sell a portion thereof for not less than fair
12market value pursuant to resolution of the Board. Such
13resolution shall be passed by the affirmative vote of at least
142/3 of all members of the board within 30 days after
15acquisition by the district of such parcel.
16    The corporate authorities of a forest preserve district
17that (i) is located in a county that has more than 700,000
18inhabitants, (ii) borders a county that has 1,000,000 or more
19inhabitants, and (iii) also borders another state, by ordinance
20or resolution, may authorize the sale or public auction of a
21structure located on land owned by the district if (i) the
22structure existed on the land prior to the district's
23acquisition of the land, (ii) two-thirds of the members of the
24board of commissioners then holding office find that the
25structure is not necessary or is not useful to or for the best
26interest of the forest preserve district, (iii) a condition of

 

 

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1sale or auction requires the transferee of the structure to
2remove the structure from district land, and (iv) prior to the
3sale or auction, the fair market value of the structure is
4determined by a written MAI-certified appraisal or by a written
5certified appraisal of a State certified or licensed real
6estate appraiser and the appraisal is available for public
7inspection. The ordinance or resolution shall (i) direct the
8sale to be conducted by the staff of the district, a listing
9with local licensed real estate agencies (in which case the
10terms of the agent's compensation shall be included in the
11ordinance or resolution), or by public auction, (ii) be
12published within 7 days after its passage in a newspaper
13published in the district, and (iii) contain pertinent
14information concerning the nature of the structure and any
15terms or conditions of sale or auction. No earlier than 14 days
16after the publication, the corporate authorities may accept any
17offer for the structure determined by them to be in the best
18interest of the district by a vote of two-thirds of the
19corporate authorities then holding office.
20    Whenever the board of any forest preserve district
21determines that the public interest will be subserved by
22vacating any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof,
23located within a forest preserve, it may vacate that street,
24roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, by an ordinance passed
25by the affirmative vote of at least 3/4 of all the members of
26the board, except that the affirmative vote of at least 6/7 of

 

 

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1all the members of the board is required if the board members
2are elected under Section 3c of this Act. This vote shall be
3taken by ayes and nays and entered in the records of the board.
4    The determination of the board that the nature and extent
5of the public use or public interest to be subserved is such as
6to warrant the vacation of any street, roadway, or driveway, or
7part thereof, is conclusive, and the passage of such an
8ordinance is sufficient evidence of that determination,
9whether so recited in the ordinance or not. The relief to the
10public from further burden and responsibility of maintaining
11any street, roadway or driveway, or part thereof, constitutes a
12public use or public interest authorizing the vacation.
13    Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to
14authorize the board of any forest preserve district to vacate
15any street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, that is part
16of any State or county highway.
17    When property is damaged by the vacation or closing of any
18street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, damage shall be
19ascertained and paid as provided by law.
20    Except in cases where the deed, or other instrument
21dedicating a street, roadway, or driveway, or part thereof, has
22expressly provided for a specific devolution of the title
23thereto upon the abandonment or vacation thereof, and except
24where such street, roadway or driveway, or part thereof, is
25held by the district by lease, or where the district holds an
26easement in the land included within the street, roadway or

 

 

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1driveway, whenever any street, roadway, or driveway, or part
2thereof is vacated under or by virtue of any ordinance of any
3forest preserve district, the title to the land in fee simple
4included within the street, roadway, or driveway, or part
5thereof, so vacated vests in the forest preserve district.
6    The board of any forest preserve district is authorized to
7sell at fair market price, gravel, sand, earth and any other
8material obtained from the lands and waters owned by the
9district.
10    For the purposes of this Section, "acquiring land" includes
11acquiring a fee simple, lease or easement in land.
12(Source: P.A. 93-247, eff. 7-22-03.)
 
13    (70 ILCS 805/8)  (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 6315)
14    Sec. 8. Powers and duties of corporate authority and
15officers; contracts; salaries.
16    (a) The board shall be the corporate authority of such
17forest preserve district and shall have power to pass and
18enforce all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the
19management of the property and conduct of the business of such
20district. The president of such board shall have power to
21appoint such employees as may be necessary. In counties with
22population of less than 3,000,000, within 60 days after their
23selection the commissioners appointed under the provisions of
24Section 3a of this Act shall organize by selecting from their
25members a president, secretary, treasurer and such other

 

 

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1officers as are deemed necessary who shall hold office for the
2fiscal year in which elected and until their successors are
3selected and qualify. In the one district in existence on July
41, 1977, that is managed by an appointed board of
5commissioners, the incumbent president and the other officers
6appointed in the manner as originally prescribed in this Act
7shall hold such offices until the completion of their
8respective terms or in the case of the officers other than
9president until their successors are appointed by said
10president, but in all cases not to extend beyond January 1,
111980 and until their successors are selected and qualify.
12Thereafter, the officers shall be selected in the manner as
13prescribed in this Section except that their first term of
14office shall not expire until June 30, 1981 and until their
15successors are selected and qualify.
16    (b) In any county, city, village, incorporated town or
17sanitary district where the corporate authorities act as the
18governing body of a forest preserve district, the person
19exercising the powers of the president of the board shall have
20power to appoint a secretary and an assistant secretary and
21treasurer and an assistant treasurer and such other officers
22and such employees as may be necessary. The assistant secretary
23and assistant treasurer shall perform the duties of the
24secretary and treasurer, respectively in case of death of such
25officers or when such officers are unable to perform the duties
26of their respective offices. All contracts for supplies,

 

 

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1material or work involving an expenditure in excess of $20,000
2shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after
3advertising at least once in one or more newspapers of general
4circulation within the district, excepting work requiring
5personal confidence or necessary supplies under the control of
6monopolies, where competitive bidding is impossible. Contracts
7for supplies, material or work involving an expenditure of
8$20,000 or less may be let without advertising for bids, but
9whenever practicable, at least 3 competitive bids shall be
10obtained before letting such contract. All contracts for
11supplies, material or work shall be signed by the president of
12the board of commissioners or by any such other officer as the
13board in its discretion may designate.
14    (c) The president of any board of commissioners appointed
15under the provisions of Section 3a of this Act shall receive a
16salary not to exceed the sum of $2500 per annum and the salary
17of other members of the board so appointed shall not exceed
18$1500 per annum. Salaries of the commissioners, officers and
19employees shall be fixed by ordinance.
20    (d) Whenever a forest preserve district owns any personal
21property that, in the opinion of three-fifths of the members of
22the board of commissioners is no longer necessary, useful to,
23or for the best interests of the forest preserve district, then
24three-fifths of the members of the board, at any regular
25meeting or any special meeting called for that purpose by an
26ordinance or resolution that includes a general description of

 

 

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1the personal property, may authorize the conveyance or sale of
2that personal property in any manner that they may designate,
3with or without advertising the sale.
4(Source: P.A. 93-897, eff. 1-1-05.)
 
5    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
6becoming law.".