70 ILCS 410/12

(70 ILCS 410/12) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7112)

Sec. 12.

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 and use a common seal, enter into contracts,
acquire and hold real and personal estate and take such other actions as
may be necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs.

(b) To make and publish all ordinances, rules and regulations necessary
for the management and protection of its property and the conduct of its
affairs.

(c) To study and ascertain the district's wildland and other open space
resources and outdoor recreation facilities, the need for preserving such
resources and providing such facilities and the extent to which such needs
are being currently met and to prepare and adopt a co-ordinated plan of
areas and facilities to meet such needs.

(d) To acquire by gift, legacy, purchase, condemnation
in the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under
the Eminent Domain Act, lease, agreement or
otherwise the fee or any lesser right or interest in real property and to
hold the same with or without public access for open space, wildland,
scenic roadway, pathway, outdoor recreation, or other conservation
benefits.  A district that is entirely within a county of under 200,000
inhabitants and contiguous to a county of more than 2,000,000
						
						inhabitants
and that is authorized by referendum as provided in subsection (d) of
Section 15 to incur indebtedness over 0.575% but not to exceed 1.725% may
acquire an interest in real estate by condemnation only if approved by an
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of trustees authorized
for that district; such a district may exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose
of any portion of any interest in real estate acquired by it by any means
within 2 years of acquiring that interest, provided that a public hearing on
the exchange, sale or other disposition of such real estate or interest therein
is held prior to such action.

The Department of Natural Resources, the county
board, or the governing
body of any municipality, district or public corporation may, upon request
of the conservation district, set apart and transfer any real or personal
property owned or controlled by it and not devoted or dedicated to any
other inconsistent public use, to the conservation district.  In acquiring
or accepting land or rights thereto, due consideration shall be given to
its open space, outdoor recreation or other conservation values and no real
property shall be acquired or accepted which in the opinion of the district
or the Department of Natural Resources is of low
value from the standpoint of its proposed use.

(e) To classify, designate, plan, develop, preserve, administer and
maintain all areas, places and facilities in which it has an interest, and
construct, reconstruct, alter and renew buildings and other structures, and
equip and maintain the same.

(f) To accept gifts, grants, legacies, contributions
and appropriations
of money and other personal property for conservation purposes.

(g) To employ and fix the compensation of an executive officer who shall
be responsible to the board for the carrying out of its policies. The
executive officer shall have the power, subject to the approval of the
board, to employ and fix the compensation of such assistants and employees
as the board may consider necessary for carrying out the purposes and
provisions of this Act.

(h) To charge and collect reasonable fees for the use of such
facilities, privileges and conveniences as may be provided.

(i) To police its property and to exercise police powers in respect
thereto or in respect to the enforcement of any rule or regulation provided
by the ordinances of the district and to employ and commission police
officers and other qualified persons to enforce the same.

(j) To undertake studies pertaining to the natural history, archaeology,
history or conservation of natural resources of the county.

(k) To lease land for a period not longer than 50 years from the date of
the lease to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for construction,
reconstruction, alteration, renewal, equipment, furnishing, extension,
development, operation and maintenance of lodges, housekeeping and sleeping
cabins, swimming pools, golf courses, campgrounds, sand beaches, marinas,
convention and entertainment centers, roads and parking areas, and other
related buildings and facilities. In any lease of land leased pursuant to
this subsection (k), upon expiration of the lease title
to all structures on
the leased land shall be vested in the district.

(l) To lease any building or facility constructed, reconstructed,
altered, renewed, equipped, furnished, extended, developed, and maintained
by the district to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for operation
or development, or both, and maintenance for a period not longer than 20
years from the date of the lease.

(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)