(70 ILCS 410/18) (from Ch. 96 1/2, par. 7128)
Sec. 18.
Not less than 10% of the voters of a district which has been in
existence for at least 3 years may petition the circuit court of the
county within the district having the largest population to cause the
question to be submitted to the voters of such district whether the
district will dissolve.
Upon the filing of such petition with the circuit court, the circuit
clerk shall give notice of the time and place of a hearing upon the
subject of the petition which shall be inserted in one or more daily or
weekly newspapers published within the district and furnished to the
board of the conservation district, the Department of
Natural Resources, and the county board of each county within the district at
least 20 days before such hearing. If no daily or weekly newspaper is
published within such district, notice may be given by posting at least 15
copies in each county in such district at least 20 days before such hearing in
conspicuous public places as far separated from each other as reasonably
possible.
At the time and place fixed for such public hearing the circuit court shall
hear all persons who desire to be heard, and if the circuit court shall find
that the provisions of this Act have been complied with then the court shall
order a referendum to be held in the district to determine the question of
dissolution of the district. The clerk of the circuit court shall certify the
question to the proper election officials who shall submit the question to the
voters of the district in accordance with the general election law.
The clerk of the circuit court shall cause a statement of the results of such
referendum to be entered of record in the circuit court, and if such district
shall lie in more than one county, a certified copy thereof shall be filed with
the clerk of the circuit court of each such other county who shall enter the
same of record in the circuit court of such county. If a majority of the votes
cast in the referendum are in favor of the dissolution of the conservation
district, such district shall thenceforth be deemed to be dissolved.
If the vote is not in favor of the dissolution of the district, the
proposition to dissolve the district shall not again be submitted to a
vote for a period of 3 years. If the vote is in favor of dissolution of
the district, the board shall close up the affairs of the district and
make the necessary conveyances of the property of the district.
All money remaining after the business affairs of the conservation
district have been closed up and all the debts and obligations of the
district have been paid shall be paid to the county in which such
district is located. If the district is located in more than one county,
then all such money remaining shall be paid to each county on a pro rata
basis of the assessed value of property of the district located in each
county. All conveyances of real property shall be subject to the approval
of the Department of Natural Resources and the
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
If there are any bonds of the conservation district outstanding and
unpaid at the time the district is dissolved, such district shall remain
liable for such bond indebtedness and the district may continue to levy
and extend taxes upon the taxable property in such territory for the
purpose of amortizing such bonds until such time as the bonds are
retired.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)
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