70 ILCS 510/4

(70 ILCS 510/4) (from Ch. 85, par. 6204)

Sec. 4. (a) There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation named the Quad Cities Regional Economic Development Authority. The territorial jurisdiction of the Authority is that geographic area within the boundaries of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Stephenson, Lee, Rock Island, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Winnebago, and Boone counties in the State of Illinois and any navigable waters and air space located therein.

(b) The governing and administrative powers of the Authority shall be vested in a body consisting of 18 members including, as an ex officio member, the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, or his or her designee. The other members of the Authority shall be designated "public members", 6 of whom shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Of the 6 members appointed by the Governor, one shall be from a city within the Authority's territory with a population of 25,000 or more and the remainder shall be appointed at large. Of the 6 members appointed by the Governor, 2 members shall have business or finance experience. One member shall be appointed by each of the county board chairmen of Rock Island, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Winnebago, and Boone Counties with the advice and consent of the respective county board. Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, one additional public member shall be appointed by each of the county board chairpersons of Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Stephenson, and Lee counties with the advice and consent of the respective county board. Of the public members added by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly, one shall serve for a one-year term, 2 shall serve for 2-year terms, and 2 shall serve for 3-year terms, to be determined by lot. Their successors shall serve for 3-year terms. Within 60 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, one additional public member shall be appointed by each of the county board chairperson of Winnebago and Boone counties with the advice and consent of the respective county board. Of the public members added by this amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, one shall serve for a 2-year term and one shall serve for a 3-year term, to be determined by lot. Their successors shall serve for 3-year terms. All public members shall reside within the territorial jurisdiction of this Act. Ten members shall constitute a quorum, and the Board may not meet or take any action without a quorum present. The public members shall be persons of recognized ability and experience in one or more of the following areas: economic development, finance, banking, industrial development, small business management, real estate development, community development, venture finance, organized labor or civic, community or neighborhood organization. The Chairman of the Authority shall be a public member elected by the affirmative vote of not fewer than 10 members of the Authority. The term of the Chairman shall be one year.

(c) The terms of the initial members of the Authority shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this Act, except (i) the terms of those members added by this amendatory Act of 1989 shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989 and (ii) the terms of those members added by this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly shall begin 30 days after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly. Of the 10 public members appointed pursuant to this Act, 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1989, 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1990, 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1991, 2 (both of whom shall be appointed by the Governor) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 1992, and 2 (one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor and one of whom shall be appointed by the county board chairman of Knox County) shall serve until the third Monday in January, 2004. The initial terms of the members appointed by the county board chairmen (other than the county board chairman of Knox County) shall be determined by lot. All successors shall be appointed by the original appointing authority and hold office for a term of 3 years commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which their term commences, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the public members shall be filled for the remainder of the term. In case of vacancy in a Governor-appointed membership when the Senate is not in session, the Governor may make a temporary appointment until the next meeting of the Senate when a person shall be nominated to fill such office, and any person so nominated who is confirmed by the Senate shall hold office during the remainder of the term and until a successor shall be appointed and qualified. Members of the Authority shall not be entitled to compensation for their services as members but shall be entitled to reimbursement for all necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties as members.

(d) The Governor may remove any public member of the Authority appointed by the Governor in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. The Chairman of a county board may remove any public member of the Authority appointed by such Chairman in the case of incompetency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.

(e) The Board shall appoint an Executive Director who shall have a background in finance, including familiarity with the legal and procedural requirements of issuing bonds, real estate or economic development and administration. The Executive Director shall hold office at the discretion of the Board. The Executive Director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the Authority, shall direct and supervise its administrative affairs and general management, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the members and shall receive compensation fixed by the Authority. The Authority may engage the services of such other agents and employees, including attorneys, appraisers, engineers, accountants, credit analysts and other consultants, as it may deem advisable and may prescribe their duties and fix their compensation.

(f) The Board shall create a task force to study and make recommendations to the Board on the economic development of the territory within the jurisdiction of this Act. The number of members constituting the task force shall be set by the Board and may vary from time to time. The Board may set a specific date by which the task force is to submit its final report and recommendations to the Board.

(Source: P.A. 103-517, eff. 8-11-23.)