Public Act 096-0838
 
SB2106 Enrolled LRB096 02926 HLH 12940 b

    AN ACT concerning local government.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
Massac-Metropolis Port District Act.
 
    Section 5. Definitions. As used in this Act, the following
terms shall have the following meanings unless a different
meaning clearly appears from the context:
    "Aircraft" means any contrivance now known or hereafter
invented, used, or designed for navigation of, or flight in,
the air.
    "Airport" means any locality, either land or water, which
is used or designed for the landing and taking off of aircraft,
or for the location of runways, landing fields, airdromes,
hangars, buildings, structures, airport roadways, and other
facilities.
    "Airport hazard" means any structure, or object of natural
growth, located on or in the vicinity of an airport, or any use
of land near an airport which is hazardous to the use of such
airport for the landing and take off of aircraft.
    "Approach" means any path, course, or zone defined by an
ordinance of the District or by other lawful regulation, on the
ground or in the air, or both, for the use of aircraft in
landing and taking off from an airport located within the
District.
    "Board" means the Massac-Metropolis Port District Board.
    "Commercial aircraft" means any aircraft other than public
aircraft engaged in the business of transporting persons or
property.
    "District" or "Port District" means the Massac-Metropolis
Port District created by this Act.
    "Export trading companies" means a person, partnership,
association, public or private corporation or similar
organization, whether operated for profit or not-for-profit,
which is organized and operated principally for purposes of
exporting goods or services produced in the United States,
importing goods or services produced in foreign countries,
conducting third country trading or facilitating such trade by
providing one or more services in support of such trade.
    "General obligation bond" means any bond issued by the
District any part of the principal or interest of which bond is
to be paid by taxation.
    "Governmental agency" means the federal government, the
State, and any unit of local government or school district, and
any agency or instrumentality, corporate or otherwise,
thereof.
    "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois.
    "Mayor" means the Mayor of the City of Metropolis, the
Mayor of the City of Brookport, or the President of the Village
of Joppa, as the case may require.
    "Navigable waters" means any public waters which are or can
be made usable for water commerce.
    "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership,
corporation, both domestic and foreign, company, association,
or joint stock association; and includes any trustee, receiver,
assignee, or personal representative thereof.
    "Port facilities" means all public structures, except
terminal facilities as defined herein, that are in, over,
under, or adjacent to navigable waters and are necessary for or
incident to the furtherance of water commerce and includes the
widening and deepening of slips, harbors, and navigable waters.
    "Private aircraft" means any aircraft other than public and
commercial aircraft.
    "Public aircraft" means an aircraft used exclusively in the
governmental service of the United States, or of any state or
of any public agency, including military and naval aircraft.
    "Public airport" means an airport owned by a Port District,
an airport authority or other public agency which is used or is
intended for use by public, commercial, and private aircraft
and by persons owning, managing, operating or desiring to use,
inspect, or repair any such aircraft or to use any such airport
for aeronautical purposes.
    "Public interest" means the protection, furtherance and
advancement of the general welfare and of public health and
safety and public necessity and convenience in respect to
aeronautics.
    "Revenue bond" means any bond issued by the District the
principal and interest of which bond is payable solely from
revenues or income derived from terminal, terminal facilities,
or port facilities of the District.
    "Terminal" means a public place, station, or depot for
receiving and delivering baggage, mail, freight, or express
matter and for any combination of such purposes, in connection
with the transportation of persons and property on water or
land or in the air.
    "Terminal facilities" means all land, buildings,
structures, improvements, equipment, and appliances useful in
the operation of public warehouse, storage, and transportation
facilities for the accommodation of or in connection with
commerce by water or land or in the air or useful as an aid, or
constituting an advantage or convenience to, the safe landing,
taking off and navigation of aircraft, or the safe and
efficient operation or maintenance of a public airport; except
that nothing in this definition contained shall be interpreted
as granting authority to the District to acquire, purchase,
create, erect, or construct a bridge across any waterway which
serves as a boundary between the State of Illinois and any
other state.
 
    Section 10. Massac-Metropolis Port District. There is
created a political subdivision, body politic, and municipal
corporation by the name of the Massac-Metropolis Port District
embracing all of the area within the corporate limits of Massac
County. Territory may be annexed to the District in the manner
hereinafter provided in this Act. The District may sue and be
sued in its corporate name but execution shall not in any case
issue against any property of the District. It may adopt a
common seal and change the same at pleasure.
 
    Section 15. Property of District; exemption. All property
of every kind owned by the Port District shall be exempt from
taxation. However, a tax may be levied upon a lessee of the
Port District by reason of the value of a leasehold estate
separate and apart from the fee simple title, or upon such
improvements as are constructed and owned by others than the
Port District.
    All property of the Port District shall be public grounds
owned by a municipal corporation and used exclusively for
public purposes within the tax exemption provisions of Sections
15-10, 15-15, 15-20, 15-30, 15-75, 15-140, 15-155, and 15-160
of the Property Tax Code.
 
    Section 20. Rights and powers. The Port District has the
following rights and powers:
    (a) To issue permits: for the construction of all wharves,
piers, dolphins, booms, weirs, breakwaters, bulkheads,
jetties, bridges or other structures of any kind, over, under,
in, or within 40 feet of any navigable waters within the Port
District; for the deposit of rock, earth, sand, or other
material, or any matter of any kind or description in said
waters; except that nothing contained in this subsection (a)
shall be construed so that it will be deemed necessary to
obtain a permit from the District for the erection, operation,
or maintenance of any bridge crossing a waterway which serves
as a boundary between the State of Illinois and any other
state, when said erection, operation, or maintenance is
performed by any city within the District.
    (b) To prevent or remove obstructions in navigable waters,
including the removal of wrecks.
    (c) To locate and establish dock lines and shore or harbor
lines.
    (d) To regulate the anchorage, moorage, and speed of water
borne vessels and to establish and enforce regulations for the
operation of bridges, except nothing contained in this
subsection (d) shall be construed to give the District
authority to regulate the operation of any bridge crossing a
waterway which serves as a boundary between the State of
Illinois and any other state, when such operation is performed
or to be performed by any city within the District.
    (e) To acquire, own, construct, lease, operate, and
maintain terminals, terminal facilities, and port facilities,
and to fix and collect just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory
charges for the use of such facilities. The charges so
collected shall be used to defray the reasonable expenses of
the Port District and to pay the principal of and interest on
any revenue bonds issued by the District.
    (f) To locate, establish, and maintain a public airport,
public airports and public airport facilities within its
corporate limits or within or upon any body of water adjacent
thereto, and to construct, develop, expand, extend, and improve
any such airport or airport facility.
    (g) To operate, maintain, manage, lease, sublease, and to
make and enter into contracts for the use, operation, or
management of, and to provide rules and regulations for, the
operation, management or use of, any public airport or public
airport facility.
    (h) To fix, charge, and collect reasonable rentals, tolls,
fees, and charges for the use of any public airport, or any
part thereof, or any public airport facility.
    (i) To establish, maintain, extend, and improve roadways
and approaches by land, water, or air to any such airport and
to contract or otherwise provide, by condemnation if necessary,
for the removal of any airport hazard or the removal or
relocation of all private structures, railways, mains, pipes,
conduits, wires, poles, and all other facilities and equipment
which may interfere with the location, expansion, development,
or improvement of airports or with the safe approach thereto or
takeoff therefrom by aircraft, and to pay the cost of removal
or relocation; and, subject to the Airport Zoning Act, to
adopt, administer, and enforce airport zoning regulations for
territory which is within its corporate limits or which extends
not more than 2 miles beyond its corporate limits.
    (j) To restrict the height of any object of natural growth
or structure or structures within the vicinity of any airport
or within the lines of an approach to any airport and, when
necessary, for the reduction in the height of any such existing
object or structure, to enter into an agreement for such
reduction or to accomplish same by condemnation.
    (k) To agree with the State or federal governments or with
any public agency in respect to the removal and relocation of
any object of natural growth, airport hazard, or any structure
or building within the vicinity of any airport or within an
approach and which is owned or within the control of such
government or agency and to pay all or an agreed portion of the
cost of such removal or relocation.
    (l) For the prevention of accidents, for the furtherance
and protection of public health, safety, and convenience in
respect to aeronautics, for the protection of property and
persons within the District from any hazard or nuisance
resulting from the flight of aircraft, for the prevention of
interference between, or collision of, aircraft while in flight
or upon the ground, for the prevention or abatement of
nuisances in the air or upon the ground or for the extension of
increase in the usefulness or safety of any public airport or
public airport facility owned by the District, the District may
regulate and restrict the flight of aircraft while within or
above the incorporated territory of the District.
    (m) To police its physical property only and all waterways
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. The
use of any such public airport or public airport facility of
the District shall be subject to the reasonable regulation and
control of the District and upon such reasonable terms and
conditions as shall be established by its Board. A regulatory
ordinance of the District adopted under any provisions of this
Section may provide for a suspension or revocation of any
rights or privileges within the control of the District for a
violation of any such regulatory ordinance. Nothing in this
Section or in other provisions of this Act shall be construed
to authorize the Board to establish or enforce any regulation
or rule in respect to aviation, or the operation or maintenance
of any airport facility within its jurisdiction, which is in
conflict with any federal or State law or regulation applicable
to the same subject matter.
    (n) To enter into agreements with the corporate authorities
or governing body of any other municipal corporation or any
political subdivision of this State to pay the reasonable
expense of services furnished by such municipal corporation or
political subdivision for or on account of income producing
properties of the District.
    (o) To enter into contracts dealing in any manner with the
objects and purposes of this Act.
    (p) To acquire, own, lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of
interests in and to real property and improvements situated
thereon and in personal property necessary to fulfill the
purposes of the District.
    (q) To designate the fiscal year for the District.
    (r) To engage in any activity or operation which is
incidental to and in furtherance of efficient operation to
accomplish the District's primary purpose.
    (s) To build, construct, repair, and maintain levees.
 
    Section 25. Prompt payment. Purchases made pursuant to this
Act shall be made in compliance with the Local Government
Prompt Payment Act.
 
    Section 30. Acquisition of property. The District has power
to acquire and accept by purchase, lease, gift, grant, or
otherwise any property and rights useful for its purposes and
to provide for the development of channels, ports, harbors,
airports, airfields, terminals, port facilities, and terminal
facilities adequate to serve the needs of commerce within the
District. The District may acquire real or personal property or
any rights therein in the manner, as near as may be, as is
provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under
the Eminent Domain Act; except that no rights or property of
any kind or character now or hereafter owned, leased,
controlled, or operated and used by, or necessary for the
actual operations of, any common carrier engaged in interstate
commerce, or of any other public utility subject to the
jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission, shall be
taken or appropriated by the District without first obtaining
the approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Section of this
Act, the District shall have full power and authority to lease
any or all of its facilities for operation and maintenance to
any person for such length of time and upon such terms as the
District shall deem necessary.
    Also, the District may lease to others for any period of
time, not to exceed 99 years, upon such terms as its Board may
determine, any of its real property, rights-of-way or
privileges, or any interest therein, or any part thereof, for
industrial, manufacturing, commercial, or harbor purposes,
which is in the opinion of the Port District Board no longer
required for its primary purposes in the development of port
and harbor facilities for the use of public transportation, or
which may not be immediately needed for such purposes, but
where such leases will in the opinion of the Port District
Board aid and promote such purposes, and in conjunction with
such leases, the District may grant rights-of-way and
privileges across the property of the District, which
rights-of-way and privileges may be assignable and irrevocable
during the term of any such lease and may include the right to
enter upon the property of the District to do such things as
may be necessary for the enjoyment of such leases,
rights-of-way, and privileges, and such leases may contain such
conditions and retain such interest therein as may be deemed
for the best interest of the District by such Board.
    Also, the District shall have the right to grant easements
and permits for the use of any such real property,
rights-of-way, or privileges which in the opinion of the Board
will not interfere with the use thereof by the District for its
primary purposes and such easements and permits may contain
such conditions and retain such interest therein as may be
deemed for the best interest of the District by the Board.
    With respect to any and all leases, easements,
rights-of-way, privileges, and permits made or granted by the
Board, the Board may agree upon and collect the rentals,
charges, and fees that may be deemed for the best interest of
the District. Such rentals, charges, and fees shall be used to
defray the reasonable expenses of the District and to pay the
principal of and interest on any revenue bonds issued by the
District.
 
    Section 35. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to
acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject
to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent
Domain Act.
 
    Section 40. Export trading companies. The District is
authorized and empowered to establish, organize, own, acquire,
participate in, operate, sell, and transfer export trading
companies, whether as shareholder, partner, or co-venturer,
alone or in cooperation with federal, state or local
governmental authorities, federal, state, or national banking
associations, or any other public or private corporation or
person or persons. Export trading companies and all of the
property thereof, wholly or partly owned, directly or
indirectly, by the District, shall have the same privileges and
immunities as accorded to the District; and export trading
companies may borrow money or obtain financial assistance from
private lenders or federal and state governmental authorities
or issue general obligation and revenue bonds with the same
kinds of security, and in accordance with the same procedures,
restrictions, and privileges applicable when the District
obtains financial assistance or issues bonds for any of its
other authorized purposes. Such export trading companies are
authorized, if necessary or desirable, to apply for
certification under Title II or Title III of the Export Trading
Company Act of 1982.
 
    Section 45. Grants, loans, and appropriations. The
District has power to apply for and accept grants, loans, or
appropriations from the federal government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof to be used for any of the purposes of
the District and to enter into any agreements with the federal
government in relation to such grants, loans, or
appropriations.
    The District may petition any federal, state, municipal, or
local authority, administrative, judicial and legislative,
having jurisdiction in the premises, for the adoption and
execution of any physical improvement, change in method or
system of handling freight, warehousing, docking, lightering,
and transfer of freight, which in the opinion of the District
is designed to improve or better the handling of commerce in
and through the Port District or improve terminal or
transportation facilities therein.
 
    Section 50. Insurance contracts. The District has power to
procure and enter into contracts for any type of insurance or
indemnity against loss or damage to property from any cause,
including loss of use and occupancy, against death or injury of
any person, against employers' liability, against any act of
any member, officer, or employee of the District in the
performance of the duties of his or her office or employment or
any other insurable risk.
 
    Section 55. Rentals, charges, and fees. With respect to any
and all leases, easements, rights-of-way, privileges, and
permits made or granted by the Board, the Board may agree upon
and collect the rentals, charges, and fees that are deemed to
be in the best interest of the District. Those rentals,
charges, and fees must be used to defray the reasonable
expenses of the District and to pay the principal and interest
upon any revenue bonds issued by the District.
 
    Section 60. Borrowing money. The District has the
continuing power to borrow money and issue either general
obligation bonds after approval by referendum as hereinafter
provided or revenue bonds without referendum approval for the
purpose of acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, extending
or improving terminals, terminal facilities, airfields,
airports, and port facilities, and for acquiring any property
and equipment useful for the construction, reconstruction,
extension, improvement, or operation of its terminals,
terminal facilities, airfields, airports, and port facilities,
and for acquiring necessary cash working funds.
    The District may pursuant to ordinance adopted by the Board
and without submitting the question to referendum from time to
time issue and dispose of its interest bearing revenue bonds
and may also in the same manner from time to time issue and
dispose of its interest bearing revenue bonds to refund any
revenue bonds at maturity or pursuant to redemption provisions
or at any time before maturity with the consent of the holders
thereof.
    If the Board desires to issue general obligation bonds it
shall adopt an ordinance specifying the amount of bonds to be
issued, the purpose for which they will be issued, the maximum
rate of interest they will bear which shall not be more than
that permitted in the Bond Authorization Act. Such interest may
be paid semiannually. The ordinance shall also specify the date
of maturity which shall not be more than 20 years after the
date of issuance and shall levy a tax that will be required to
amortize such bonds. This ordinance shall not be effective
until it has been submitted to referendum of, and approved by,
the legal voters of the District. The Board shall certify the
ordinance and 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. If a majority of
the vote on the proposition is in favor of the issuance of such
general obligation bonds, the county clerk shall annually
extend taxes against all taxable property within the District
at a rate sufficient to pay the maturing principal and interest
of these bonds.
    The proposition shall be in substantially the following
form:
        Shall general obligation bonds in the amount of
    (dollars) be issued by the Massac-Metropolis Port District
    for the (purpose) maturing in no more than (years), bearing
    not more than (interest)%, and a tax levied to pay the
    principal and interest thereof?
The election authority must record the votes as "Yes" or "No".
 
    Section 65. Revenue bonds. All revenue bonds shall be
payable solely from the revenues or income to be derived from
the terminals, terminal facilities, airfields, airports, or
port facilities or any part thereof. The bonds may bear such
date or dates and may mature at such time or times not
exceeding 40 years from their respective dates, all as may be
provided in the ordinance authorizing their issuance. All
bonds, whether revenue or general obligation, may bear interest
at such rate or rates as permitted in the Bond Authorization
Act. Such interest may be paid semiannually. All such bonds may
be in such form, may carry such registration privileges, may be
executed in such manner, may be payable at such place or
places, may be made subject to redemption in such manner and
upon such terms, with or without premium as is stated on the
face thereof, may be authenticated in such manner and may
contain such terms and covenants, all as may be provided in the
ordinance authorizing issuance. The holder or holders of any
bonds or interest coupons appertaining thereto issued by the
District may bring civil actions to compel the performance and
observance by the District or any of its officers, agents, or
employees of any contract or covenant made by the District with
the holders of such bonds or interest coupons and to compel the
District and any of its officers, agents, or employees to
perform any duties required to be performed for the benefit of
the holders of any such bonds or interest coupons by the
provision in the ordinance authorizing their issuance, and to
enjoin the District and any of its officers, agents, or
employees from taking any action in conflict with any such
contract or covenant, including the establishment of charges,
fees, and rates for the use of facilities as hereinafter
provided.
    Notwithstanding the form and tenor of any bond, whether
revenue or general obligation, and in the absence of any
express recital on the face thereof that it is nonnegotiable,
all such bonds shall be negotiable instruments. Pending the
preparation and execution of any such bonds, temporary bonds
may be issued with or without interest coupons as may be
provided by ordinance.
 
    Section 70. Issuing bonds. All bonds, whether general
obligation or revenue, shall be issued and sold by the Board in
such manner as the Board shall determine. However, if any bonds
are issued to bear interest at the maximum rate of interest
allowed by Section 60 or 65, whichever may be applicable, the
bonds shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest.
The selling price of bonds bearing interest at a rate less than
the maximum allowable interest rate per annum shall be such
that the interest cost to the District of the money received
from the bond sale shall not exceed the maximum annual interest
rate allowed by Section 60 or 65, whichever may be applicable,
computed to absolute maturity of such bonds according to
standard tables of bond values.
 
    Section 75. Rates and charges for facilities. Upon the
issue of any revenue bonds as herein provided, the Board shall
fix and establish rates, charges, and fees for the use of
facilities acquired, constructed, reconstructed, extended, or
improved with the proceeds derived from the sale of said
revenue bonds sufficient at all times with other revenues of
the District, if any, to pay (a) the cost of maintaining,
repairing, regulating, and operating the said facilities; and
(b) the bonds and interest thereon as they become due, and all
sinking fund requirements and other requirements provided by
the ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds or as
provided by any trust agreement executed to secure payment
thereof.
    To secure the payment of any or all revenue bonds and for
the purpose of setting forth the covenants and undertaking of
the District in connection with the issuance of revenue bonds
and the issuance of any additional revenue bonds payable from
such revenue income to be derived from the terminals, terminal
facilities, airports, airfields, and port facilities, the
District may execute and deliver a trust agreement or
agreements except that no lien upon any physical property of
the District shall be created thereby. A remedy for any breach
or default of the terms of any such trust agreement by the
District may be by mandamus proceedings in the circuit court to
compel performance and compliance therewith, but the trust
agreement may prescribe by whom or on whose behalf such action
may be instituted.
 
    Section 80. Bonds not obligations of the State or district.
Under no circumstances shall any bonds issued by the District
or any other obligation of the District be or become an
indebtedness or obligation of the State of Illinois or of any
other political subdivision of or municipality within the
State.
    No revenue bond shall be or become an indebtedness of the
District within the purview of any constitutional limitation or
provision, and it shall be plainly stated on the face of each
revenue bond that it does not constitute such an indebtedness,
or obligation but is payable solely from the revenues or income
derived from terminals, terminal facilities, airports,
airfields, and port facilities.
 
    Section 85. Tax levy. The Board may, after referendum
approval, levy a tax for corporate purposes of the District
annually at the rate approved by referendum, but which rate
shall not exceed 0.05% of the value of all taxable property
within the Port District as equalized or assessed by the
Department of Revenue. If the Board desires to levy such a tax
it shall order that the question be submitted at an election to
be held within the District. The Board shall certify its order
and the question to the proper election officials, who shall
submit the question to the voters at an election in accordance
with the general election law. The Board shall cause the result
of the election to be entered upon the records of the Port
District. If a majority of the vote on the question is in favor
of the proposition, the Board may annually thereafter levy a
tax for corporate purposes at a rate not to exceed that
approved by referendum but in no event to exceed 0.05% of the
value of all taxable property within the District as equalized
or assessed by the Department of Revenue.
    The question shall be in substantially the following form:
        Shall the Massac-Metropolis Port District levy a tax
    for corporate purposes annually at a rate not to exceed
    0.05% of the value of taxable property as equalized or
    assessed by the Department of Revenue?
The election authority shall record the votes as "Yes" or "No".
 
    Section 90. Permits. It is unlawful to make any fill or
deposit of rock, earth, sand, or other material, or any refuse
matter of any kind or description, or build or commence the
building of any wharf, pier, dolphin, boom, weir, breakwater,
bulkhead, jetty, bridge, or other structure over, under, or
within 40 feet of any navigable waters within the Port District
without first submitting the plans, profiles, and
specifications therefor, and such other data and information as
may be required, to the Port District and receiving a permit
therefor; and any person, corporation, company, city or
municipality or other agency, which shall do any of the things
above prohibited, without securing a permit therefor as above
provided, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor; provided,
however, that no such permit shall be required in the case of
any project for which a permit shall have been secured from a
proper governmental agency prior to the creation of the Port
District nor shall any such permit be required in the case of
any project to be undertaken by any city, village, or
incorporated town in the District, or any combination thereof,
for which a permit is required from a governmental agency other
than the District before the municipality can proceed with such
project. And in such event, such municipalities, or any of
them, shall give at least 10 days' notice to the District of
the application for a permit for any such project from a
governmental agency other than the District so that the
District may be present and represent its position relative to
such application before such other governmental agency. Any
structure, fill, or deposit erected or made in any of the
public bodies of water within the Port District, in violation
of the provisions of this Section, is a purpresture and may be
abated as such at the expense of the person, corporation,
company, municipality, or other agency responsible therefor,
or if, in the discretion of the Port District, it is decided
that such structure, fill, or deposit may remain, the Port
District may fix such rule, regulation, requirement,
restrictions, or rentals or require and compel such changes,
modifications, and repairs as shall be necessary to protect the
interest of the Port District.
 
    Section 95. Board members. The governing and
administrative body of the Port District shall be a Board
consisting of 7 members, to be known as the Massac-Metropolis
Port District Board. All members of the Board shall be
residents of the District. The members of the Board shall serve
without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual
expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties.
However, any member of the Board who is appointed to the office
of secretary or treasurer may receive compensation for his or
her services as such officer. No member of the Board or
employee of the District shall have any private financial
interest, profit, or benefit in any contract, work, or business
of the District nor in the sale or lease of any property to or
from the District.
 
    Section 100. Board appointments; terms. The Governor shall
appoint 4 members of the Board, each Mayor of the
municipalities of Metropolis, Joppa, and Brookport shall
appoint one member of the Board. All initial appointments shall
be made within 60 days after this Act takes effect. Of the 4
members initially appointed by the Governor, 2 shall be
appointed for initial terms expiring June 1, 2016 and one for
an initial term expiring June 1, 2012 and one for an initial
term expiring June 1, 2011. The terms of the members initially
appointed by the respective Mayors shall expire June 1, 2012.
At the expiration of the term of any member, his or her
successor shall be appointed by the Governor or the respective
Mayor in like manner and with like regard to place of residence
of the appointee, as in the case of appointments for the
initial terms.
    After the expiration of initial terms, each successor shall
hold office for the term of 3 years beginning the first day of
June of the year in which the term of office commences. In the
case of a vacancy during the term of office of any member
appointed by the Governor, the Governor shall make an
appointment for the remainder of the term vacant and until a
successor is appointed and qualified. In case of a vacancy
during the term of office of any member appointed by a Mayor,
the proper Mayor shall make an appointment for the remainder of
the term vacant and until a successor is appointed and
qualified. The Governor and each Mayor shall certify their
respective appointments to the Secretary of State. Within 30
days after certification of his or her appointment, and before
entering upon the duties of his or her office, each member of
the Board shall take and subscribe the constitutional oath of
office and file it in the office of the Secretary of State.
 
    Section 105. Resignation and removal of Board members.
Members of the Board shall hold office until their respective
successors have been appointed and qualified. Any member may
resign from his or her office to take effect when his or her
successor has been appointed and has qualified. The Governor
and each Mayor, respectively, may remove any member of the
Board they have appointed in case of incompetency, neglect of
duty, or malfeasance in office. They shall give such member a
copy of the charges against him or her and an opportunity to be
publicly heard in person or by counsel in his or her own
defense upon not less than 10 days' notice. In case of failure
to qualify within the time required, or of abandonment of his
or her office, or in case of death, conviction of a felony or
removal from office, the office of such member shall become
vacant. Each vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by
appointment in like manner as in case of expiration of the term
of a member of the Board.
 
    Section 110. Organization of the Board. As soon as possible
after the appointment of the initial members, the Board shall
organize for the transaction of business, select a chairman and
a temporary secretary from its own number, and adopt bylaws and
regulations to govern its proceedings. The initial chairman and
successors shall be elected by the Board from time to time for
the term of his or her office as a member of the Board.
 
    Section 115. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall
be held at least once in each calendar month, the time and
place of such meetings to be fixed by the Board. Four members
of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. All action of the Board shall be by ordinance or
resolution and the affirmative vote of at least 4 members shall
be necessary for the adoption of any ordinance or resolution.
All such ordinances and resolutions before taking effect shall
be approved by the chairman of the Board, and if he or she
approves thereof he or she shall sign the same, and such as he
or she does not approve he or she shall return to the Board
with his or her objections thereto in writing at the next
regular meeting of the Board occurring after the passage
thereof. But in the case the chairman fails to return any
ordinance or resolution with his or her objections thereto by
the time aforesaid, the chairman shall be deemed to have
approved the same and it shall take effect accordingly. Upon
the return of any ordinance or resolution by the chairman with
his or her objections, the vote by which the same was passed
shall be reconsidered by the Board, and if upon such
reconsideration said ordinance or resolution is passed by the
affirmative vote of at least 5 members, it shall go into effect
notwithstanding the veto of the chairman. All ordinances,
resolutions, and all proceedings of the District and all
documents and records in its possession shall be public
records, and open to public inspection, except such documents
and records as are kept or prepared by the Board for use in
negotiations, legal actions, or proceedings to which the
District is a party.
 
    Section 120. Secretary and treasurer; oath and bond. The
Board shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer, who need not
be members of the Board, to hold office during the pleasure of
the Board, and fix their duties and compensation. The secretary
and treasurer shall be residents of the District. Before
entering upon the duties of their respective offices, they
shall take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office, and
the treasurer shall execute a bond with corporate sureties to
be approved by the Board. The bond shall be payable to the
District in whatever penal sum may be directed by the Board
conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the
office and the payment of all money received by him or her
according to law and the orders of the Board. The Board may, at
any time, require a new bond from the treasurer in such penal
sum as may then be determined by the Board. The obligation of
the sureties shall not extend to any loss sustained by the
insolvency, failure, or closing of any savings and loan
association or national or State bank wherein the treasurer has
deposited funds if the bank or savings and loan association has
been approved by the Board as a depositary for these funds. The
oaths of office and the treasurer's bond shall be filed in the
principal office of the District.
 
    Section 125. Deposits; checks or drafts. All funds
deposited by the treasurer in any bank or savings and loan
association shall be placed in the name of the District and
shall be withdrawn or paid out only by check or draft upon the
bank or savings and loan association, signed by the treasurer
and countersigned by the chairman of the Board. Subject to
prior approval of such designations by a majority of the Board,
the chairman may designate any other Board member or any
officer of the District to affix the signature of the chairman
and the treasurer may designate any other officer of the
District to affix the signature of the treasurer to any check
or draft for payment of salaries or wages and for payment of
any other obligation of not more than $2,500.
    No bank or savings and loan association shall receive
public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has
complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section
6 of the Public Funds Investment Act.
    In case any officer whose signature appears upon any check
or draft issued pursuant to this Act, ceases to hold his or her
office before the delivery thereof to the payee, his or her
signature nevertheless shall be valid and sufficient for all
purposes with the same effect as if he or she had remained in
office until delivery thereof.
 
    Section 130. General manager. The Board may appoint a
general manager who shall be a person of recognized ability and
business experience to hold office during the pleasure of the
Board. The general manager shall have management of the
properties and business of the District and the employees
thereof subject to the general control of the Board, shall
direct the enforcement of all ordinances, resolutions, rules,
and regulations of the Board, and shall perform such other
duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board. The
Board may appoint a general attorney and a chief engineer, and
shall provide for the appointment of other officers, attorneys,
engineers, consultants, agents, and employees as may be
necessary. It shall define their duties and may require bonds
of such of them as the Board may designate. The general
manager, general attorney, chief engineer, and all other
officers provided for pursuant to this Section shall be exempt
from taking and subscribing any oath of office and shall not be
members of the Board. The compensation of the general manager,
general attorney, chief engineer, and all other officers,
attorneys, consultants, agents, and employees shall be fixed by
the Board.
 
    Section 135. Fines and penalties. The Board has power to
pass all ordinances and make all rules and regulations proper
or necessary, and to carry into effect the powers granted to
the District, with such fines or penalties as may be deemed
proper. All fines and penalties shall be imposed by ordinances,
which shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation
in the area embraced by the District. No such ordinance shall
take effect until 10 days after its publication.
 
    Section 140. Report and financial statement. Within 60 days
after the end of each fiscal year, the Board shall cause to be
prepared and printed a complete and detailed report and
financial statement of the operations and assets and
liabilities of the Port District. A reasonably sufficient
number of copies of such report shall be printed for
distribution to persons interested, upon request, and a copy
thereof shall be filed with the Governor and the county clerk
and the presiding officer of the county board of Massac County.
A copy of such report shall be addressed to and mailed to the
corporate authorities of each municipality within the area of
the District.
 
    Section 145. Investigations. The Board may investigate
conditions in which it has an interest within the area of the
District, the enforcement of its ordinances, rules and
regulations, and the action, conduct, and efficiency of all
officers, agents, and employees of the District. In the conduct
of such investigations, the Board may hold public hearings on
its own motion, and shall do so on complaint of any
municipality within the District. Each member of the Board
shall have power to administer oaths, and the secretary, by
order of the Board, shall issue subpoenas to secure the
attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of
books and papers relevant to such investigations and to any
hearing before the Board or any member thereof.
    Any circuit court of this State, upon application of the
Board, or any member thereof, may in its discretion compel the
attendance of witnesses, the production of books and papers,
and giving of testimony before the Board or before any member
thereof or any officers' committee appointed by the Board, by
attachment for contempt or otherwise in the same manner as the
production of evidence may be compelled before the court.
 
    Section 150. Administrative Review Law. All final
administrative decisions of the Board hereunder shall be
subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of the
Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and
modifications thereof, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto.
The term "administrative decision" is defined as in Section
3-101 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
 
    Section 155. Records. In the conduct of any investigation
authorized by Section 145, the Port District shall, at its
expense, provide a stenographer to take down all testimony and
shall preserve a record of such proceedings. The notice of
hearing, complaint, and all other documents in the nature of
pleadings and written motions filed in the proceedings, the
transcript of testimony and the orders or decision of the Board
constitutes the record of such proceedings.
    The Port District is not required to certify any record or
file any answer or otherwise appear in any proceeding for
judicial review of an administrative decision unless the party
asking for review deposits with the clerk of the court the sum
of 75 cents per page of the record representing the costs of
such certification. Failure to make such deposit is grounds for
dismissal of the action.
 
    Section 160. Annexation. Territory which is contiguous to
the District and which is not included within any other port
district may be annexed to and become a part of the District in
the manner provided in Section 165 or 170, whichever may be
applicable.
 
    Section 165. Petition for annexation. At least 5% of the
legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed
addition to the District may petition the circuit court for the
county in which the major part of the District is situated, 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 to whom the petition is
addressed, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the county in
which such petition is made 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:
        Shall (description of the territory proposed to be
    annexed) join the Massac-Metropolis Port District?
The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No".
    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 Massac-Metropolis 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.
 
    Section 170. Annexation of territory having no legal
voters. If there is territory contiguous to the District which
has no legal voters residing therein, a petition to annex such
territory, signed by all the owners of record of such territory
may be filed with the circuit court for the county in which the
major part of the District is situated. A time and place for a
hearing on the subject of the petition shall be fixed and
notice thereof shall be given in the manner provided in Section
165. At such hearing, any owner of land in the territory
proposed to be annexed, the District and any resident of the
District may appear and be heard touching on the sufficiency of
the petition. If the court finds that the petition satisfies
the requirements of this Section, it shall enter an order
stating that thenceforth such territory shall be an integral
part of the Massac-Metropolis Port District and subject to all
of the benefits of service and responsibilities, including the
assumption of a proportionate share of the general obligation
bonded indebtedness, if any, of the District. The circuit clerk
shall transmit a certified copy of the order of the court to
the circuit clerk of any other county in which the annexed
territory is situated.
 
    Section 175. Severability. If any provision of this Act is
held invalid such provision shall be deemed to be excised from
this Act and the invalidity thereof shall not affect any of the
other provisions of this Act. If the application of any
provision of this Act to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, it shall not affect the application to such persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is invalid. The
provisions of this Act shall not be considered as impairing,
altering, modifying, repealing, or superseding any of the
jurisdiction or powers of the Illinois Commerce Commission or
of the Department of Natural Resources under the Rivers, Lakes,
and Streams Act. Nothing in this Act or done under its
authority shall apply to, restrict, limit, or interfere with
the use of any terminal facility or port facility owned or
operated by any private person for the storage or handling or
transfer of any commodity moving in interstate commerce or the
use of the land and facilities of a common carrier or other
public utility and the space above such land and facilities in
the business of such common carrier or other public utility,
without approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission and
without the payment of just compensation to any such common
carrier or other public utility for damages resulting from any
such restriction, limitation, or interference.
 
    Section 180. Non-applicability. The provisions of the
Illinois Municipal Code, or the provisions of the Airport
Authorities Act, or the provisions of the General County
Airport and Landing Field Act, shall not be effective within
the area of the District insofar as the provisions of said Acts
conflict with the provisions of this Act or grant substantially
the same powers to any municipal corporation or political
subdivision as are granted to the District by this Act.
 
    Section 185. The Eminent Domain Act is amended by adding
Section 15-5-45 as follows:
 
    (735 ILCS 30/15-5-45 new)
    Sec. 15-5-45. Eminent domain powers in new Acts. The
following provisions of law may include express grants of the
power to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain:
 
Massac-Metropolis Port District Act; Massac-Metropolis Port
District; for general purposes.
 
    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.