Illinois 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB3703 Introduced / Bill

Filed 02/07/2025

                    104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB3703 Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: New Act735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new Creates the West Cook Flood Prevention District Act. Establishes the West Cook Flood Prevention District for the purpose of managing the water that flows into the Town of Cicero sewer system, including connected sewer systems. Provides that the territory of the district is the corporate limits of the Town of Cicero as well as the portions of the City of Berwyn, the Village of Oak Park, and the City of Chicago from which sewage or stormwater is discharged into the Town of Cicero sewerage system or any sewer connected within those areas. Includes provisions relating to appointment of trustees, board of trustee powers, enactment of ordinances and rules, fines and criminal offenses for ordinance violations, sewer systems, sewage and stormwater agreements, fees and special assessments that may be charged, unlawful discharge into sewers of the district, acquisition of real and personal property, eminent domain, lease of property, borrowing of money and issuance of bonds, a district assistance program, contractual requirements, and other provisions about the operation of the district. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to provide that the Board of Trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District may acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain for general district purposes. LRB104 11173 JRC 21255 b   A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB3703 Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:  New Act735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new New Act  735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new  Creates the West Cook Flood Prevention District Act. Establishes the West Cook Flood Prevention District for the purpose of managing the water that flows into the Town of Cicero sewer system, including connected sewer systems. Provides that the territory of the district is the corporate limits of the Town of Cicero as well as the portions of the City of Berwyn, the Village of Oak Park, and the City of Chicago from which sewage or stormwater is discharged into the Town of Cicero sewerage system or any sewer connected within those areas. Includes provisions relating to appointment of trustees, board of trustee powers, enactment of ordinances and rules, fines and criminal offenses for ordinance violations, sewer systems, sewage and stormwater agreements, fees and special assessments that may be charged, unlawful discharge into sewers of the district, acquisition of real and personal property, eminent domain, lease of property, borrowing of money and issuance of bonds, a district assistance program, contractual requirements, and other provisions about the operation of the district. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to provide that the Board of Trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District may acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain for general district purposes.  LRB104 11173 JRC 21255 b     LRB104 11173 JRC 21255 b   A BILL FOR
104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB3703 Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new New Act  735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new
New Act
735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new
Creates the West Cook Flood Prevention District Act. Establishes the West Cook Flood Prevention District for the purpose of managing the water that flows into the Town of Cicero sewer system, including connected sewer systems. Provides that the territory of the district is the corporate limits of the Town of Cicero as well as the portions of the City of Berwyn, the Village of Oak Park, and the City of Chicago from which sewage or stormwater is discharged into the Town of Cicero sewerage system or any sewer connected within those areas. Includes provisions relating to appointment of trustees, board of trustee powers, enactment of ordinances and rules, fines and criminal offenses for ordinance violations, sewer systems, sewage and stormwater agreements, fees and special assessments that may be charged, unlawful discharge into sewers of the district, acquisition of real and personal property, eminent domain, lease of property, borrowing of money and issuance of bonds, a district assistance program, contractual requirements, and other provisions about the operation of the district. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to provide that the Board of Trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District may acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain for general district purposes.
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A BILL FOR
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1  AN ACT concerning government.
2  Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3  represented in the General Assembly:
4  Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the West
5  Cook Flood Prevention District Act.
6  Section 5. District established. A flood prevention
7  district is formed to be known as the West Cook Flood
8  Prevention District created for the purpose of managing the
9  water that flows into the Town of Cicero sewer system,
10  including the interceptor sewer.
11  Section 10. Territory of district. The district is
12  composed of corporate limits of the Town of Cicero as well as
13  the portions of the City of Berwyn, the Village of Oak Park,
14  and the City of Chicago from which sewage or stormwater is
15  discharged into the Cicero sewerage system or any sewer
16  connected therewith. Within 90 days after the effective date
17  of this Act, the board shall meet and create a legal
18  description of the boundaries of the district.
19  Section 15. Appointment of trustees; terms. The board of
20  trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District consists
21  of the following trustees: four of the trustees shall be

 

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 State of Illinois
 2025 and 2026 HB3703 Introduced , by Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new New Act  735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new
New Act
735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new
Creates the West Cook Flood Prevention District Act. Establishes the West Cook Flood Prevention District for the purpose of managing the water that flows into the Town of Cicero sewer system, including connected sewer systems. Provides that the territory of the district is the corporate limits of the Town of Cicero as well as the portions of the City of Berwyn, the Village of Oak Park, and the City of Chicago from which sewage or stormwater is discharged into the Town of Cicero sewerage system or any sewer connected within those areas. Includes provisions relating to appointment of trustees, board of trustee powers, enactment of ordinances and rules, fines and criminal offenses for ordinance violations, sewer systems, sewage and stormwater agreements, fees and special assessments that may be charged, unlawful discharge into sewers of the district, acquisition of real and personal property, eminent domain, lease of property, borrowing of money and issuance of bonds, a district assistance program, contractual requirements, and other provisions about the operation of the district. Amends the Eminent Domain Act to provide that the Board of Trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District may acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain for general district purposes.
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A BILL FOR

 

 

New Act
735 ILCS 30/15-5-49 new



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1  residents of the Town of Cicero, one shall be a resident of the
2  City of Berwyn, one shall be a resident of the Village of Oak
3  Park, and one shall be a resident of the City of Chicago. The
4  appointment of the trustees shall be made by the president or
5  mayor of each municipality in which the trustee resides with
6  the advice and consent of the respective municipal board or
7  council.
8  In the first appointments to the board of trustees, the
9  appointing authority appointing 4 trustees shall designate 2
10  appointees to serve for a term of 3 years and 2 appointees to
11  serve for a term of 5 years, and the appointing authorities
12  appointing one trustee each shall designate their appointees
13  to serve for a term of 2 years.
14  Thereafter, trustees shall be appointed by the appropriate
15  appointing authority for a term of 4 years. A vacancy on the
16  board of trustees shall be filled by appointment by the
17  appropriate appointing authority for the remainder of the
18  unexpired term.
19  Each trustee's term shall begin on May 15 of the year in
20  which the trustee was appointed, except for the initial
21  appointments made under this Act. Within 30 days after the
22  effective date of this Act, as provided in this Section, each
23  appointing authority shall appoint the initial trustees, whose
24  terms begin 60 days after the effective date of this Act.
25  Each of the trustees, upon entering the duties of their
26  respective offices, shall execute a bond with security, in the

 

 

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1  amount and form to be approved by the board of trustees,
2  payable to the district, in the penal sum of not less than
3  $10,000, as directed by resolution or ordinance, conditioned
4  upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office.
5  Each bond shall be filed with and preserved by the board
6  secretary.
7  When a vacancy exists in the office of trustees of the
8  district, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of an
9  individual of the same municipality as that of the trustee who
10  vacated the seat by the same appointing authority as the
11  trustee who vacated the seat, with the advice and consent of
12  the district board of trustees, and the appointment shall be
13  for the remainder of the term.
14  A majority of the board of trustees constitutes a quorum.
15  A trustee or employee of the district may not be directly or
16  indirectly interested: in a contract, work, or business of the
17  district or the sale of any article, the expense, price, or
18  consideration that is paid by the district; or in the purchase
19  of a real estate or other property belonging to the district or
20  that shall be sold for taxes or assessments or by virtue of
21  legal process at the suit of the district. The trustees may
22  provide and adopt a corporate seal for the district.
23  Section 20. Board of trustees; powers; compensation. The
24  board of trustees shall exercise all the powers and manage and
25  control all the affairs and property of the district. The

 

 

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1  board shall elect by popular vote a president and
2  vice-president from among their own number. In case of the
3  death, resignation, absence from the State, or other
4  disability of the president, the powers, duties, and
5  emoluments of the office of the president shall devolve upon
6  the vice-president until the disability is removed or until a
7  successor to the president is appointed and chosen in the
8  manner provided in this Act. The board may select a secretary,
9  treasurer, and attorney and may provide by ordinance for the
10  employment of other employees as the board deems necessary for
11  the district.
12  The board may appoint such other officers and hire such
13  employees to manage and control the operations of the district
14  as it deems necessary; except that the board may not employ an
15  individual as a wastewater operator whose certificate of
16  technical competency is suspended or revoked under rules
17  adopted by the Pollution Control Board under item (4) of
18  subsection (a) of Section 13 of the Environmental Protection
19  Act. All employees selected by the board shall hold their
20  respective offices during the pleasure of the board and give a
21  bond as may be required by the board. The board may prescribe
22  the duties and fix the compensation of all the officers and
23  employees of the district. However, the president of the board
24  may not receive more than $18,000 per year, and each other
25  member of the board may not receive more than $15,000 per year.
26  The board of trustees may pass all necessary ordinances,

 

 

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1  rules, and regulations for the proper management and conduct
2  of the business of the board and of the district and for
3  carrying into effect the objects for which the district was
4  formed. The ordinances may provide for a fine for each offense
5  of not less than $100 or more than $1,000. Each day's
6  continuance of a violation shall be a separate offense. Fines
7  under this Section are recoverable by the district in a civil
8  action. The district may apply to the circuit court for
9  injunctive relief or mandamus when, in the opinion of the
10  board of trustees, the relief is necessary to protect the
11  sewerage system of the district.
12  Section 25. Ordinance enactment and rulemaking procedures.
13  (a) No ordinance or rule imposing a penalty, or assessing
14  a charge under Section 80, shall take effect until the board of
15  trustees has complied with the requirements of this Section.
16  As used in this Section, "rule" means a rule, regulation,
17  order, or resolution.
18  (1) Not less than 30 days before the effective date of
19  a proposed ordinance or rule imposing a penalty or
20  assessing a charge under Section 80, the board of trustees
21  shall publish a general notice of the proposed ordinance
22  or rule imposing a penalty or assessing a charge under
23  Section 80 in a newspaper of general circulation in the
24  district or, if no such newspaper exists, shall post
25  copies of the notice in 3 public places in the district

 

 

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1  unless persons subject to the proposed ordinance or rule
2  are named and either personally served or otherwise have
3  actual notice in accordance with the law. The notice shall
4  include the following:
5  (A) A statement of the time, place, and nature of
6  public proceedings to consider or adopt the proposed
7  ordinance or rule.
8  (B) Reference to the legal authority under which
9  the ordinance or rule is proposed.
10  (C) Either the terms or substance of the proposed
11  ordinance or rule or a description of the subjects and
12  issues involved.
13  (2) After publication or service of the notice of the
14  proposed ordinance or rule imposing a penalty or assessing
15  a charge under Section 80, the board of trustees shall
16  give interested persons a meaningful opportunity to
17  participate in the process through submission of written
18  data, views, or arguments with or without the opportunity
19  for oral presentation. After consideration of the relevant
20  matter presented, the board of trustees shall incorporate
21  in the adopted ordinance or rule a concise general
22  statement of its basis and purpose and in an accompanying
23  explanatory notice shall specifically address each comment
24  received by the board.
25  (3) The board of trustees shall make the required
26  publication or service of notice of a final ordinance or

 

 

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1  rule imposing a penalty or assessing a charge under
2  Section 80 not less than 30 days before its effective
3  date.
4  (b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no other
5  ordinance or rule shall take effect until 10 days after it is
6  published. However, notwithstanding the provisions of this
7  Section, any ordinance or rule that contains a statement of
8  its urgency in the preamble or body thereof, may take effect
9  immediately upon its passage if the board of trustees, by a
10  vote of two-thirds of all the members then holding office, so
11  direct. The decision of the board of trustees as to the urgency
12  of any ordinance is not subject to judicial review except for
13  an abuse of discretion.
14  (c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, all
15  ordinances, rules, or resolutions shall be (i) printed or
16  published in book or pamphlet form, published by authority of
17  the board of trustees, or (ii) published at least once, within
18  30 days after passage, in one or more newspapers published in
19  the district, or, if no newspaper is published therein, then
20  in one or more newspapers with a general circulation within
21  the district. Publication shall be satisfied by either item
22  (i) or (ii) notwithstanding any other provision in this Act.
23  If there is an error in printing, the publishing requirement
24  of this Act is satisfied if those portions of the ordinance or
25  rule that were erroneously printed are republished, correctly,
26  within 30 days after the original publication that contained

 

 

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1  the error. The fact that an error occurred in publication does
2  not affect the effective date of the ordinance or rule so
3  published. If the error in printing is not corrected within 30
4  days after the date of the original publication that contained
5  the error, as provided in this paragraph, the board of
6  trustees may, by ordinance, declare the ordinance or rule that
7  was erroneously published to be nevertheless valid and in
8  effect no sooner than 10 days after the date of the original
9  publication, notwithstanding the error in publication, and
10  shall order the original ordinance or rule to be published
11  once more within 30 days after the passage of the validating
12  ordinance.
13  (d) The board of trustees shall give an interested person
14  the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal
15  of an ordinance or a rule.
16  Section 30. Certification of ordinances, orders, and
17  resolutions; judicial notice. All ordinances, orders, and
18  resolutions, and the date of publication thereof, may be
19  proven by the certificate of the clerk, under the seal of the
20  district, and, when printed in book or pamphlet form and
21  purporting to be published by the board of trustees, such book
22  or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and
23  legal publication of such ordinances, orders, and resolutions
24  as of the dates mentioned in such book or pamphlet in all
25  courts and places without further proof.

 

 

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1  Section 35. Fines and criminal offenses for ordinance or
2  resolution violations. Actions to impose a fine or
3  imprisonment for violation of a district ordinance or
4  resolution adopted under authority of this Act shall be
5  brought in the corporate name of the district as plaintiff.
6  Such actions shall commence with a complaint or a warrant. A
7  warrant may be issued upon execution of an affidavit by any
8  person alleging that he has reasonable grounds to believe that
9  the person to be named in the warrant has violated a district
10  ordinance or resolution. A person arrested upon such a warrant
11  shall be taken without unnecessary delay before the proper
12  officer for trial.
13  Fines for the violation of district ordinances or
14  resolutions shall be established by ordinance or resolution
15  and, when collected, shall be paid into the district treasury
16  at such times and in a manner prescribed by ordinance or
17  resolution.
18  A person who is fined for violation of a district
19  ordinance or resolution may be committed to the county jail or
20  to any place provided by ordinance or resolution for the
21  incarceration of offenders until the fine and costs are paid.
22  No incarceration, however, shall exceed 6 months for any one
23  offense.
24  The committed person shall be allowed, exclusive of the
25  person's board, a credit of $5 toward the fine and costs for

 

 

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1  each day of confinement. The district may make agreements with
2  a county or municipality for holding such persons in a
3  facility operated by them for the incarceration of violators
4  of ordinances or resolutions.
5  Section 40. Powers of the board of trustees. The board of
6  trustees of the district may provide for the efficient
7  drainage of storm and sewer waters within the district and
8  save and preserve the water supplied to the inhabitants of the
9  district from contamination. For that purpose, the board may
10  construct and maintain an enclosed conduit or conduits, main
11  pipes, wholly or partially submerged, buried or otherwise, and
12  by means of pumps or otherwise cause such sewage or stormwater
13  to flow or to be forced through such conduit or conduits, pipe
14  or pipes to and into any ditch or canal constructed and
15  operated by any other district, after having first acquired
16  the right so to do. Such board may provide for the drainage of
17  the district by laying out, establishing, constructing, and
18  maintaining one or more channels, drains, ditches, and outlets
19  for carrying off and disposing of the drainage, including the
20  sewage, of the district, together with such adjuncts and
21  additions thereto as may be necessary or proper to cause such
22  channels or outlets to accomplish the end for which they are
23  designed, in a satisfactory manner, including pumps and
24  pumping stations and the operation of the same. Such board may
25  provide suitable and modernly equipped sewage treatment works

 

 

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1  or plants for the separation and treatment of all solids and
2  deleterious matter from the liquids, shall treat and purify
3  the residue of such sewage so that when it flows into any lake,
4  and may not injuriously contaminate the waters thereof. The
5  board may adopt any feasible method to accomplish the object
6  for which the district was created and may also provide means
7  whereby the district may reach and procure supplies of water
8  for diluting and flushing purposes. The board of trustees of
9  the district may also enter into an agreement to sell, convey,
10  or disburse treated wastewater to any public or private entity
11  located within or outside the boundaries of the district. Any
12  use of treated wastewater by a public or private entity is
13  subject to the orders of the Pollution Control Board. The
14  agreement may not exceed 20 years.
15  Nothing in this Section may be construed to empower,
16  authorize, or require such board of trustees to operate a
17  system of water works for the purpose of furnishing or
18  delivering water to any such municipality or to the
19  inhabitants of the municipality without payment for the water
20  at such rates as the board may determine. Nothing in this Act
21  shall require a district to extend service to any individual
22  residence or other building within the district, and it is the
23  intent of the General Assembly that any construction or
24  funding contemplated by this Section shall be restricted to
25  construction or funding of works and main or interceptor
26  sewers, conduits, channels, and similar facilities, but not

 

 

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1  individual service lines. Nothing in this Act authorizes the
2  trustees to flow the stormwater or sewage of the district into
3  Lake Michigan. Any such plan for sewage disposal by the
4  district is prohibited unless such sewage has been treated and
5  purified as provided in this Section, all laws of the federal
6  government relating to the pollution of navigable waters have
7  been complied with, and the approval of plans and
8  constructions of outlets and connection with any of the
9  streams or navigable bodies of water within or bordering upon
10  the State has been obtained from the Department of Natural
11  Resources. The discharge of any sewage from the district into
12  any of the streams or navigable bodies of water within or
13  bordering upon the State is subject to the orders of the
14  Pollution Control Board. Nothing in this Act may be construed
15  as superseding or in any manner limiting the provisions of the
16  Environmental Protection Act.
17  After the construction of such a sewage disposal plant, if
18  the board finds that it will promote the prevention of
19  pollution of waters of the State, such board of trustees may
20  adopt ordinances or rules and regulations prohibiting or
21  regulating the discharge to sewers of inadmissible wastes or
22  substances toxic to biological wastewater treatment processes.
23  Inadmissible wastes include those that create a fire or
24  explosion hazard in the sewer or treatment works; those that
25  will impair the hydraulic capacity of sewer systems; and those
26  that, in any quantity, create a hazard to people, sewer

 

 

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1  systems, treatment processes, or receiving waters. Substances
2  that may be toxic to wastewater treatment processes include
3  copper, chromium, lead, zinc, arsenic, nickel, barium,
4  cadmium, mercury, selenium, silver, and any poisonous
5  compounds, such as cyanide or radioactive wastes that pass
6  through wastewater treatment plants in hazardous
7  concentrations and menace users of the receiving waters. Such
8  ordinances or rules and regulations shall be effective
9  throughout the district in both the incorporated areas as well
10  as the unincorporated areas and all public sewers therein.
11  Section 45. Additional powers of the board of trustees.
12  (a) In addition to the powers and authority under this
13  Act, the board of trustees of the district may, by majority
14  vote:
15  (1) To use the general funds of the district to
16  defend, indemnify, and hold harmless, in whole or in part,
17  the board of trustees, members of the board of trustees,
18  and officials and employees of the district from financial
19  loss and expenses, including court costs, investigation
20  costs, actuarial studies, attorney's fees, and actual and
21  punitive damages arising out of any civil proceedings,
22  including, but not limited to, proceedings alleging
23  antitrust violations or the deprivation of civil or
24  constitutional rights, claims, demands, or judgments
25  instituted, made, or entered against such board, trustee,

 

 

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1  official, or employee by reason of its or the person's
2  wrongful or negligent statements, acts, or omissions if
3  such statements, acts, or omissions: (i) occur while the
4  board, trustee, official, or employee is acting in the
5  discharge of its or the person's duties and within the
6  scope of employment; and (ii) do not constitute willful
7  and wanton misconduct.
8  (2) To obtain and provide for any or all the matters
9  and purposes described in paragraph (1) for public
10  officials' liability, comprehensive general liability, and
11  such other forms of insurance coverage as the board of
12  trustees shall determine necessary or advisable and any
13  insurance so obtained and provided must be carried in a
14  company or companies licensed to write such coverage in
15  this State.
16  (3) To establish and provide for any or all the
17  matters and purposes described in paragraph (1) a program
18  of self-insurance and, in furtherance thereof, to
19  establish and accumulate reserves for the payment of
20  financial loss and expenses, including court costs,
21  investigation costs, actuarial studies, attorney's fees,
22  and actual and punitive damages associated with
23  liabilities arising out of civil proceedings, claims,
24  demands, or judgments instituted, made, or entered as set
25  forth in paragraph (1).
26  (4) In connection with providing for any or all the

 

 

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1  matters and purposes described in paragraph (1) and when
2  permitted by law to enter into an agreement with any
3  special district, unit of government, person, or
4  corporation for the use of property or the performance of
5  any function, service, or act, to agree to the sharing or
6  allocation of liabilities and damages resulting from such
7  use of property or performance of function, service or
8  act, in which event such agreement may provide for
9  contribution or indemnification by any or all the parties
10  to the agreement upon any liability arising out of the
11  performance of the agreement.
12  (b) If the board of trustees of the district undertakes to
13  provide insurance or to establish a program of self-insurance
14  and to establish and accumulate reserves for any or all the
15  matters and purposes described in paragraph (1) of subsection
16  (a), such reserves shall be established and accumulated for
17  such matters and purposes subject to the following conditions:
18  (1) the amount of such reserves may not exceed the
19  amount necessary and proper, based on experience or
20  independent actuarial determinations;
21  (2) all earnings derived from such reserves shall be
22  considered part of the reserves and may be used only for
23  the same matters and purposes for which the reserves may
24  be used;
25  (3) reserves may be used only: for the purposes of
26  making payments for financial loss and expenses, including

 

 

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1  actual and punitive damages, attorney's fees, court costs,
2  investigation costs, and actuarial studies associated with
3  liabilities arising out of civil proceedings, claims,
4  demands, or judgments instituted, made, or entered under
5  paragraph (1) of subsection (a) in connection with the
6  statements, acts, or omissions of the board or of a
7  trustee, official, or employee of the board or the
8  district of which the statements, acts, or omissions occur
9  while the board, trustee, official, or employee is acting
10  in the discharge of the board's or person's duties and
11  within the scope of employment and of which the
12  statements, acts, or omissions do not constitute willful
13  and wanton misconduct; for payment of insurance premiums;
14  and for the purposes of making payments for losses
15  resulting from any insured peril;
16  (4) all funds collected for the matters and purposes
17  specified in paragraph (3) or earmarked for such matters
18  and purposes must be placed in the reserves; and
19  (5) whenever the reserves have a balance in excess of
20  what is necessary and proper, then contributions, charges,
21  assessments, or other forms of funding for the reserves
22  shall be appropriately decreased.
23  Section 50. Town of Cicero sewer system. In providing for
24  works and maintenance for the collection of water into the
25  Town of Cicero sewer system or systems owned or operated by the

 

 

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1  district, the district may apportion and collect therefore,
2  from the municipal producer thereof, fair construction,
3  maintenance, and operating costs on an annual basis, and, if a
4  dispute arises as to the fairness of such additional
5  construction, maintenance, and operating costs, then the same
6  shall be determined by an arbitration board of 3 engineers,
7  one appointed by the district, one appointed by such producer
8  or producers or their legal representatives, and the third to
9  be appointed by the 2 engineers selected as above described.
10  If the 2 engineers so selected fail to agree upon a third
11  engineer, then, upon the petition of either of the parties,
12  the circuit judge shall appoint such third engineer. A
13  decision of a majority of the arbitration board shall be
14  binding on both parties and the cost of the services of the
15  arbitration board shall be shared by both parties equally.
16  Such decision is an administrative decision and is subject to
17  judicial review as provided in the Administrative Review Law.
18  Section 55. Municipal sewer systems. Where any sewer
19  system under the jurisdiction of a municipality is tributary
20  to the district's sewer system, and the board of trustees of
21  the district finds that it will conduce to the public health,
22  comfort, or convenience, the board may regulate, limit,
23  extend, deny, or otherwise control any connection to such
24  sewer tributary to the district's sewer system by any person
25  or municipal corporation regardless of whether the sewer into

 

 

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1  which the connection is made is directly under the
2  jurisdiction of the district or not.
3  Section 60. Other sewer systems, sewage treatment works,
4  or sewage treatment facilities. The district may require that
5  any sewer system, sewage treatment works, or sewage treatment
6  facility constructed in or within 3 miles of the limits of the
7  district that is tributary thereto and not within the limits
8  of any other district be constructed in accordance with the
9  accepted standards and specifications of the district and
10  shall further have the authority to cause inspection of the
11  construction of such sewer system, sewage treatment works, or
12  sewage treatment facility to be made to ascertain that it
13  comply with the standards and specifications of the district.
14  Notwithstanding this Section, if the ordinances, rules, or
15  regulations of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
16  conflict with the ordinances, rules, or regulations of the
17  district, then the ordinances, rules, or regulations of the
18  Metropolitan Water Reclamation District control. If the
19  district deems it necessary to perform work on property owned
20  or operated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District,
21  the district shall cooperate with the Metropolitan Water
22  Reclamation District and shall follow all permitting
23  procedures required by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
24  District.

 

 

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1  Section 65. Connection to district sewage system. The
2  board of trustees of the district may require that, before a
3  person or municipal corporation connects to the sewage system
4  of the district, the district be permitted to inspect the
5  drainage lines of the person or municipal corporation to
6  determine whether they are adequate and suitable for
7  connection to its sewage system. In addition to the other
8  charges provided for in this Act, the district may collect a
9  reasonable charge for this inspection service. Funds collected
10  as inspection charges shall be used by the district for its
11  general corporate purposes after payment of the costs of
12  making the inspection.
13  Section 70. Sewage and stormwater agreements. The
14  district, in addition to other powers vested in it, may enter
15  into agreements with a municipality located partly within and
16  partly without the territorial limits of the district and that
17  has a sewage system or stormwater drainage system to receive
18  and dispose of all sewage or stormwater of such municipality
19  collected by its system; and, for such purpose, the district
20  may extend its drains, ditches, or sewers to connect with the
21  sewage or stormwater drainage system of such municipality.
22  Section 75. Fees and charges for disposal of surface water
23  or groundwater. The board of trustees may, by ordinance,
24  establish, revise, and maintain fees or charges for the

 

 

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1  disposal of surface water or groundwater. Such fees and
2  charges shall be assessed to the municipality or other
3  governmental unit which utilizes the Town of Cicero sewer
4  system or any sewer or drainage systems owned or operated by
5  the district. The district shall assess such fees and charges
6  on a quarterly basis.
7  Such fees or charges may be based on the volume of
8  groundwater, surface water, or stormwater originating from a
9  municipality or other unit of local government that enters the
10  Town of Cicero sewer system or any system for the disposal of
11  such waters or sewage owned or operated by the district. The
12  district shall set such fees or charges by ordinance. The
13  failure of a municipality or other governmental unit to pay
14  such fees or charges within 60 days may result in
15  disconnection from the Town of Cicero sewer system or any
16  sewer or drainage systems owned or operated by the district in
17  accordance with Section 80.
18  Section 80. Discharge into sewers of the district.
19  (a) As used in this Section:
20  "Industrial wastes" means all solids, liquids, or gaseous
21  wastes resulting from a commercial, industrial, manufacturing,
22  agricultural, trade, or business operation or process or from
23  the development, recovery, or processing of natural resources.
24  "Other wastes" means decayed wood, sawdust, shavings,
25  bark, lime, refuse, ashes, garbage, offal, oil, tar,

 

 

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1  chemicals, and all other substances except sewage and
2  industrial wastes.
3  "Person" means an individual, firm, association, joint
4  venture, sole proprietorship, company, partnership, estate
5  copartnership, corporation, joint stock company, trust, school
6  district, unit of local government, or private corporation
7  organized or existing under the laws of this State or any other
8  state or country.
9  "President" means the president of the district.
10  "Sewage" means water-carried human wastes or a combination
11  of water-carried wastes from residences, buildings,
12  businesses, industrial establishments, institutions, or other
13  places together with any groundwater, surface water,
14  stormwater, or other water that may be present.
15  "Stormwater" means rainwater produced by a storm or other
16  precipitation event, including any and all floodwaters
17  resulting during and after a weather event.
18  (b) It is unlawful for any person or unit of local
19  government to discharge surface water, groundwater,
20  stormwater, effluent, gaseous wastes, sewage, industrial
21  wastes, or other wastes into the sewerage system of the
22  district or into any sewer tributary therewith, except upon
23  the terms and conditions that the district might reasonably
24  impose by way of ordinance, permit, rule, or regulation.
25  The district, in addition to all other powers vested in it
26  and in the interest of public health and safety, or as

 

 

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1  authorized by subsections (b) and (c) of Section 46 of the
2  Environmental Protection Act, may pass all ordinances, rules,
3  or regulations necessary to implement this Section, including,
4  but not limited to, the imposition of charges based on factors
5  that influence the cost of treatment, including strength and
6  volume, and including the right of access during reasonable
7  hours to the premises of a person for enforcement of adopted
8  ordinances, rules, or regulations.
9  The district shall require municipalities discharging
10  groundwater, surface water, sewage, stormwater, industrial
11  waste, or other wastes or waters into any sewerage system in
12  the control of the district or into any sewer connected
13  therewith to compensate the district for the use, maintenance
14  and construction costs of the district sewerage system as a
15  result of such discharge. The district shall charge each
16  municipality on a pro rata basis an amount reasonable and
17  proportionate, as determined by the board of trustees, to the
18  total volume each municipality discharges into the system.
19  (c) Whenever the district, acting through the president,
20  determines that surface water, groundwater, stormwater,
21  effluent, gaseous wastes, sewage, industrial wastes, or other
22  wastes are being discharged into the sewerage system and when,
23  in the opinion of the president, the discharge is in violation
24  of an ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted by the board of
25  trustees, including failure to pay charges and usage fees when
26  due, under this Section governing the discharge, the president

 

 

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1  shall order the offending party to cease and desist. The order
2  shall be served by certified mail or personally on the owner,
3  officer, registered agent, or individual designated by permit.
4  If the offending party fails or refuses to immediately
5  discontinue the discharge after notification of the cease and
6  desist order, the president may order the offending party to
7  show cause before the board of trustees of the district why the
8  discharge should not be discontinued. A notice shall be served
9  on the offending party directing the offending party to show
10  cause before the board of trustees why an order should not be
11  entered directing the discontinuance of the discharge. The
12  notice shall specify the time and place where a hearing will be
13  held and shall be served personally or by registered or
14  certified mail at least 10 days before the hearing upon an
15  officer or agent of the unit of local government. After
16  reviewing the evidence, the board of trustees may issue an
17  order to the party responsible for the discharge, directing
18  that within a specified period of time the discharge be
19  discontinued. The board of trustees may also order the party
20  responsible for the discharge to pay a civil penalty in an
21  amount specified by the board of trustees that is not less than
22  $1,000 nor more than $2,000 per day for each day of discharge
23  of surface water, groundwater, stormwater, effluent, gaseous
24  wastes, sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes in
25  violation of this Act as provided in subsection (d). The board
26  of trustees may also order the party responsible for the

 

 

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1  violation to pay all costs and legal fees associated with the
2  violation in addition to any outstanding fees and charges for
3  such discharge.
4  (d) The board of trustees shall establish procedures for
5  assessing civil penalties and issuing orders under subsection
6  (c) as follows:
7  (1) In making its orders and determinations, the board
8  of trustees shall take into consideration all the facts
9  and circumstances bearing on the activities involved and
10  the assessment of civil penalties as shown by the record
11  produced at the hearing.
12  (2) The board of trustees shall establish a panel of
13  one or more independent hearing officers to conduct all
14  hearings on the assessment of civil penalties and issuance
15  of orders under subsection (c). All hearing officers shall
16  be attorneys licensed to practice law in this State.
17  (3) The board of trustees shall adopt procedural rules
18  governing the proceedings, the assessment of civil
19  penalties, and the issuance of orders.
20  (4) All hearings shall be on the record, and testimony
21  taken must be under oath and recorded stenographically.
22  Transcripts so recorded must be made available to any
23  member of the public or any party to the hearing upon
24  payment of the usual charges for transcripts. At the
25  hearing, the hearing officer may issue, in the name of the
26  board of trustees, notices of hearing requesting the

 

 

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1  attendance and testimony of witnesses, and the production
2  of evidence relevant to any matter involved in the hearing
3  and may examine witnesses.
4  (5) The hearing officer shall conduct a full and
5  impartial hearing on the record with an opportunity for
6  the presentation of evidence and cross-examination of the
7  witnesses. The hearing officer shall issue findings of
8  fact, conclusions of law, recommendations for a civil
9  penalty, and issue an order based solely on the record.
10  The hearing officer may also recommend, as part of the
11  order, that the discharge of surface water, groundwater,
12  stormwater, effluent, gaseous wastes, sewage, industrial
13  wastes, or other wastes be discontinued within a specified
14  time.
15  (6) The findings of fact, conclusions of law,
16  recommended civil penalty, and order shall be transmitted
17  to the board of trustees along with a complete record of
18  the hearing.
19  (7) The board of trustees shall either approve or
20  disapprove the findings of fact, conclusions of law,
21  recommended civil penalty, and order. If the findings of
22  fact, conclusions of law, recommended civil penalty, or
23  order are rejected, the board of trustees shall remand the
24  matter to the hearing officer for further proceedings. If
25  the order is accepted by the board of trustees, it shall
26  constitute the final order of the board of trustees.

 

 

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1  (8) The civil penalty specified by the board of
2  trustees shall be paid within 35 days after the party on
3  whom it is imposed receives a written copy of the order of
4  the board of trustees unless the person or persons to whom
5  the order is issued seeks judicial review.
6  (9) If a party seeks judicial review of the order
7  assessing civil penalties, the party shall, within 35 days
8  after the date of the final order, pay the amount of the
9  civil penalties into an escrow account maintained by the
10  district for that purpose or file a bond guaranteeing
11  payment of the civil penalties if the civil penalties are
12  upheld on review.
13  (10) Civil penalties not paid by the times specified
14  above shall be delinquent and subject to late fees
15  assessed on a monthly basis which shall not exceed the
16  maximum interest rate allowed under State law. The late
17  fees levied by the district shall be in addition to any
18  other remedy or right of recovery that the district may
19  have with respect to the collection or recovery of
20  penalties and charges imposed by the district.
21  (e) The president may order a party to cease the discharge
22  of surface water, groundwater, stormwater, effluent, gaseous
23  wastes, sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes upon a
24  finding by the president that the final order of the board of
25  trustees entered after a hearing to show cause has been
26  violated. The president shall serve the party with a copy of

 

 

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1  the president's order either by certified mail or personally
2  by serving the owner, officer, or registered agent of the
3  municipality or other unit of local government. The order of
4  the president shall also schedule an expedited hearing before
5  a hearing officer designated by the board of trustees for the
6  purpose of determining whether the party has violated the
7  final order of the board of trustees. The board of trustees
8  shall adopt rules of procedure governing expedited hearings.
9  The hearing may not be conducted less than 7 days after service
10  of the president's order.
11  At the conclusion of the expedited hearing, the hearing
12  officer shall prepare a report with the officer's findings and
13  recommendations and transmit it to the board of trustees. If
14  the board of trustees, after reviewing the findings and
15  recommendations, and the record produced at the hearing,
16  determines that the party has violated the board of trustees'
17  final order, the board of trustees may authorize the plugging
18  or disconnection of the sewer or other actions that disconnect
19  the offending party's ability to discharge any waters or
20  wastes into the district's sewer system. The president shall
21  give not less than 10 days' written notice of the board of
22  trustees' order to the municipality or other unit of local
23  government as well as the owner of record of the real estate
24  and other parties known to be affected that the sewer will be
25  plugged or disconnected.
26  Disconnection of a sewer under this subsection shall be in

 

 

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1  addition to any other remedy that the district may have to
2  prevent violation of its ordinances and orders of its board of
3  trustees.
4  (f) A violation of the final order of the board of trustees
5  shall be considered a nuisance. If any person discharges
6  groundwater, surface water, stormwater, effluent, gaseous
7  wastes, sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes into any
8  sewers or stormwater management facilities contrary to the
9  final order of the board of trustees, the district, acting
10  through the president, may commence an action or proceeding in
11  the Circuit Court of Cook County for the purpose of having the
12  discharge stopped either by mandamus or injunction or to
13  remedy the violation in any manner provided for in this
14  Section.
15  The court shall specify a time, not exceeding 20 days
16  after the service of the copy of the complaint, in which the
17  party complained of must plead to the complaint, and, in the
18  meantime, the party may be restrained. In case of default or
19  after pleading, the court shall immediately inquire into the
20  facts and circumstances of the case and enter an appropriate
21  judgment in respect to the matters complained of. Appeals may
22  be taken as in other civil cases.
23  (g) The district, acting through the president, may
24  commence an action or proceeding for mandamus or injunction in
25  the Circuit Court of Cook County ordering a party to cease its
26  discharge, when, in the opinion of the president, the party's

 

 

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1  discharge presents an imminent danger to the public health,
2  welfare, or safety; presents or may present an endangerment to
3  the environment; or threatens to interfere with the operation
4  of the sewerage system under the jurisdiction of the district.
5  The initiation of a show cause hearing is not a prerequisite to
6  the commencement by the district of an action or proceeding
7  for mandamus or injunction in the circuit court. The court
8  shall specify a time, not exceeding 20 days after the service
9  of a copy of the petition, in which the party complained of
10  must answer the petition, and, in the meantime, the party may
11  be restrained. In case of default in answer or after answer,
12  the court shall immediately inquire into the facts and
13  circumstances of the case and enter an appropriate judgment
14  order in respect to the matters complained of. An appeal may be
15  taken from the final judgment in the same manner and with the
16  same effect as appeals are taken from judgment of the circuit
17  court in other actions for mandamus or injunction.
18  (h) Whenever the district commences an action under
19  subsection (f), the court shall assess a civil penalty of not
20  less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 for each day the party
21  violates the board of trustees' order. Whenever the district
22  commences an action under subsection (g), the court shall
23  assess a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than
24  $10,000 for each day the party violates the ordinance. Each
25  day's continuance of the violation is a separate offense. The
26  penalties provided in this Section imposed by the board of

 

 

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1  trustees under subsection (d) plus interest at the rate set
2  forth in the Interest Act on unpaid penalties, costs, and
3  fees; the reasonable costs to the district of removal or other
4  remedial action caused by discharges in violation of this Act;
5  reasonable attorney's fees; court costs; other expenses of
6  litigation; and costs for inspection, sampling, analysis, and
7  administration related to the enforcement action against the
8  offending party are recoverable by the district in a civil
9  action.
10  (i) The board of trustees may establish fees for late
11  filing of reports with the district required by an ordinance
12  governing discharges. The district shall provide by certified
13  mail a written notice of the fee assessment that states the
14  party has 30 days after the receipt of the notice to request a
15  conference with the president's designee to discuss or dispute
16  the appropriateness of the assessed fee. Unless a party
17  objects to paying the fee for filing a report late by timely
18  requesting in writing a conference with a designee of the
19  president, that party waives the party's right to a
20  conference.
21  If a party requests a conference and the matter is not
22  resolved at the conference, the party subject to the fee may
23  request an administrative hearing before an impartial hearing
24  officer appointed under subsection (d) to determine the
25  party's liability for and the amount of the fee. If the hearing
26  officer finds that the late filing fees are owed to the

 

 

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1  district, the district shall notify the responsible party of
2  the hearing officer's decision. If payment is not made within
3  30 days after the notice, the district may impose penalties
4  and interest.
5  (j) To be effective service under this Section, a demand
6  or order sent by certified or registered mail to the last known
7  address need not be received by the offending party. Service
8  of the demand or order by registered or certified mail shall be
9  deemed effective upon deposit in the United States mail with
10  proper postage prepaid and addressed as provided in this
11  Section.
12  (k) The Administrative Review Law applies to and governs
13  all proceedings for the judicial review of final
14  administrative decisions of the board of trustees in the
15  enforcement of an ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted under
16  this Act. The cost of preparing the record on appeal shall be
17  paid by the person seeking a review of an order or action
18  pursuant to the Administrative Review Law.
19  (l) Solely in relation to the discharge of groundwater,
20  surface water, stormwater, sewage, industrial wastes, or other
21  wastes subject to one of the district's ordinances, the
22  district may implement an electronic reporting system that
23  will allow notices, orders, and other documents to be sent
24  directly by email to persons or entities registered with the
25  district, and, in the discretion of the district, to allow
26  those persons or entities registered with the district to

 

 

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1  view, modify, or submit documents using the electronic
2  reporting system. Wherever this Section provides for service
3  of documents by the district by U.S. first-class mail, U.S.
4  certified mail, or personal service, the district may serve by
5  email the documents upon the registered persons or entities in
6  lieu of service by U.S. first-class mail, U.S. certified mail,
7  or personal service. Enrollment in the electronic reporting
8  system in this subsection is voluntary and limited to
9  nonresidential facilities or uses. Service by email under this
10  Section is only permitted on those persons or entities that
11  voluntarily enroll in the system. The district shall adopt
12  rules, as approved by ordinance, to ensure service of process
13  by email is properly effectuated upon the registered persons
14  and entities.
15  Section 85. Acquisition of real and personal property. The
16  district may acquire by purchase, condemnation, or otherwise
17  any and all real and personal property, right-of-way and
18  privilege, either within or without its corporate limits that
19  may be required for its corporate purposes; and, if the
20  district is unable to agree with any other district or
21  municipality upon the terms under which it shall be permitted
22  to use the drains, channels or ditches of such other district,
23  the right to use the same may be required by condemnation in
24  the circuit court by proceedings in the manner, as near as may
25  be, as is provided in Section 4-17 of the Illinois Drainage

 

 

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1  Code. The compensation to be paid for such use may be a gross
2  sum, or it may be in the form of an annual rental, to be paid
3  in yearly installments as and in the manner provided by the
4  judgment of the court wherein such proceedings may be had. All
5  moneys for the purchase and condemnation of any property shall
6  be paid before possession is taken or any work done on the
7  premises damaged by the construction of such channel or
8  outlet, and, if an appeal from the circuit court is taken by
9  either party whereby the amount of damages is not finally
10  determined, then possession may be taken. The amount of
11  judgment in such court shall be deposited at some bank or
12  savings and loan association to be designated by the judge
13  thereof subject to the payment of such damages on orders
14  signed by such judge, whenever the amount of damages is
15  finally determined; and when no longer required for such
16  purposes, to sell, convey, vacate and release the same.
17  Section 90. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other
18  provision of this Act, any power granted under this Act to
19  acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject
20  to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent
21  Domain Act.
22  Section 95. Lease of property. The district may lease to
23  others for any period of time, not exceeding 50 years, upon
24  such terms as its board of trustees may determine, real

 

 

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1  estate, rights-of-way, privilege, or interest therein, or any
2  part thereof, acquired by it that is, in the opinion of the
3  board of trustees of the district, no longer required for its
4  corporate purposes or that may not be immediately needed for
5  such purposes, and such leases may contain such conditions and
6  retain such interests therein as may be deemed for the best
7  interest of the district by such board of trustees. The
8  district may grant easements and permits for the use of any
9  such real property, right-of-way, or privilege that will not,
10  in the opinion of the board of trustees of the district,
11  interfere with the use thereof by the district for its
12  corporate purposes, and such easements and permits may contain
13  such conditions and retain such interests therein as may be
14  deemed for the best interests of the district by such board of
15  trustees.
16  Section 100. Borrowing money; issuance of bonds. The
17  district may borrow money for corporate purposes and may issue
18  bonds therefor but may not become indebted, in any manner, or
19  for any purpose, to an amount in the aggregate to exceed 5.75%
20  on the valuation of taxable property therein, to be
21  ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes
22  previous to the incurring of such.
23  Whenever the board of trustees of the district desires to
24  issue bonds hereunder they shall certify the question to the
25  proper election officials who shall submit the question at an

 

 

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1  election to be held in the district in accordance with the
2  general election law. In addition to the requirements of the
3  general election law, the notice of election shall state the
4  amount of bonds to be issued. The result of the election shall
5  be entered upon the records of the district. If a majority of
6  the voters voting at the election on the question have voted in
7  favor of the issuance of the bonds, the board of trustees shall
8  order and direct the execution of the bonds for and on behalf
9  of the district. All bonds issued hereunder shall mature in
10  not exceeding 20 annual installments. The question shall be in
11  substantially the following form:
12  ----------------------------
13  Proposition to issue bonds YES
14  of..... district to the -------------------------------
15  amount of..... dollars. NO
16  -------------------------------------------------------------
17  However, the district may borrow money for corporate
18  purposes, and may issue bonds for corporate purposes, without
19  holding an election or referendum upon the question if the
20  district or the board of trustees thereof has been directed by
21  an order issued by the circuit court or by an administrative
22  agency of the State of Illinois having jurisdiction to issue
23  such order to abate its discharge of untreated or inadequately
24  treated sewage and such borrowing is deemed necessary by the
25  board of trustees of the district to make possible compliance
26  with such order. The amount of money that the district may

 

 

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1  borrow to abate such sewage discharge shall be limited to that
2  required for that purpose plus such reasonable future
3  expansion as shall be approved by the court or the
4  administrative agency of the State of Illinois having
5  jurisdiction. The ordinance providing for such bonds shall set
6  out the fact that such bonds are deemed necessary to make
7  possible compliance with the order and shall be published or
8  posted in the manner provided in this Act for publication or
9  posting of ordinances making appropriations. The ordinance
10  shall be in full force and effect after its adoption and
11  publication or posting, as herein provided, notwithstanding
12  any provision in this Act or any other law to the contrary.
13  Section 105. Assistance program.
14  (a) The General Assembly finds that governmental units
15  located within the boundaries of the district require
16  assistance in financing the cost of repair, replacement,
17  reconstruction, and rehabilitation of local sewer and
18  stormwater collection systems to reduce certain excessive
19  sanitary sewer groundwater inflows as well as stormwater
20  inflows; that such inflows ultimately result in increased need
21  for treatment and storage facilities of the district; and that
22  the district, in the discretion of its board of trustees,
23  advantageously may provide loan funds for such purposes.
24  (b) As used in this Section:
25  "Alternate bonds", "applicable law", "bonds", "general

 

 

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1  obligation bonds", "governmental unit", "ordinance", and
2  "revenue source" have the meanings given to those terms in the
3  Local Government Debt Reform Act.
4  "Assistance bonds" means the bonds to be issued by the
5  district to provide funds for the program as authorized in
6  subsection (f).
7  "Assistance program" means the program authorized in this
8  Section by which the district may make loans to local
9  governmental units for any one or more of the following
10  undertaken with respect to the repair, replacement,
11  reconstruction, and rehabilitation of local sewer collection
12  systems for preliminary planning, engineering, architectural,
13  legal, fiscal or economic investigations or studies, surveys,
14  designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures
15  or other necessary action, erection, building acquisition,
16  alteration, remodeling, or improvement of such collection
17  systems, or the inspection or supervision of the action,
18  erection, building acquisition, alteration, remodeling, or
19  improvement.
20  "Loan" means a loan made by the district to a local
21  governmental unit under the assistance program.
22  "Local governmental unit" means a unit of local
23  government, school district, or community college district
24  within the boundaries of the district.
25  "Reconstruction" includes the construction of totally new
26  lines or systems if reasonably designed to replace obsolete

 

 

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1  lines or systems.
2  (c) The board of trustees may establish an assistance
3  program.
4  (d) The board of trustees may do any one or more of the
5  following with respect to the assistance program:
6  (1) Establish the assistance program as a use or
7  appropriation within the corporate fund of the district.
8  (2) Accept grants, borrow funds, and appropriate
9  lawfully available funds for the purpose of funding the
10  assistance program.
11  (3) Make the loans as provided in subsection (e).
12  (4) Enforce loans with all available remedies as any
13  governmental unit or private person might have with
14  respect to such loans.
15  (e) The district may make loans and local governmental
16  units may obtain loans from the district, but only if
17  authorized to borrow under such powers as may be granted to
18  such local governmental units under other applicable law. This
19  Section does not grant local governmental units separate
20  borrowing power. If authorized to issue bonds under such
21  applicable law, however, the form of the borrowing may be such
22  as the district and the local governmental unit may agree,
23  including, without limitation, a loan agreement made between
24  the district and local governmental unit to evidence the bond.
25  Any such loan agreement shall state the statutory authority
26  under applicable law for the bond it represents but otherwise

 

 

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1  need not be in any specific form. The district shall have all
2  rights and remedies available to the holder of a bond
3  otherwise issued in the form provided for the same under
4  applicable law and also such rights and remedies as may be
5  additionally available under paragraph (4) of subsection (d).
6  The loans may be made upon such terms and at such rates,
7  including expressly below market rates, representing a subsidy
8  of funds from the district to the local governmental units, as
9  the district may specify in the loan agreements.
10  (f) The district may borrow money and issue its assistance
11  bonds under this Section for the purpose of funding the
12  assistance program, and the bonds shall be alternate bonds
13  payable from any lawfully available revenue source, including
14  without limitation receipts from the loans.
15  Section 110. Bond interest rate. All bonds issued pursuant
16  to this Act shall bear interest at a rate or rates not
17  exceeding that permitted by the Bond Authorization Act.
18  Section 115. Contracts. Except as otherwise provided in
19  this Section, all contracts for purchases or sales by the
20  district, the expense of which will exceed the mandatory
21  competitive bid threshold, shall be let to the lowest
22  responsible bidder therefor upon not less than 14 days' public
23  notice of the terms and conditions upon which the contract is
24  to be let, having been given by publication in a newspaper of

 

 

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1  general circulation published in the district, and the board
2  may reject any and all bids and readvertise. In determining
3  the lowest responsible bidder, the board shall take into
4  consideration the qualities and serviceability of the articles
5  supplied, their conformity with specifications, their
6  suitability to the requirements of the district, the
7  availability of support services, the uniqueness of the
8  service, materials, equipment, or supplies as it applies to
9  network integrated computer systems, the compatibility of the
10  service, materials, equipment or supplies with existing
11  equipment, and the delivery terms. Contracts for services in
12  excess of the mandatory competitive bid threshold may, subject
13  to the provisions of this Section, be let by competitive
14  bidding at the discretion of the district board of trustees.
15  All contracts for purchases or sales that will not exceed
16  the mandatory competitive bid threshold may be made in the
17  open market without publication in a newspaper as provided in
18  this Section, but, whenever practical, shall be based on at
19  least 3 competitive bids. The mandatory competitive bid
20  threshold dollar amount may not be less than $10,000 nor more
21  than $40,000.
22  Cash, a cashier's check, a certified check, or a bid bond
23  with adequate surety approved by the board of trustees as a
24  deposit of good faith, in a reasonable amount, but not in
25  excess of 10% of the contract amount, may be required of each
26  bidder by the district on all bids involving amounts in excess

 

 

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1  of the mandatory competitive bid threshold and, if so
2  required, the advertisement for bids shall so specify.
3  Contracts that by their nature are not adapted to award by
4  competitive bidding, including, without limitation, contracts
5  for the services of individuals, groups, or firms possessing a
6  high degree of professional skill where the ability or fitness
7  of the individual or organization plays an important part,
8  contracts for financial management services undertaken
9  pursuant to the Public Funds Investment Act, contracts for the
10  purchase or sale of utilities, contracts for commodities
11  including supply contracts for natural gas and electricity,
12  contracts for materials economically procurable only from a
13  single source of supply, contracts for services, supplies,
14  materials, parts, or equipment that are available only from a
15  single source, contracts for maintenance, repairs, original
16  equipment manufacturer supplies, or original equipment
17  manufacturer parts from the manufacturer or from a source
18  authorized by the manufacturer, contracts for the use,
19  purchase, delivery, movement, or installation of data
20  processing equipment, software, or services and
21  telecommunications and interconnect equipment, software, or
22  services, contracts for duplicating machines and supplies,
23  contracts for goods or services procured from another
24  governmental agency, purchases of equipment previously owned
25  by an entity other than the district itself, purchases of used
26  equipment, purchases at auction or similar transactions that

 

 

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1  by their very nature are not suitable to competitive bids, and
2  leases of real property where the district is the lessee may
3  not be subject to the competitive bidding requirements of this
4  Section.
5  The district may use a design-build procurement method for
6  a public project that is not subject to the competitive
7  bidding requirements of this Section provided the board of
8  trustees approves the contract for the public project by a
9  vote of at least 5 trustees. As used in this paragraph,
10  "design-build" means a delivery system that provides
11  responsibility within a single contract for the furnishing of
12  architecture, engineering, land surveying and related services
13  as required and the labor, materials, equipment, and other
14  construction services for the project.
15  If an emergency is affecting the public health or safety
16  as declared by the board of trustees of the district at a
17  meeting thereof duly convened, then the declaration shall
18  require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the board of
19  trustees and shall set forth the nature of the danger to the
20  public health or safety, contracts totaling not more than the
21  emergency contract cap may be let to the extent necessary to
22  resolve such emergency without public advertisement or
23  competitive bidding. Under this Section, an emergency contract
24  may not be more than $500,000. The resolution or ordinance in
25  which such declaration is embodied shall fix the date upon
26  which such emergency shall terminate, and the date may be

 

 

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1  extended or abridged by the board of trustees as in their
2  judgment the circumstances require. A full written account of
3  any such emergency, together with a requisition for the
4  materials, supplies, labor or equipment required therefor
5  shall be submitted immediately upon completion and shall be
6  open to public inspection for a period of at least one year
7  after the date of such emergency purchase.
8  To address operating emergencies not affecting the public
9  health or safety, the board of trustees shall authorize, in
10  writing, officials or employees of the district to purchase in
11  the open market and without advertisement any supplies,
12  materials, equipment, or services for immediate delivery to
13  meet the bona fide operating emergency, without filing a
14  requisition or estimate therefor, in an amount not in excess
15  of $100,000. The board of trustees must be notified of the
16  operating emergency. A full, written account of each operating
17  emergency and a requisition for the materials, supplies,
18  equipment, and services required to meet the operating
19  emergency must be immediately submitted by the officials or
20  employees authorized to make purchases to the board of
21  trustees. The account must be available for public inspection
22  for a period of at least one year after the date of the
23  operating emergency purchase. The exercise of authority with
24  respect to purchases for a bona fide operating emergency is
25  not dependent on a declaration of an operating emergency by
26  the board of trustees.

 

 

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1  The competitive bidding requirements of this Section do
2  not apply to contracts, including contracts for both materials
3  and services incidental thereto, for the repair or replacement
4  of a district's treatment plant, sewers, equipment, or
5  facilities damaged or destroyed as the result of a sudden or
6  unexpected occurrence, including, but not limited to, a flood,
7  fire, tornado, earthquake, storm, or other natural or man-made
8  disaster, if the board of trustees determines in writing that
9  the awarding of those contracts without competitive bidding is
10  reasonably necessary for the district to maintain compliance
11  with a permit issued under the National Pollution Discharge
12  Elimination System or any successor system or with any
13  outstanding order relating to that compliance issued by the
14  United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois
15  Environmental Protection Agency, or the Pollution Control
16  Board. The authority to issue contracts without competitive
17  bidding pursuant to this paragraph expires 6 months after the
18  date of the writing determining that the awarding of contracts
19  without competitive bidding is reasonably necessary.
20  A trustee may not be interested, directly or indirectly,
21  in any contract, work, or business of the district or in the
22  sale of any article, whenever the expense, price or
23  consideration of the contract work, business, or sale is paid
24  either from the treasury or by an assessment levied by statute
25  or ordinance. A trustee may not be interested, directly or
26  indirectly, in the purchase of any property that belongs to

 

 

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1  the district, is sold for taxes or assessments of the
2  district, or is sold by virtue of legal process by suit of the
3  district.
4  A contract for any work or other public improvement, to be
5  paid for in whole or in part by special assessment or special
6  taxation, shall be entered into and the performance thereof
7  controlled by the provisions of Division 2 of Article 9 of the
8  Illinois Municipal Code as near as may be. However, contracts
9  may be let for making proper and suitable connections between
10  the mains and outlets of the respective sanitary sewers in the
11  district with any conduit, conduits, main pipe or pipes that
12  may be constructed by the district.
13  As used in this Section, "mandatory competitive bid
14  threshold" means a dollar amount equal to 0.1% of the total
15  general fixed assets of the district as reported in the most
16  recent required audit report.
17  Section 120. Local Government Prompt Payment Act.
18  Purchases made pursuant to this Act shall be made in
19  compliance with the Local Government Prompt Payment Act.
20  Section 125. Effects on competition. All powers granted,
21  either expressly or by necessary implication, by this Act or
22  any other Illinois statute to the district may be exercised by
23  the district notwithstanding effects on competition. The state
24  action exemption to the application of federal antitrust

 

 

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1  statutes are fully available to the district to the extent its
2  activities are authorized by law as stated herein.
3  Section 130. Taxes. The board of trustees may not levy and
4  collect taxes for corporate purposes upon property within the
5  territorial limits of the district.
6  Section 135. Construction, maintenance, alteration, and
7  extension of sewers, channels, ditches, and drains. The
8  district may construct, maintain, alter, and extend its
9  sewers, channels, ditches, and drains, as a proper use of
10  highways along, upon, under and across any highway, street,
11  alley or public ground in the State, but so as not to incommode
12  the public use thereof, and the right and authority are hereby
13  granted to any the district to construct, maintain, and
14  operate any conduit or conduits, main pipe or pipes, wholly or
15  partially submerged, buried or otherwise, in, upon and along
16  any of the lands owned by said state under any of the public
17  waters therein. The extent and location of the lands and
18  waters so to be used and appropriated shall be approved by the
19  Governor, upon application duly made to the Governor asking
20  for such approval. The rights, permission, and authority
21  hereby granted shall be subject to all public right of
22  commerce and navigation, to the authority of the United States
23  in behalf of such public rights, and to the right of the State
24  of Illinois to regulate and control fishing in said public

 

 

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1  waters.
2  Section 140. United States military installations. If
3  there is located within the bounds of the district a United
4  States military post, reservation, station, or naval station,
5  the board of trustees of the district may enter into contracts
6  or agreements with the proper authorities of the United States
7  permitting them to connect with any such conduit or conduits,
8  main pipe or pipes, and discharge the drainage, sewage, or
9  other impure or contaminated liquids therein.
10  Section 145. District improvements causing private
11  property damage or takings. Whenever the board of trustees of
12  the district shall pass an ordinance for the making of any
13  improvement that the district may make, the making of which
14  will require that private property should be taken or damaged,
15  the district may cause compensation therefor to be
16  ascertained, and condemn and acquire possession thereof in the
17  same manner as nearly as may be as is provided for the exercise
18  of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act.
19  Proceedings to ascertain the compensation to be paid for
20  taking or damaging private property shall, in all cases, be
21  instituted in the county where the property sought to be taken
22  or damaged is situated. All damages to property, whether
23  determined by agreement or by final judgment of court, shall
24  be paid prior to the payment of any other debt or obligation.

 

 

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1  Section 150. Rights-of-way over other property for
2  improvements. When, in making any improvements that the
3  district is authorized by this Act to make, it shall be
4  necessary to enter upon and take possession of any existing
5  drains, sewers, sewer outlets, plants for the purification of
6  sewage or water, or any other public property, or property
7  held for public use, the board of trustees of the district may
8  do so and may acquire the necessary right-of-way over any
9  other property held for public use in the same manner as is
10  herein provided for acquiring private property, and may enter
11  upon, and use the same for the purposes aforesaid. The public
12  use thereof may not be unnecessarily interrupted or interfered
13  with and shall be restored to its former usefulness as soon as
14  practicable.
15  Section 155. Contracts; matter removed from sewage. The
16  board of trustees may enter into contract with a municipality
17  for the reduction, treatment, storage, and disposal of
18  garbage, offal, or solid matter removed from sewage at any
19  disposal plant or treatment works.
20  Section 160. Contracts; territory outside the district.
21  The district may (i) permit territory lying outside its
22  limits, whether within any sanitary district or not, to drain
23  into and use any channel or drain made by it, upon such

 

 

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1  payments, terms, and conditions as may be mutually agreed
2  upon, (ii) contract for the right to use any drain or channel
3  that may be made by any sanitary district, upon such terms as
4  may be mutually agreed upon, and (iii) raise the money called
5  for by any such contract in the same way and to the same extent
6  as the district may raise money for any other corporate
7  purposes.
8  Section 165. Contracts; covering costs of financing,
9  constructing, operating, and maintaining district facilities.
10  The district may enter into contracts with municipalities or
11  other parties outside the district that may request service
12  from the district at higher rates than the existing rates for
13  consumers within the district to allow the district to obtain
14  a fair return to cover the costs of financing, constructing,
15  operating, and maintaining its facilities. If the rates are
16  not thereafter agreed upon by the parties or are not otherwise
17  provided for by contract, such rates shall be fixed and
18  determined by the Circuit Court of Cook County after a
19  petition has been filed with that court.
20  Section 170. Acquiring sanitary district or municipal
21  treatment works.
22  (a) After incorporation, the West Cook Flood Prevention
23  District may, in accordance with this Act and an
24  intergovernmental agreement with a sanitary district or

 

 

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1  municipality, acquire or lease the sewage and stormwater
2  systems, as well as territory, treatment works, lines,
3  appurtenances, and other property of (i) a sanitary district
4  organized under the Sanitary District Act of 1907, the
5  Sanitary District Act of 1917, the Sanitary District Act of
6  1936 or (ii) a municipality whose treatment works were
7  established under the Illinois Municipal Code or the Municipal
8  Wastewater Disposal Zones Act, regardless of whether that
9  district or municipality is contiguous to the West Cook Flood
10  Prevention District. The distance between the sanitary
11  district being acquired or the municipality and the West Cook
12  Flood Prevention District, as measured between the points on
13  their corporate boundaries that are nearest to each other, may
14  not exceed 20 miles. In the case of a municipality, only that
15  property used by the municipality for transport, treatment,
16  and discharge of stormwater or wastewater or for disposal of
17  sewage sludge may be transferred to the West Cook Flood
18  Prevention District.
19  (b) The board of trustees of the sanitary district being
20  acquired, or the corporate authorities of a municipality whose
21  treatment works is being acquired, shall, jointly with the
22  board of trustees of the West Cook Flood Prevention District,
23  petition the Circuit Court of Cook County to permit the
24  acquisition. The petition shall show the following:
25  (1) The reason for the acquisition.
26  (2) That there are no debts of the sanitary district

 

 

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1  being acquired or municipality outstanding or that there
2  are sufficient funds on hand or available to satisfy those
3  debts.
4  (3) That no contract or federal or State permit or
5  grant will be impaired by the acquisition.
6  (4) That all assets and responsibilities of the
7  sanitary district being acquired or municipality, as they
8  relate to wastewater treatment, have been properly
9  assigned to the acquiring district.
10  (5) That the West Cook Flood Prevention District will
11  pay any court costs incurred in connection with the
12  petition.
13  (6) The boundaries of the acquired sanitary district
14  or municipality as of the date of the petition.
15  (c) Upon adequate notice, including appropriate notice to
16  the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the circuit
17  court shall hold a hearing to determine whether there is good
18  cause for the acquisition by the acquiring district and
19  whether the allegations of the petition are true. If the court
20  finds that there is good cause and that the allegations are
21  true, it shall order the acquisition to proceed. If the court
22  finds that there is not good cause for the acquisition or that
23  the allegations of the petition are not true, the court shall
24  dismiss the petition. In either event, the costs shall be
25  taxed against the acquiring district. The order shall be
26  final. Separate or joint appeals may be taken by any party

 

 

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1  affected by the order as in other civil cases.
2  (d) If the court orders the acquisition contemplated in
3  the petition, there shall be no further appointments of
4  trustees if the acquired agency is a sanitary district. The
5  trustees of the acquired sanitary district acting at the time
6  of the order shall close up the business affairs of the
7  sanitary district and make the necessary conveyances of title
8  to the sanitary district property in accordance with the
9  intergovernmental agreement between the acquiring and acquired
10  sanitary districts. In the case of a municipality, the
11  governing body of the municipality shall make the necessary
12  conveyances of title to municipal property to the district in
13  accordance with the intergovernmental agreement between the
14  municipality and the district. The district's ordinances shall
15  take effect in the acquired territory upon entry of the order.
16  (e) The acquisition of any sanitary district by the West
17  Cook Flood Prevention District or the acquisition of a
18  treatment works from a municipality by the West Cook Flood
19  Prevention District does not affect the obligation of any
20  bonds issued or contracts entered into by the acquired
21  sanitary district or the municipality, nor invalidate the
22  levy, extension, or collection of any taxes or special
23  assessments upon a property in the acquired sanitary district,
24  but all those bonds and contracts shall be discharged. The
25  general obligation indebtedness of the acquired sanitary
26  district shall be paid from the proceeds of continuing taxes

 

 

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1  and special assessments as provided in this Act.
2  All money remaining after the business affairs of the
3  acquired sanitary district or acquired treatment works of the
4  municipality have been closed up and all debts and obligations
5  of the entities paid shall be paid to the West Cook Flood
6  Prevention District in accordance with the intergovernmental
7  agreement between the parties.
8  (f) An intergovernmental agreement entered into by the
9  parties under this Section shall provide for the imposition or
10  continuance of a user charge system in accordance with the
11  acquiring West Cook Flood Prevention District's ordinance, the
12  Illinois Environmental Protection Act, and the federal Clean
13  Water Act.
14  (g) All courts shall take judicial notice of the
15  acquisition of the sanitary district being acquired or
16  municipal treatment works by the West Cook Flood Prevention
17  District.
18  Section 175. Construction special assessments. The board
19  of trustees may build and construct and to defray the cost and
20  expenses of the construction of drains, sewers, or laterals,
21  or drains and sewers and laterals and other necessary adjuncts
22  thereto, including pumps, pumping stations, and interceptors
23  made by it in the execution or in furtherance of the powers
24  heretofore granted to the district by special assessment, as
25  they shall by ordinance prescribe. A person may not object to a

 

 

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1  special assessment because the improvement for which the same
2  is levied is partly outside the limits of the district. A
3  special assessment may not be made upon property situated
4  outside the district, and property may not be assessed more
5  than it will be benefited by the improvement for which the
6  assessment is levied. The procedure in making improvements by
7  special assessment shall be the same as nearly as possible as
8  is prescribed in Divisions 1 and 2 of Article 9 of the Illinois
9  Municipal Code and Division 87 of Article 11 of the Illinois
10  Municipal Code. The functions and duties of the city council,
11  the council, the board of trustees, or the board of local
12  improvements under those provisions of the Illinois Municipal
13  Code shall be assumed and discharged by the board of trustees
14  of the district; and the duties of the officers designated in
15  those divisions of the Illinois Municipal Code as mayor of a
16  city, president of a village or incorporated town, or
17  president of the board of local improvements shall be assumed
18  and discharged by the president of the board of trustees of the
19  district. The duties of other municipal officers designated in
20  those provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code shall be
21  performed by similar officers of the district.
22  Section 180. Special assessment procedures. When any
23  special assessment is made under this Act, the ordinance
24  authorizing such assessment may provide that the entire
25  assessment and each individual assessment be divided into not

 

 

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1  more than 20 annual installments. The division shall be made
2  so that all installments shall be equal in amount, except that
3  all fractional amounts shall be added to the first installment
4  to leave the remaining installments of the aggregate equal in
5  amount and each a multiple of $100. The said several
6  installments shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed that
7  permitted for public corporation bonds under the Bond
8  Authorization Act. Both principal and interest shall be
9  payable, collected, and enforced as they shall become due in
10  the manner provided for the levy, payment, collection and
11  enforcement of such assessments and interest, as provided in
12  Divisions 1 and 2 of Article 9 of the Illinois Municipal Code
13  and Division 87 of Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
14  Section 185. Bonds for special assessments. If an
15  ordinance regarding improvements that provides for the payment
16  of the improvement by special assessment, either in whole or
17  in part, then the board of trustees may issue bonds to
18  anticipate the collection of the second and succeeding
19  installments of said assessments payable only out of such
20  assessment when collected and bearing interest at the same
21  rate as provided upon the installments of such assessments.
22  Said bonds shall be issued and subject to call and retirement
23  in the same manner as provided in Divisions 1 and 2 of Article
24  9 of the Illinois Municipal Code and Division 87 of Article 11
25  of the Illinois Municipal Code.

 

 

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1  Section 190. Ordinances requiring the taking or damaging
2  of property. If the board of trustees adopts an ordinance for
3  the making of any improvement authorized by this Act, the
4  making of which will require the taking or damaging of
5  property, the proceeding for the taking or damaging of
6  property and for making just compensation therefor shall be as
7  described in Divisions 1 and 2 of Article 9 of the Illinois
8  Municipal Code and Division 87 of Article 11 of the Illinois
9  Municipal Code.
10  Section 195. Addition of contiguous territory. Additional
11  contiguous territory may be added to the district in the
12  following manner:
13  10% or more of the legal voters residing within the limits
14  of such proposed addition to the district may petition the
15  Circuit Court of Cook County to cause the question to be
16  submitted to the legal voters of such proposed additional
17  territory whether such proposed additional territory shall
18  become a part of the district and whether such additional
19  territory and the taxpayers thereof shall assume a
20  proportionate share of the bonded indebtedness, if any, of the
21  district. Such petition shall be addressed to the court and
22  shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of the
23  territory sought to be added. No territory disqualified under
24  this Act may be included.

 

 

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1  Upon the filing of such a petition in the office of the
2  Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the court shall
3  consider the boundaries of such proposed additional territory,
4  whether the same shall be those stated in the petition or
5  otherwise. The decision of the court shall be a final order and
6  appealable as in other civil cases.
7  Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place
8  when and where all persons interested will be heard
9  substantially. The court shall certify its order and the
10  proposition to the proper election officials who shall submit
11  the proposition at an election in accordance with the general
12  election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the
13  following form:
14  ----------------------------------------------
15  For joining sanitary district and
16  assuming a proportionate share
17  of bonded indebtedness, if any.
18  -------------------------------------------------------------
19  Against joining sanitary district
20  and assuming a proportionate
21  share of bonded indebtedness,
22  if any.
23  -------------------------------------------------------------
24  If a majority of the votes cast at such election are in
25  favor of becoming a part of the district and if the trustees of
26  the district accept the proposed additional territory by

 

 

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1  ordinance annexing the same, the court shall enter an
2  appropriate order of record in the court, and such additional
3  territory shall thenceforth be added to the district. Any such
4  additional contiguous territory may be annexed to the district
5  upon petition addressed to such court, signed by a majority of
6  the owners of lands constituting such territory who, in the
7  case of natural persons, shall have arrived at lawful age and
8  who represent a majority in area of such territory, and the
9  petition shall contain a definite description of the
10  boundaries of such territory and shall set forth the
11  willingness of the petitioners that such territory and the
12  taxpayers thereof assume a proportionate share of the bonded
13  indebtedness, if any, of the district. Upon the filing of such
14  petition and notice of and hearing and decision upon the same
15  by the aforesaid trustees, all as hereinbefore provided, such
16  trustees or a majority of them, shall enter an order
17  containing their findings and decision as to the boundaries of
18  the territory to be annexed; and thereupon, if the trustees of
19  the district shall pass an ordinance annexing the territory
20  described in such order to the district, the court shall enter
21  an appropriate order as hereinabove provided, and such
22  additional territory shall thenceforth be deemed an integral
23  part of the district.
24  Section 200. Disconnection of contiguous territory.
25  Contiguous territory located within the boundaries of the

 

 

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1  district and upon the border of the district may disconnect
2  from the district as follows: 10% or more of the legal voters
3  resident in the territory sought to be disconnected from the
4  district may petition the Circuit Court of Cook County to
5  cause the question of whether such territory shall be
6  disconnected to be submitted to the legal voters of such
7  territory. Such a petition shall be addressed to the court and
8  shall contain a definite description of the boundaries of such
9  territory and recite as a fact, that there is no outstanding
10  bonded indebtedness of the district that was incurred or
11  assumed while such territory was a part of the district and
12  that no special assessments for local improvements were levied
13  upon or assessed against any of the lands within such
14  territory or, if so levied or assessed, that all of such
15  assessments have been fully paid and discharged and that such
16  territory is not, at the time of the filing of such petition,
17  and will not be, either benefited or served by any work or
18  improvements either then existing or then authorized by said
19  district. Upon filing such petition in the office of the Clerk
20  of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the court shall consider
21  the boundaries of such territory and the facts upon which the
22  petition is founded. The court may alter the boundaries of
23  such territory or shall deny the prayer of the petition if the
24  material allegations therein contained are not founded in
25  fact; however, a decision of said trustees or a majority of
26  them shall be conclusive and not subject to review.

 

 

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1  Notice shall be given by the court of the time and place
2  when and where all persons interested will be heard. The court
3  shall certify its order and the question to the proper
4  election officials who shall submit the question at an
5  election in accordance with the general election law. The
6  proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
7  ----
8  For disconnection from
9  sanitary district.
10  -------------------------------------------
11  Against disconnection from
12  sanitary district.
13  -------------------------------------------------------------
14  If a majority of the votes cast at such election are in
15  favor of disconnection and if the trustees of the district, by
16  ordinance, disconnect such territory, then the court shall
17  enter an appropriate order of record in the court and
18  thereafter such territory is disconnected from the district.
19  Section 205. Unit of local government withdrawal from the
20  district. A unit of local government included in the district
21  may withdraw from the district, however, such unit must pay a
22  fee to the district to compensate for costs incurred by the
23  district as a result of said unit of local government's
24  discharge of groundwater, surface water, sewage, stormwater,
25  and other waters into the district's sewer system. A unit of

 

 

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1  local government that elects to withdraw from the district
2  shall pay over to the district its proportionate share of the
3  bonded indebtedness, if any, of the district prior to its
4  disconnection.
5  Section 210. Annexation of territory. The board of
6  trustees of the district may annex territory that is not
7  within the corporate limits of the district if:
8  (1) the territory is contiguous to the district or the
9  territory is noncontiguous and the owner or owners of
10  record have entered into an agreement requesting the
11  annexation of the noncontiguous territory; and
12  (2) the territory is served by the district or by a
13  municipality with sewers that are connected and served by
14  the district.
15  The annexation may be accomplished only by ordinance and
16  the ordinance shall include a description of the annexed
17  territory. A copy of the ordinance and a map of the annexed
18  territory certified as true and accurate by the clerk of the
19  district shall be filed with the county clerk of Cook County.
20  The new boundary shall extend to the far side of any adjacent
21  highway and shall include all of every highway within the area
22  annexed. These highways shall be considered to be annexed even
23  though not included in the legal description in the annexation
24  ordinance.
25  The territory to be annexed to the district shall be

 

 

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1  considered to be contiguous to the district notwithstanding
2  that the territory to be annexed is divided by, or that the
3  territory to be annexed is separated from the district by, one
4  or more railroad rights-of-way, public easements, or
5  properties owned by a public utility, a forest preserve
6  district, a public agency, or a not-for-profit corporation.
7  Section 215. Annexation agreements. The board of trustees
8  of the district may enter into an agreement with one or more of
9  the owners of record of land in any territory that may be
10  annexed to the district as provided in this Act. Such
11  agreement may provide for the annexation of such territory to
12  the district, subject to the provisions of this Act, and any
13  other matter not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act,
14  nor forbidden by law.
15  Any action taken by the board of trustees during the
16  period such agreement is in effect, that, if it applied to the
17  land that is the subject of the agreement, would be a breach of
18  such agreement, does not apply to such land without an
19  amendment of such agreement.
20  The board of trustees shall fix a time for and hold a
21  public hearing upon the proposed annexation agreement or
22  amendment, and shall give notice of the proposed agreement or
23  amendment not more than 30 nor less than 15 days before the
24  date fixed for the hearing. This notice shall be published at
25  least once in one or more newspapers published within the

 

 

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1  district. After such hearing, the agreement or amendment may
2  be modified before execution thereof. The annexation agreement
3  or amendment shall be executed by the president of the board of
4  trustees only after such hearing and upon the adoption of a
5  resolution directing such execution, and the resolution must
6  be passed by a vote of two-thirds of the board of trustees then
7  holding office.
8  Any annexation agreement executed pursuant to this Section
9  shall be binding upon the successor owners of record of the
10  land that is the subject of the agreement and upon successor
11  board of trustees of the district and any successor districts.
12  A party to such agreement may, by civil action, mandamus, or
13  other proceeding, enforce and compel performance of the
14  agreement.
15  Section 220. Territory of the district to be considered
16  contiguous territory. Territory that is to be annexed to the
17  district shall be considered to be contiguous to the district
18  even if the territory is divided by one or more railroad
19  rights-of-way, public easements, or property owned by a public
20  utility or even if the territory to be so annexed is separated
21  from the district by one or more railroad rights-of-way,
22  public easements, or property owned by a public utility.
23  Section 225. Insurance. The board of trustees of the
24  district may arrange to provide for the benefit of employees

 

 

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1  and trustees of the district group life, health, accident,
2  hospital and medical insurance, or any one or any combination
3  of those types of insurance. The board of trustees may also
4  establish a self-insurance program to provide such group life,
5  health, accident, hospital and medical coverage, or any one or
6  any combination of such coverage. The board of trustees may
7  enact an ordinance prescribing the method of operation of such
8  an insurance program. Such insurance may include provision for
9  employees and trustees who rely on treatment by prayer or
10  spiritual means alone for healing in accordance with the
11  tenets and practice of a well recognized religious
12  denomination. The board of trustees may provide for payment by
13  the district of the premium or charge for such insurance or the
14  cost of a self-insurance program.
15  The board of trustees may provide for the withholding and
16  deducting from the compensation of such of the employees and
17  trustees as consent thereto the premium or charge for any
18  group life, health, accident, hospital and medical insurance.
19  The board of trustees may only obtain insurance from an
20  insurance company or companies authorized to do business in
21  the State of Illinois or such other organization or service
22  provider authorized to do business in the State of Illinois.
23  Section 230. Claims for compensation. A claim for
24  compensation may not be made or an action for damages filed
25  against the district on account of any damage to property

 

 

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1  occurring on or after the effective date of this Act unless
2  notice in writing is filed with the district's board of
3  trustees within 6 months after the occurrence of the damage.
4  The notice must include the following information: (i) the
5  name and residence address of the owner of the property
6  damaged; (ii) the property's location; and (iii) the probable
7  extent of the damage sustained.
8  Section 235. Discharge into sewer of the district.
9  (a) The terms used in this Section are defined as follows:
10  "Board of trustees" means the board of trustees of the
11  district.
12  "Industrial wastes" means all solids, liquids, or gaseous
13  wastes resulting from any commercial, industrial,
14  manufacturing, agricultural, trade, or business operation or
15  process or from the development, recovery, or processing of
16  natural resources.
17  "Other wastes" means decayed wood, sawdust, shavings,
18  bark, lime, refuse, ashes, garbage, offal, oil, tar,
19  chemicals, and all other substances except sewage and
20  industrial wastes.
21  "Person" means any individual, firm, association, joint
22  venture, sole proprietorship, company, partnership, estate
23  copartnership, corporation, joint stock company, trust, school
24  district, unit of local government, or private corporation
25  organized or existing under the laws of this State or any other

 

 

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1  state or country.
2  "President" means the president of the board of trustees.
3  "Sewage" means water-carried human wastes or a combination
4  of water-carried wastes from residences, buildings,
5  businesses, industrial establishments, institutions, or other
6  places together with any groundwater, surface water,
7  stormwater, or other water that may be present.
8  "Stormwater" means rainwater produced by a storm or other
9  precipitation event, including any and all floodwaters
10  resulting during and after a weather event.
11  (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge
12  sewage, groundwater, surface water, stormwater, industrial
13  waste, or other wastes or waters into any sewerage system in
14  the control of the district or into any sewer connected
15  therewith, except upon the terms and conditions that the
16  district might reasonably impose by way of ordinance, permit,
17  or otherwise.
18  The district, in addition to all other powers vested in it
19  and in the interest of public health and safety, or as
20  authorized by subsections (b) and (c) of Section 46 of the
21  Environmental Protection Act, may adopt all ordinances, rules,
22  or regulations necessary to implement this Section, including,
23  but not limited to, the imposition of charges based on
24  factors, including strength and volume and the right of access
25  during reasonable hours.
26  (c) The district shall require municipalities discharging

 

 

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1  groundwater, surface water, sewage, stormwater, industrial
2  waste, or other wastes or waters into any sewerage system in
3  the control of the district or into any sewer connected
4  therewith to compensate the district for the use, maintenance,
5  and construction costs of the district sewerage system as a
6  result of such discharge. The district shall charge each
7  municipality on a pro rata basis an amount reasonable and
8  proportionate, as determined by the board of trustees, to the
9  total volume each municipality discharges into the system.
10  (d) Whenever the district acting through the president
11  determines that groundwater, surface water, sewage,
12  stormwater, industrial wastes, or other wastes are being
13  discharged into a sewerage system in the control of the
14  district and when, in the opinion of the president, the
15  discharge is in violation of an ordinance, rules, or
16  regulations adopted by the board of trustees under this
17  Section governing industrial wastes or other wastes, the
18  president shall order the offending party to cease and desist.
19  The order shall be served on the offending party by U.S.
20  first-class mail, U.S. certified mail, personally, or by email
21  as provided in subsection (l).
22  If the offending party fails or refuses to immediately
23  discontinue the discharge after service of the
24  cease-and-desist order, the president may order the offending
25  party to show cause before the board of trustees of the
26  district why the discharge should not be discontinued. A

 

 

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1  notice shall be served directing the offending party to show
2  cause before the board of trustees why an order should not be
3  entered directing the discontinuance of the discharge. The
4  notice shall specify the time and place where a hearing will be
5  held and shall be served on the offending party by U.S.
6  first-class mail, U.S. certified mail, personally, or by email
7  as provided in subsection (l) at least 10 days before the
8  hearing; and, in the case of a unit of local government or a
9  corporation, the service shall be upon an officer or agent
10  thereof. After reviewing the evidence, the board of trustees
11  may issue an order to the party responsible for the discharge
12  directing that within a specified period of time the discharge
13  be discontinued. The board of trustees may also order the
14  party responsible for the discharge to pay a civil penalty in
15  an amount specified by the board of trustees that is not less
16  than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 per day for each day of
17  discharge of effluent in violation of this Act as provided in
18  subsection (d); however, if the part responsible is a unit of
19  government, the board of trustees may order the party to pay a
20  civil penalty in an amount specified by the board of trustees
21  that is not less than $10,000 nor more than $20,000 per day for
22  each day of discharge of effluent in violation of this Act as
23  provided in subsection (d). The board of trustees may also
24  order the party responsible for the violation to all costs and
25  legal fees associated with the violation.
26  (e) The board of trustees shall establish procedures for

 

 

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1  assessing civil penalties and issuing orders under subsection
2  (c) as follows:
3  (1) In making its orders and determinations, the board
4  of trustees shall take into consideration all the facts
5  and circumstances bearing on the activities involved and
6  the assessment of civil penalties as shown by the record
7  produced at the hearing.
8  (2) The board of trustees shall establish a panel of
9  independent hearing officers to conduct all hearings on
10  the assessment of civil penalties and issuance of orders
11  under subsection (c). The hearing officers shall be
12  attorneys licensed to practice law in this State.
13  (3) The board of trustees shall promulgate procedural
14  rules governing the proceedings, the assessment of civil
15  penalties, and the issuance of orders.
16  (4) All hearings shall be on the record, and testimony
17  taken must be under oath and recorded stenographically.
18  Transcripts so recorded must be made available to any
19  member of the public or any party to the hearing upon
20  payment of the usual charges for transcripts. At the
21  hearing, the hearing officer may issue, in the name of the
22  board of trustees, notices of hearing requesting the
23  attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production
24  of evidence relevant to any matter involved in the hearing
25  and may examine witnesses.
26  (5) The hearing officer shall conduct a full and

 

 

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1  impartial hearing on the record with an opportunity for
2  the presentation of evidence and cross-examination of the
3  witnesses. The hearing officer shall issue findings of
4  fact, conclusions of law, a recommended civil penalty, and
5  an order based solely on the record. The hearing officer
6  may also recommend, as part of the order, that the
7  discharge of industrial waste be discontinued within a
8  specified time.
9  (6) The findings of fact, conclusions of law,
10  recommended civil penalty, and order shall be transmitted
11  to the board of trustees along with a complete record of
12  the hearing.
13  (7) The board of trustees shall either approve or
14  disapprove the findings of fact, conclusions of law,
15  recommended civil penalty, and order. If the findings of
16  fact, conclusions of law, recommended civil penalty, or
17  order are rejected, the board of trustees shall remand the
18  matter to the hearing officer for further proceedings. If
19  the order is accepted by the board of trustees, it shall
20  constitute the final order of the board of trustees.
21  (8) The civil penalty specified by the board of
22  trustees shall be paid within 35 days after the party on
23  whom it is imposed receives a written copy of the order of
24  the board of trustees, unless the person or persons to
25  whom the order is issued seeks judicial review.
26  (9) If the party seeks judicial review of the order

 

 

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1  assessing civil penalties, the party shall, within 35 days
2  after the date of the final order, pay the amount of the
3  civil penalties into an escrow account maintained by the
4  district for that purpose or file a bond guaranteeing
5  payment of the civil penalties if the civil penalties are
6  upheld on review.
7  (10) Civil penalties not paid by the times specified
8  in this subsection shall be delinquent and subject to
9  additional interest and penalties. The penalties and
10  interest provided for in this subsection shall be in
11  addition to and not in derogation of any other remedy or
12  right of recovery, in law or equity, that the district may
13  have with respect to the collection or recovery of
14  penalties and charges imposed by the district.
15  (f) The president may order a unit of local government or
16  any person to cease the discharge of groundwater, surface
17  water, sewage, stormwater, effluent, or industrial waste upon
18  a finding by the president that the final order of the board of
19  trustees entered after a hearing to show cause has been
20  violated. The order shall be served on the offending party by
21  U.S. first-class mail, U.S. certified mail, personally, or by
22  email as provided in subsection (l). The order of the
23  president shall also schedule an expedited hearing before a
24  hearing officer designated by the board of trustees for the
25  purpose of determining whether the party has violated the
26  final order of the board of trustees The board of trustees

 

 

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1  shall adopt rules of procedure governing expedited hearings.
2  In no event shall the hearing be conducted less than 7 days
3  after service of the president's order on the offending party.
4  At the conclusion of the expedited hearing, the hearing
5  officer shall prepare a report with his or her findings and
6  recommendations and transmit it to the board of trustees. If
7  the board of trustees, after reviewing the findings and
8  recommendations and the record produced at the hearings,
9  determines that the party has violated the board of trustees'
10  final order, the board of trustees may authorize the plugging
11  of the sewer or the disconnection of a party from the sewer
12  system. The president shall give not less than 10 days'
13  written notice of board of trustees' order to the unit of local
14  government, owner, officer, registered agent, or individual
15  designated by permit, that the sewer will be plugged or
16  otherwise disconnected.
17  The option to plug a sewer shall be in addition to and not
18  in derogation of any other remedy, in law or in equity, that
19  the district may have to prevent violation of its ordinances
20  and orders of its board of trustees.
21  (g) A violation of the final order of the board of trustees
22  shall be considered a nuisance. If any person discharges
23  groundwater, surface water, sewage, stormwater, effluent,
24  industrial wastes, or other wastes into any sewers or systems
25  owned or operated by the district contrary to the final order
26  of the board of trustees, the district acting through the

 

 

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1  president may commence an action or proceeding in the circuit
2  court in and for the county in which the district is located
3  for the purpose of having the discharge stopped either by
4  mandamus or injunction, or to remedy the violation in any
5  manner provided for in this Section.
6  The court shall specify a time, not exceeding 20 days
7  after the service of the copy of the complaint, in which the
8  party complained of must plead to the complaint, and in the
9  meantime, the party may be restrained. In case of default or
10  after pleading, the court shall immediately inquire into the
11  facts and circumstances of the case and enter an appropriate
12  judgment in respect to the matters complained of. Appeals may
13  be taken as in other civil cases.
14  (h) The district, acting through the president, may
15  commence an action or proceeding for mandamus or injunction in
16  the circuit court ordering a party to cease its discharge,
17  when, in the opinion of the president, the party's discharge
18  presents an imminent danger to the public health, welfare, or
19  safety, presents or may present an endangerment to the
20  environment, creates a risk of flooding, or threatens to
21  interfere with the operation of the sewerage system under the
22  jurisdiction of the district. The initiation of a show cause
23  hearing is not a prerequisite to the commencement by the
24  district of an action or proceeding for mandamus or injunction
25  in the circuit court. The court shall specify a time, not
26  exceeding 20 days after the service of a copy of the petition,

 

 

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1  in which the party complained of must answer the petition, and
2  in the meantime, the party may be restrained. In case of
3  default in answer or after answer, the court shall immediately
4  inquire into the facts and circumstances of the case and enter
5  an appropriate judgment order in respect to the matters
6  complained of. An appeal may be taken from the final judgment
7  in the same manner and with the same effect as appeals are
8  taken from judgment of the circuit court in other actions for
9  mandamus or injunction.
10  (i) Whenever the district commences an action under
11  subsection (f), the court shall assess a civil penalty of not
12  less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 for each day the party
13  violates a board order. Whenever the district commences an
14  action under subsection (g), the court shall assess a civil
15  penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 for each
16  day the person violates the ordinance. Each day's continuance
17  of the violation is a separate offense. The penalties provided
18  in this Section plus interest at the rate set forth in the
19  Interest Act on unpaid penalties, costs, and fees, imposed by
20  the board of trustees under subsection (d), the reasonable
21  costs to the district of removal or other remedial action
22  caused by discharges in violation of this Act, reasonable
23  attorney's fees, court costs, and other expenses of litigation
24  together with costs for inspection, sampling, analysis, and
25  administration related to the enforcement action against the
26  offending party are recoverable by the district in a civil

 

 

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1  action.
2  (j) The board of trustees may establish fees for late
3  filing of reports with the district required by an ordinance
4  governing discharges. The district shall provide a written
5  notice of the fee assessment by U.S. first-class mail, U.S.
6  certified mail, personally or by email as provided in
7  subsection (l) that states the party has 30 days after being
8  served with the notice to request a conference with the
9  president's designee to discuss or dispute the appropriateness
10  of the assessed fee. Unless a party objects to paying the fee
11  for filing a report late by timely requesting in writing a
12  conference with a designee of the president, that party waives
13  its right to a conference.
14  If a party requests a conference and the matter is not
15  resolved at the conference, the party subject to the fee may
16  request an administrative hearing before an impartial hearing
17  officer appointed under subsection (d) to determine the
18  party's liability for and the amount of the fee.
19  If the hearing officer finds that the late filing fees are
20  owed to the district, the district shall notify the
21  responsible party or parties of the hearing officer's
22  decision. If payment is not made within 30 days after the
23  notice, the fee shall be deemed delinquent and the district
24  may impose additional penalties and interest.
25  (k) The provisions of the Administrative Review Law and
26  all rules adopted pursuant to that Law apply to and govern all

 

 

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1  proceedings for the judicial review of final administrative
2  decisions of the board of trustees in the enforcement of any
3  ordinance, rule, or regulation adopted under this Act.
4  (l) Solely in relation to the discharge of groundwater,
5  surface water, sewage, stormwater, industrial wastes, or other
6  wastes subject to one of the district's ordinances, the
7  district may implement an electronic reporting system that
8  will allow notices, orders, and other documents to be sent
9  directly by email to persons or entities registered with the
10  district, and, in the discretion of the district, to allow
11  those persons or entities registered with the district to
12  view, modify, or submit documents using the electronic
13  reporting system. Whenever this Section provides for service
14  of documents by the district by U.S. first-class mail, U.S.
15  certified mail, or personal service, the district may serve by
16  email the documents upon the registered persons or entities in
17  lieu of service by U.S. first-class mail, U.S. certified mail,
18  or personal service. Enrollment in the electronic reporting
19  system in this subsection is voluntary and limited to
20  nonresidential facilities or uses. Service by email under this
21  Section is only permitted on those persons or entities that
22  voluntarily enroll in the system. The district shall adopt
23  rules, as approved by ordinance, to ensure service of process
24  by email is properly effectuated upon the registered persons
25  and entities.

 

 

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1  Section 240. Stormwater management.
2  (a) The district may plan, manage, implement, and finance
3  activities relating to stormwater management within the
4  boundaries of the district in conformance with the countywide
5  stormwater management plan for Cook County. The district's
6  actions under this Section may not infringe upon the
7  stormwater management authority of the Metropolitan Water
8  Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
9  For the purposes of this Section, the term "stormwater
10  management" includes, without limitation, the management of
11  floods and floodwaters.
12  (b) The district may utilize the resources of cooperating
13  local watershed councils, including the stormwater management
14  planning councils created under Section 5-1062.1 of the
15  Counties Code, councils of local governments, the Northeastern
16  Illinois Planning Commission, and similar organizations and
17  agencies. The district may provide those organizations and
18  agencies with funding, on a contractual basis, for providing
19  information to the district, providing information to the
20  public, or performing other activities related to stormwater
21  management.
22  The district may negotiate and enter into agreements with
23  any county for the management of stormwater runoff in
24  accordance with subsection (c) of Section 5-1062 of the
25  Counties Code.
26  The district may enter into intergovernmental agreements

 

 

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1  with units of local government that are located in whole or in
2  part outside the district for the purpose of implementing the
3  stormwater management plan and providing stormwater management
4  services in areas not included within the territory of the
5  district.
6  (c) The district shall prepare and adopt by ordinance a
7  stormwater management plan for the district. The plan may
8  incorporate one or more separate watershed plans and shall be
9  at least as stringent as the stormwater management plan
10  established by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
11  Prior to adopting the stormwater management plan, the
12  district shall hold at least one public hearing thereon and
13  shall afford interested persons an opportunity to be heard.
14  The district shall obtain all necessary permits and
15  approvals from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District in
16  accordance with applicable law.
17  (d) The district may prescribe, by ordinance, reasonable
18  rules and regulations for floodplain and stormwater management
19  and for governing the location, width, course, and release
20  rate of all sewers and stormwater runoff channels and basins
21  in the district in accordance with the adopted stormwater
22  management plan. These rules and regulations shall, at a
23  minimum, meet the standards for floodplain management
24  established by the Office of Water Resources of the Department
25  of Natural Resources and the requirements of the federal
26  Emergency Management Agency for participation in the National

 

 

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1  Flood Insurance Program.
2  The ordinance adopted by the district under this
3  subsection may provide for a civil penalty for each violation
4  of the ordinance of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000,
5  excluding costs and fees that may be assessed under this
6  Section. Each day's continuance of a violation is a separate
7  offense.
8  (e) Civil penalties assessed by the board of trustees for
9  violations of an ordinance adopted under subsection (d) shall
10  be assessed following a hearing that shall be conducted by the
11  board of trustees or its designee pursuant to procedures
12  adopted by the board of trustees. The procedures shall
13  include, at a minimum, the following:
14  (1) In addition to any civil penalty imposed, the
15  board of trustees may order a party found to have
16  committed a violation of an ordinance adopted under
17  subsection (d) to reimburse the district for the costs of
18  the hearing, including any expenses incurred for
19  inspection, sampling, analysis, administrative costs, and
20  court reporter's and attorney's fees, and to comply with
21  the ordinance adopted under subsection (d) within a time
22  specified by the board of trustees.
23  (2) Unless the party or parties to whom the order is
24  issued seek judicial review, the civil penalties, costs,
25  and fees assessed by the board of trustees under this
26  Section shall be paid by the party or parties in violation

 

 

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1  no later than the latter of (i) 35 days after the party
2  receives a written copy of the order of the board of
3  trustees imposing the civil penalties, costs, or fees or
4  (ii) the date ordered by the board of trustees.
5  (3) If the party assessed a civil penalty seeks
6  judicial review of the order assessing civil penalties,
7  the party shall, no later than 35 days after the date of
8  the final order, pay the amount of the civil penalties,
9  costs, and fees assessed into an escrow account maintained
10  by the district for that purpose or file a bond
11  guaranteeing payment of the civil penalties, fees, and
12  costs if the civil penalties, fees, and costs are upheld
13  on review.
14  (4) Civil penalties, fees, and costs imposed under
15  this Section are recoverable by the district in a civil
16  action by all remedies available under law.
17  (5) The district may apply to the circuit court for an
18  injunction or mandamus when, in the opinion of the
19  president of the district, the person has failed to comply
20  with an order of the board of trustees or the relief is
21  necessary to prevent flooding.
22  The Administrative Review Law governs proceedings for the
23  judicial review of final orders of the board of trustees
24  issued under this subsection.
25  (f) The district may impose fees on areas outside the
26  district but within Cook County for performance of stormwater

 

 

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1  management services, including, but not limited to,
2  maintenance the development, design, planning, construction,
3  operation, and maintenance of stormwater facilities and use of
4  the Town of Cicero sewer systems. The unit of local government
5  in which the stormwater services are performed shall remit the
6  fees to the district. All such fees collected by the district
7  shall be held in a separate fund and used for implementation of
8  this Section.
9  (g) Amounts collected by the district under this Act that
10  are designated for corporate purposes or for stormwater
11  management purposes may be used by the district for
12  implementing this Section and for the development, design,
13  planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of regional
14  and local stormwater facilities provided for in the stormwater
15  management plan.
16  (h) The district may plan, implement, finance, and operate
17  regional and local stormwater management projects in
18  accordance with the adopted countywide stormwater management
19  plan.
20  The district shall provide for public review and comment
21  on proposed stormwater management projects. The district shall
22  conform to State and federal requirements concerning public
23  information, environmental assessments, and environmental
24  impacts for projects receiving State or federal funds.
25  The district may issue bonds under Section 100 of this Act
26  for the purpose of funding stormwater management projects.

 

 

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1  The district may not use Cook County Forest Preserve
2  District land for stormwater or flood control projects without
3  the consent of that District.
4  The district may acquire, by purchase from a willing
5  seller in a voluntary transaction, real property in
6  furtherance of its regional and local stormwater management
7  activities. Nothing in this Section shall affect the
8  district's powers of condemnation or eminent domain as
9  otherwise allowed under this Act.
10  (i) Upon the creation and implementation of a county
11  stormwater management plan, the district may petition the
12  circuit court to dissolve any or all drainage districts
13  created pursuant to the Illinois Drainage Code or predecessor
14  Acts that are located entirely within the district.
15  An active drainage district implementing a plan that is
16  consistent with and at least as stringent as the district's
17  stormwater management plan may petition the district for
18  exception from dissolution. Upon filing of the petition, the
19  district shall set a date for hearing not less than 2 weeks,
20  nor more than 4 weeks, from the filing thereof, and the
21  district shall give at least one week's notice of the hearing
22  in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the
23  drainage district, and, in addition, shall cause a copy of the
24  notice to be personally served upon each of the trustees of the
25  drainage district. At the hearing, the district shall hear the
26  drainage district's petition and allow the drainage district

 

 

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1  trustees and any interested parties an opportunity to present
2  oral and written evidence. The district shall render its
3  decision upon the petition for exception from dissolution
4  based upon the best interests of the residents of the drainage
5  district. If the exception is not allowed, the drainage
6  district may file a petition with the circuit court within 30
7  days after the decision. In that case, the notice and hearing
8  requirements for the court shall be the same as provided in
9  this subsection for the petition to the district. The court
10  shall render its decision of whether to dissolve the district
11  based upon the best interests of the residents of the drainage
12  district.
13  The dissolution of a drainage district does not affect the
14  obligation of any bonds issued or contracts entered into by
15  the drainage district nor invalidate the levy, extension, or
16  collection of any special assessments upon the property in the
17  former drainage district. All property and obligations of the
18  former drainage district shall be assumed and managed by the
19  district, and the debts of the former drainage district shall
20  be discharged as soon as practicable.
21  If a drainage district lies only partly within the
22  district, the district may petition the circuit court to
23  disconnect from the drainage district that portion of the
24  drainage district that lies within the district. The property
25  of the drainage district within the disconnected area shall be
26  assumed and managed by the district. The district shall also

 

 

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1  assume a portion of the drainage district's debt at the time of
2  disconnection based on the portion of the value of the taxable
3  property of the drainage district that is located within the
4  area being disconnected.
5  A drainage district that is not dissolved under this
6  subsection within Cook County shall conform its operations to
7  the countywide stormwater management plan for Cook County.
8  (j) The district may, after 10 days' written notice to the
9  owner or occupant, enter upon any lands or waters within the
10  county for the purpose of inspecting stormwater facilities or
11  causing the removal of any obstruction to an affected
12  watercourse.
13  (k) The district shall post a report on its website
14  annually on its activities and expenditures under this
15  Section.
16  (l) The powers granted to the district under this Section
17  are in addition to the other powers granted under this Act.
18  This Section does not limit the powers of the district under
19  any other provision of this Act or any other law.
20  (m) This Section does not affect the power or duty of any
21  unit of local government to take actions relating to flooding
22  or stormwater so long as those actions conform with this
23  Section and the plans, rules, and ordinances adopted by the
24  district under this Section.
25  Section 900. Severability. The provisions of this Act are

 

 

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1  severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
2  Section 905. The Eminent Domain Act is amended by adding
3  Section 15-5-49 as follows:

 

 

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