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Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.

COUNTIES
(55 ILCS 5/) Counties Code.

55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-30

 
    (55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-30 heading)
Division 5-30. County Historic Preservation

55 ILCS 5/5-30001

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30001) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30001)
    Sec. 5-30001. Subtitle. This Division shall be subtitled the "Illinois County Historic Preservation Law".
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30002

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30002) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30002)
    Sec. 5-30002. Declaration of purpose. The purpose of this Division is to identify, protect, preserve, and provide for the restoration, rehabilitation and continued use of buildings, structures, objects, areas, sites, and landscapes that are of historic, archaeological, architectural or scenic significance; to foster education, interest and pride in the beauty and accomplishments of the past; to promote economic development through protection and enhancement of resources important to tourism and business; to conserve and improve the value of real property and the property tax base; to insure orderly, efficient and harmonious development; to encourage cooperation between municipalities and counties; and to promote the general welfare.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30003

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30003) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30003)
    Sec. 5-30003. Definitions. As used in this Division, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as follows:
    "Alteration". Any act or process that changes one or more historic, architectural or physical features of an area, site, landscape, place or structure, including, but not limited to, the erection, construction, reconstruction, or removal of any structure; the expansion or significant modification of agricultural activities; surface mining; and clearing, grading or other modification of an area, site or landscape that changes its current or natural condition.
    "Architectural significance". Embodying the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, style or method of construction or use of indigenous construction, or representing the work of an important builder, designer, architect, or craftsman who has contributed to the development of the community, county, State or country.
    "Archaeological significance". Importance as an area, site, place or landscape that has yielded or is likely to yield information concerning past patterns of human settlement, or artifacts or information concerning previous cultures in Illinois or previous periods of the present culture. Areas, sites or landscapes of archaeological significance may include, but are not limited to, aboriginal mounds, forts, earthworks, burial grounds, historic or prehistoric ruins, locations of villages, mine excavations or tailings, or other locations.
    "Building". Any structure designed or constructed for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural or other use.
    "Certificate of Appropriateness". A certificate issued by a preservation commission indicating its approval of plans for alteration, construction, demolition, or removal affecting a nominated or designated landmark or property within a nominated or designated preservation district.
    "Certificate of Economic Hardship". A certificate issued by a Preservation Commission authorizing an alteration, construction, removal or demolition even though a Certificate of Appropriateness has previously been denied or may be denied.
    "Commissioners". Members of a Preservation Commission.
    "Conservation Right". A term that includes easements, covenants, deed restrictions or any other type of less than full fee simple interest as that term is defined in Section 1 of "An Act relating to conservation rights in real property", approved September 12, 1977, as amended.
    "Construction". The act of adding an addition to a structure or the erection of a new principal or accessory structure on a lot or property.
    "Demolition". Any act or process which destroys in part or in whole a landmark or a building or structure within a preservation district.
    "Design Criteria". A standard of appropriate activity that will preserve the historic, architectural, scenic or aesthetic character of a landmark or preservation district.
    "Development Rights". The development rights of a landmark or of a property within a preservation district as defined in Section 11-48.2-1A of the Illinois Municipal Code.
    "Development Rights Bank". A reserve for the deposit of development rights as defined in Section 11-48.2-1A of the Illinois Municipal Code.
    "Exterior Architectural Appearance". The architectural character and general composition of the exterior of a building or structure, including but not limited to the kind, color and texture of the building material and the type, design and character of all windows, doors, light fixtures, signs and appurtenant elements.
    "Historic Significance". Character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage, or culture of the community, county, State or country; as the location of an important local, county, State or national event; or through identification with a person or persons who made important contributions to the development of the community, county, State or country.
    "Landmark". A property or structure designated as a "Landmark" by ordinance of a county board, pursuant to procedures prescribed herein, which is worthy of rehabilitation, restoration, or preservation because of its historic or scenic or architectural significance.
    "Landscape". A natural feature or group of natural features such as, but not limited to, valleys, rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, forests, woods, or hills; or a combination of natural features and buildings, structures, objects, cultivated fields, or orchards in a predominantly rural setting.
    "Object". Any tangible thing, including any items of personal property, including, but not limited to, wagons, boats, and farm machinery, that may be easily moved or removed from real property.
    "Owner of Record". The person or corporation or other legal entity in whose name the property appears on the records of the County Recorder.
    "Preservation District". An area designated as a "preservation district" by ordinance of a county board and which may contain within definable geographic boundaries one or more landmarks and which may have within its boundaries other properties, areas, sites, landscapes or structures which, while not of such historic or architectural or scenic significance to be designated as landmarks, nevertheless contribute to the overall visual characteristics of the landmark or landmarks located within the district.
    "Preservation Ordinance". An ordinance enacted by a county board pursuant to this Division that provides for the nomination, designation, and protection of landmarks or preservation districts, and that contains, at a minimum, the elements required by Section 5-30009.
    "Removal". Any relocation of a structure, object or artifact on its site or to another site.
    "Repair". Any change that is not construction, alteration, demolition, or removal and is necessary or useful for continuing normal maintenance and upkeep.
    "Scenic Significance". Importance as a result of appearance or character that remains relatively unchanged from and embodies the essential appearance related to a culture from an earlier historic or prehistoric period; as a result of a unique location, appearance, or physical character that creates an established or familiar vista or visual feature; or as a geologic or natural feature associated with the development, heritage or culture of the community, county, State or nation.
    "Site". The traditional, documented or legendary location of an event, occurrence, action or structure significant in the life or lives of a person, persons, group, or tribe, including but not limited to, cemeteries, burial grounds, campsites, battlefields, settlements, estates, gardens, groves, river crossings, routes, trails, caves, quarries, mines or significant trees or other plant life.
    "Structure". Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent or temporary location on or in the ground, including (but without limiting the generality of the foregoing) barns, smokehouses, advertising signs, billboards, backstops for tennis courts, bridges, fences, pergolas, gazebos, radio and television antennae, solar collectors, microwave antennae, including supporting towers, roads, ruins or remnants (including foundations), swimming pools or walkways.
    "Survey". The systematic gathering of information on the architectural, historical, scenic, and archaeological significance of buildings, sites, structures, areas, or landscapes through visual assessment in the field and historical research, for the purpose of identifying landmarks or districts worthy of preservation.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30004

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30004) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30004)
    Sec. 5-30004. Authority to protect and preserve landmarks and preservation districts. The county board of each county shall have the following authority:
        (1) to establish and appoint by ordinance a
    
preservation study committee and to take any reasonable temporary actions to protect potential landmarks and preservation districts during the term of an appointed preservation study committee;
        (2) to establish and appoint by ordinance a
    
preservation commission upon recommendation of a preservation study committee;
        (3) to conduct an ongoing survey of the county to
    
identify buildings, structures, areas, sites and landscapes that are of historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance, and therefore potential landmarks or preservation districts;
        (4) to designate by ordinance landmarks and
    
preservation districts upon the recommendation of a preservation commission and to establish a system of markers, plaques or certificates for designated landmarks and preservation districts;
        (5) to prepare maps showing the location of landmarks
    
and preservation districts, publish educational information, and prepare educational programs concerning landmarks and preservation districts and their designation and protection;
        (6) to exercise any of the powers and authority in
    
relation to regional planning and zoning granted counties by Divisions 5-12 and 5-14, for the purpose of protecting, preserving, and continuing the use of landmarks and preservation districts;
        (7) to nominate landmarks and historic districts to
    
any state or federal registers of historic places;
        (8) to appropriate and expend funds to carry out the
    
purposes of this Division;
        (9) to review applications for construction,
    
alteration, removal or demolition affecting landmarks or property within preservation districts;
        (10) to acquire by negotiated purchase any interest
    
including conservation rights in landmarks or in property within preservation districts, or property immediately adjacent to or surrounding landmarks or preservation districts;
        (11) to apply for and accept any gift, grant or
    
bequest from any private or public source, including agencies of the federal or State government, for any purpose authorized by this Division;
        (12) to establish a system for the transfer of
    
development rights including, as appropriate, a mechanism for the deposit of development rights in a development rights bank, and for the transfer of development rights from that development rights bank in the same manner as authorized for municipalities by Section 11-48.2-2 of the Illinois Municipal Code. All receipts arising from the transfer shall be deposited in a special county account to be applied against expenditures necessitated by the county program for the designation and protection of landmarks and preservation districts. Any development rights acquired, sold or transferred from a development rights bank, shall not be a "security" as that term is defined in Section 2.1 of the Illinois Securities Law of 1953, and shall be exempt from all requirements for the registration of securities.
        (13) to establish a loan or grant program from any
    
source of funds for designated landmarks and preservation districts and to issue interest bearing revenue bonds or general obligation bonds pursuant to ordinance enacted by the county board, after compliance with requirements for referendum, payable from the revenues to be derived from the operation of any landmark or of any property within a preservation district;
        (14) to abate real property taxes on any landmark or
    
property within a preservation district to encourage its preservation and continued use or to provide relief for owners unduly burdened by designation;
        (15) to advise and assist owners of landmarks and
    
property within preservation districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation, and reuse;
        (16) to advise cities, villages, or incorporated
    
towns, upon request of the appropriate official of the municipality, concerning enactment of ordinances to protect landmarks or preservation districts;
        (17) to exercise within the boundaries of any city,
    
village, or incorporated town any of the powers and authority granted counties by this Division so long as the corporate authorities by ordinance or by intergovernmental agreement pursuant to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, or pursuant to Article VII, Section 10 of the Constitution of the State of Illinois have authorized the county preservation commission established by authority of this Division to designate landmarks or preservation districts within its corporate boundaries, and such county preservation commission shall have only those powers, duties, and legal authority provided in this Division;
        (18) to exercise any of the above powers to preserve
    
and protect property owned by any unit of local government including counties, or to review alteration, construction, demolition, or removal undertaken by any unit of local government including counties that affect landmarks and preservation districts.
        (19) to exercise any other power or authority
    
necessary or appropriate to carrying out the purposes of this Division, including those powers and authorities listed in Sections 5-30010 and 5-30011.
(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30005

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30005) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30005)
    Sec. 5-30005. Appointment of preservation study committee. Prior to the establishment of a preservation commission the county board shall by ordinance or resolution appoint from nominations submitted by the chief executive officer of the county board a preservation study committee to investigate the power and authority that can be given to a preservation commission, and to prepare a report to the county board including a recommendation concerning the need for a preservation ordinance.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30006

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30006) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30006)
    Sec. 5-30006. Composition and term of preservation study committee. The preservation study committee shall consist of from 5 to 9 members who shall be residents of the county or of any incorporated municipality within it. Among the members of the study committee shall be at least one representative of the county historical museum, if any; one representative of a volunteer historical society or organization concerned with preservation in unincorporated areas in the county; one member from an existing municipal landmark or historic preservation commission, if any, in the county; and a representative of the county regional planning commission, if any. The chief executive officer of the county board shall appoint a chairman from among the members of the study committee, and shall make every reasonable effort to nominate persons with a demonstrated interest in prehistory, history, or architecture as the remaining members of the study committee. The preservation study committee shall be appointed for a reasonable period of time not to exceed one year.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30007

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30007) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30007)
    Sec. 5-30007. Compensation, expenses and funds. The county board may compensate the study committee on a per diem or per meeting basis with a mileage allowance for travel, and may appropriate to the study committee from any funds under its control and not otherwise appropriated, such sum as the county board may deem proper to fulfill the work of the study committee.
    The study committee shall have the authority:
    (1) to employ such planning, legal or other assistance as it may deem necessary;
    (2) with the concurrence of the county board to accept, receive and expend funds, grants and services from the federal government, or its agencies; from departments, agencies and instrumentalities of the State and local governments; from private or public foundations; or from other sources;
    (3) to contract with respect to any funds, grants or services from whatever sources derived;
    (4) to provide such information and reports as may be necessary to secure financial aid.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30008

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30008) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30008)
    Sec. 5-30008. Authority of preservation study committee. The study committee shall have the following authority:
    (1) to review and evaluate any existing State, county or local surveys and to undertake a preliminary survey of incorporated and unincorporated portions of the county in order to determine generally the number, type and location of potential landmarks and historic districts;
    (2) on the basis of the survey, to determine the need for establishment of a preservation commission to recommend the designation of landmarks or preservation districts, and to review construction, alteration, demolition and removal affecting designated landmarks and preservation districts;
    (3) upon a determination and recommendation that a preservation commission should be established, to either recommend specific landmarks and preservation districts that should be designated by an ordinance establishing a preservation commission, or recommend a process for continuous and systematic survey of the county to identify and designate landmarks and preservation districts as part of an ordinance to establish a preservation commission;
    (4) to prepare or cause to be prepared, an ordinance for the establishment of a preservation commission and for the designation and protection of landmarks and preservation districts;
    (5) to recommend incentives to encourage the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and continued use of landmarks or property within preservation districts;
    (6) to report to the county board within a reasonable period of time concerning these and any other matters affecting the preservation of buildings, structures, areas, sites and landscapes that are of historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30009

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30009) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30009)
    Sec. 5-30009. Presentation of preservation study committee report; termination of committee. The report and recommendations of the study committee, including the proposed preservation ordinance upon a recommendation that a preservation commission should be established, shall be submitted for review and comment to the county board; the county regional planning commission, if any; the county historical museum, if any; each existing municipal landmark or historic preservation commission in the county; and the Department of Natural Resources. Copies of the report shall be available at the county courthouse and offices of the county board and county regional planning commission. The county board, or the study committee or the county regional planning commission upon authorization of the county board, shall, within 60 days after submission, hold public hearings in at least 2 locations within the county and shall afford all persons interested an opportunity to be heard. Notice of each hearing shall be published at least 15 days in advance thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing and the place where copies of the report and recommendations will be available for examination. Within 45 days after the final adjournment of such hearings the study committee shall make a final report and recommendations and submit the final proposed preservation ordinance to the county board. The county board after reviewing the report, recommendations and proposed preservation ordinance shall within 60 days take one of the following steps: (1) accept the report and enact the ordinance without major substantive changes; (2) refer the report and proposed ordinance back to the study committee with suggestions for further amendments and revisions for consideration by the preservation study committee and a further report and recommended ordinance within 60 days; or (3) reject the report, recommendations and proposed ordinance by resolution stating its reasons for such action.
    The preservation study committee shall cease to exist following the completion, presentation or filing of its final report and recommendations with the county board and final action by the board upon the report and recommendations.
(Source: P.A. 89-445, eff. 2-7-96.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30010

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30010) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30010)
    Sec. 5-30010. Minimum content of preservation ordinance. Every preservation ordinance proposed by a preservation study committee and enacted by a county board pursuant to this Division is required, at a minimum, to contain the following elements:
    (1) Establishment of a preservation commission;
    (2) Standards or criteria for determining the historic archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance of buildings, structures, objects, areas, sites or landscapes; and procedures for recommending designation by ordinance of landmarks or preservation districts;
    (3) Definitions of important words and phrases used in the ordinance;
    (4) Procedures for the appointment of officers and the succession of preservation commission members;
    (5) Procedures for review by the preservation commission of proposed zoning amendments, variations and special use applications submitted to a county regional planning commission or board of appeals;
    (6) Procedures and general criteria for review by the preservation commission of significant alteration, construction, demolition and removal that affects pending and designated landmarks and preservation districts and for the issuance of certificates of appropriateness;
    (7) Procedures for establishing guidelines interpreting the general criteria for review of actions required by paragraph (6) above as those criteria relate to specific designated landmarks or categories of designated landmarks, and to designated preservation districts;
    (8) Procedures and standards for a property owner to demonstrate the economic hardship from the denial of an application for an alteration, construction, demolition or removal, and for lessening the effect of any denial determined by a preservation commission or a county board to deny a property owner all reasonable use of, or a return on, a landmark or property within a preservation district;
    (9) Fees for the filing of any nomination or application and penalties for the violation of any provisions of the preservation ordinance.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30011

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30011) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30011)
    Sec. 5-30011. Authority of preservation commission. Every preservation commission established by ordinance of the county board pursuant to the report and recommendations of the preservation study committee shall have the following powers and authority:
    (1) To conduct an ongoing survey of the county to identify buildings, structures, areas, sites and landscapes that are of historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance, and therefore potential landmarks or preservation districts;
    (2) To hold public hearings and recommend to the county board the designation of landmarks or preservation districts identified in the survey;
    (3) To compile information concerning and prepare descriptions of, the landmarks or preservation districts identified and recommended for designation, and the characteristics that meet the standards for designation;
    (4) To prepare, keep current, and publish a map or maps showing the locations and exact boundaries of both proposed and designated landmarks and preservation districts, and, if the preservation commission so chooses, the locations and boundaries of designated State or federal landmarks or districts;
    (5) To keep a register of all designated landmarks and preservation districts;
    (6) To establish an appropriate system of markers or plaques for all designated landmarks and preservation districts, and for streets, roads and highways leading from one landmark or preservation district to another and to confer recognition upon the owners of landmarks or property within preservation districts by means of certificates, plaques or markers;
    (7) To nominate landmarks and historic districts to any state or federal registers of historic places;
    (8) To advise and assist owners of landmarks and property within preservation districts on physical and financial aspects of preservation, renovation, rehabilitation and reuse, and on procedures for inclusion on any state or federal register of historic places;
    (9) To inform and educate the citizens of the county concerning the historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic heritage of the county by publishing appropriate maps, newsletters, brochures and pamphlets, and by holding programs and seminars;
    (10) To hold public hearings and to review applications for construction, alteration, removal or demolition affecting landmarks or property within preservation districts and issue or deny certificates of appropriateness for such actions;
    (11) To consider applications for certificates of economic hardship that would allow the performance of work for which a certificate of appropriateness may be, or has been denied;
    (12) To develop specific criteria and guidelines for the proper alteration, construction, demolition or removal of landmarks, or of property within preservation districts;
    (13) To review proposed amendments to zoning regulations, applications for special uses or applications for zoning variations that affect any landmark or preservation district. Proposed zoning amendments, applications for special use or zoning variations that affect any landmark or preservation district as defined in the ordinance establishing the preservation commission shall be transmitted to the preservation commission for review and comment prior to the date of the hearing by the county regional plan commission or zoning board of appeals;
    (14) To administer on behalf of the county board any property, or full or partial interest in real property, including a conservation right, which the county may have or accept as a gift or otherwise, upon designation by the county board;
    (15) To accept and administer on behalf of the county board such gifts, grants and money or other personal property as may be appropriate for the purposes of this Division. Such money may be expended for publishing maps and brochures, or for hiring staff persons or consultants or performing otherwise appropriate functions for the purpose of carrying out the duties and powers of the preservation commission and the purposes of this Division;
    (16) To administer any system established by the county board for the transfer of development rights;
    (17) To call upon available county agencies and staff members as well as other experts for technical advice;
    (18) To retain such specialists or consultants, or to appoint such citizen, neighborhood or area advisory committees, as may be required from time to time;
    (19) To testify before all boards and commissions including any county regional plan commission, and the zoning board of appeal on any matter affecting potential or designated landmarks or preservation districts;
    (20) To periodically review any county comprehensive plan and to develop a preservation component in any comprehensive plan of the county and to recommend it to the county regional plan commission and the county board;
    (21) To periodically consult with the county zoning administrator and review any county zoning ordinance and building code and to recommend to the county regional plan commission and the county board any amendments appropriate for the protection and continued use of landmarks or property within preservation districts;
    (22) To adopt rules and procedures for operation of the preservation commission and the conduct of hearings and meetings;
    (23) To undertake any other action or activity necessary or appropriate to the implementation of its powers and duties, or to implementation of the purposes of this Division.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30012

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30012) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30012)
    Sec. 5-30012. Appointment of preservation commission. The county board may by ordinance appoint a preservation commission from names submitted by the presiding officers of the county board. The preservation commission shall consist of at least five members. All members shall be residents of the county and may be residents of incorporated cities, villages and towns within the county. The chief executive officer of the county board shall make every reasonable effort to nominate to the preservation commission at least one attorney, one historian or architectural historian, one architect/engineer and one real estate professional knowledgeable in preservation, and the other members shall be persons with a demonstrated interest in pre-history, history, or architecture. Terms of the initial members shall be staggered so that at least five serve respectively for the following terms: one for one year; one for two years; one for three years; one for four years; and one for five years. Any additional initial members shall also serve terms staggered in the same sequence. Successors to initial members so appointed shall serve for five year terms. One of the members so appointed shall be named as chairman at the time of appointment and other officers may be elected by the preservation commission. Vacancies shall be filled by the county board from names submitted by the presiding officer of the county board. Any preservation commission member may be removed by the county board for cause, after public hearing.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30013

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30013) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30013)
    Sec. 5-30013. Meetings of preservation commission. Meetings of a preservation commission shall be held monthly, except in those months when no business is pending, and shall be held at such times and places within the county as the preservation commission shall decide. All meetings shall be open to the public. The preservation commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon every question, or if absent or failing to vote, and shall also keep records of its official actions.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30014

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30014) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30014)
    Sec. 5-30014. Nomination of landmarks and preservation districts. The preservation commission or any person may propose landmarks of preservation districts for designation by the county board by filing a nomination with the preservation commission and it shall contain all information required by the ordinance establishing a county preservation commission. The preservation commission shall schedule a hearing on the nomination within 60 days of its receipt. Notice of the public hearing shall be published at least 15 days in advance thereof in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Individual notice including a copy of the nomination form shall be given by mail to all owners of record of property nominated as a landmark. Every effort shall be made to give notice to owners of record of property within a preservation district and to owners of property adjacent and immediately surrounding a landmark or preservation district affected by the process for the application for, and review of, a certificate of appropriateness. The newspaper and any individual or general notice shall state the date, time, place, and purpose of the public hearing.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30015

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30015) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30015)
    Sec. 5-30015. Conduct of public hearing. Oral or written testimony shall be taken at the public hearing from any person concerning the nomination. The preservation commission may solicit expert testimony or present its own evidence regarding the historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance of a proposed landmark or of any property within a proposed preservation district. The owner of any proposed landmark or of any property within a proposed preservation district shall be allowed reasonable opportunity to present evidence regarding historic, archaeological, architectural or scenic significance and shall be afforded the right of representation by counsel and reasonable opportunity to cross examine expert witnesses. The hearing shall be closed upon completion of testimony.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30016

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30016) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30016)
    Sec. 5-30016. Recommendation of preservation commission. Within 60 days following close of the public hearing, the preservation commission shall make its determination upon the evidence whether the proposed landmark or preservation district does or does not meet the criteria for designation. A recommendation to the county board that the proposed landmark or preservation district does or does not meet the criteria for designation and should or should not be designated shall be passed by resolution of the preservation commission, and such a recommendation shall be accompanied by a report stating the findings of the preservation commission concerning the historic, archaeological, architectural or scenic significance of the proposed landmark or preservation district.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30017

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30017) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30017)
    Sec. 5-30017. Designation by ordinance; publication of map. The county board, upon a recommendation from the preservation commission that the proposed landmark or preservation district should be designated, shall review the report and recommendations of the preservation commission. The county board may schedule a public hearing concerning the proposed designation and shall provide notice of any public hearing in the same manner as provided in Section 5-30014 and conduct the public hearing in the same manner as provided in Section 5-30015. The county board after reviewing the report and recommendation shall within 90 days from receipt of the recommendation of the preservation commission take one of the following steps: (1) designate the landmark or preservation district by ordinance; (2) refer the report and recommendation back to the preservation commission with suggestions for revisions and a further report and recommendation stating its reason for such action. Notice of the action of the county board including a copy of the ordinance designating the landmark or preservation district shall be sent by regular mail to each owner of record of a landmark or property within a preservation district and to owners of adjacent and immediately surrounding property affected by the process for the application for, and review of, a certificate of appropriateness. A map showing the location of all designated landmarks and preservation districts shall be published and amended upon each designation. Copies of the map shall be available to the public at the office of the preservation commission and at the same location and in the same manner as any county zoning map.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30018

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30018) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30018)
    Sec. 5-30018. Certificate of appropriateness. A certificate of appropriateness from a preservation commission established pursuant to this Division shall be required before any significant alteration, construction, demolition or removal that affects pending or designated landmarks and preservation districts is undertaken. Such a certificate is required for all such actions from the date a nomination in proper form for designation is submitted to the preservation commission. The preservation ordinance enacted by the county board shall give the preservation commission one or the other of the following powers:
    (1) final authority to deny a certificate of appropriateness upon a finding that the proposed action will adversely affect the historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance of a landmark or preservation district; or (2) authority to delay the issuance of a certificate of appropriateness for a reasonable period of time while negotiations between the property owner and the preservation commission are undertaken to lessen the effect of the proposed action on the historic, archaeological, architectural, or scenic significance of the landmark or preservation district. The preservation commission may hold a public hearing on an application for a certificate of appropriateness in the same manner as provided in Section 5-30014, and conduct the hearing on appropriateness in the same manner as provided in Section 5-30015.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30019

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30019) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30019)
    Sec. 5-30019. Certificate of economic hardship. A certificate of economic hardship shall be issued by a preservation commission established pursuant to this Division upon a determination by it that the failure to issue a certificate of appropriateness has denied, or will deny, the owner of a landmark or of a property within a preservation district all reasonable use of, or return on, the property. Application for a certificate of economic hardship shall be made on a form and in a manner as prescribed by the preservation commission. The preservation commission may schedule a public hearing concerning the application and provide notice in the same manner as in Section 5-30014 and conduct the hearing concerning economic hardship in the same manner as provided in Section 5-30015.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30020

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30020) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30020)
    Sec. 5-30020. Evidence of economic hardship. An applicant for a certificate of economic hardship may submit any or all of the following information in order to assist a preservation commission in its determination on the application:
    (1) Amount paid for the property, the date of purchase and the party from whom purchased, including a description of the relationship, if any, between the owner of record or applicant and the person from whom the property was purchased, and any terms of financing between seller and buyer;
    (2) Assessed value of the property according to the two most recent assessments;
    (3) Real estate taxes for the previous two years;
    (4) Remaining balance on any mortgage or other financing secured by the property and annual debt service, if any, for the previous two years;
    (5) All appraisals obtained within the previous two years by the owner or applicant in connection with the purchase, financing or ownership of the property;
    (6) Any listing of the property for sale or rent, price asked and offers received, if any, within the previous two years;
    (7) Any consideration by the owner as to profitable adaptive uses for the property;
    (8) If the property is income-producing, the annual gross income from the property for the previous two years, itemized operating and maintenance expenses for the previous two years, depreciation deductions and annual cash flow before and after debt service, if any, during the same period;
    (9) Form of ownership or operation of the property, whether sole proprietorship, for-profit or not-for-profit corporation, limited partnership, joint venture, or other;
    (10) Any other information, including the income tax bracket of the owner, applicant, or principal investors in the property, necessary to a determination as to whether the property can be reasonably used or yield a reasonable return to present or future owners.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30021

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30021) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30021)
    Sec. 5-30021. Determination of economic hardship. The preservation commission, upon a determination after review of all evidence and information that the denial of a certificate of appropriateness has denied, or will deny the owner of a landmark or of a property within a preservation district of all reasonable use of, or return on, the property, shall undertake one or the other of the following actions:
        (1) offer the owner of the property reasonable
    
financing, tax or other incentives sufficient to allow a reasonable use of, or return on, the property:
        (2) offer to purchase the property at a reasonable
    
price or institute eminent domain proceedings pursuant to the Eminent Domain Act; or
        (3) issue a certificate of appropriateness for the
    
proposed construction, alteration, demolition or removal.
(Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

55 ILCS 5/5-30022

    (55 ILCS 5/5-30022) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-30022)
    Sec. 5-30022. Appeals. The final denial of a certificate of appropriateness or a certificate of economic hardship by a preservation commission is an administrative decision as defined in Section 3-101 of the Administrative Review Law, and it shall be subject to judicial review pursuant to provisions of said Administrative Review Law and all amendments and modifications thereof, and the rules adopted thereto.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-31

 
    (55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-31 heading)
Division 5-31. County Historical Museum Districts

55 ILCS 5/5-31001

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31001) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31001)
    Sec. 5-31001. Subtitle. This Division shall be subtitled the County Historical Museum District Law.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31002

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31002) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31002)
    Sec. 5-31002. Purpose. The purpose of this Division is to provide for the creation of county historical museum districts to acquire real property and collect and curate materials which help establish or illustrate the history of the county in such aspects as its exploration, settlement, development, activities in peace and war and progress in population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufactures, trade and transportation. The museum district shall collect: printed material such as histories, genealogies, biographies, descriptions, gazetteers, directories, newspapers, pamphlets, catalogues, circulars, handbills, programs and posters; manuscripts such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, rosters, service records, account books, charts, surveys and field books; and other museum material such as pictures, photographs, paintings, portraits, scenes, aboriginal relics and objects.
    The museum district shall provide for the preservation of and public access to such materials for examination and study; shall cooperate in ensuring the preservation and accessibility of the records and archives of the county and its cities, towns, villages, and institutions; and shall assist in ensuring the preservation of historical buildings, monuments and markers.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31003

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31003) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31003)
    Sec. 5-31003. Definitions. As used in this Division unless the context otherwise requires:
    (a) "museum district" means a museum district organized under this Division.
    (b) "board" means the board of trustees of a museum district.
    (c) "trustee" means a trustee of a museum district.
    (d) "political party" means a political party as defined in Section 7-2 of The Election Code.
    (e) "political office" means any office to which a person is elected or appointed to discharge a public duty for the State or any of its political subdivisions and which is established and the qualifications and duties for which are prescribed by law.
    (f) "development of real property" means the construction, installation, planting or creation of any permanent improvement of real property in which a museum district has or has taken steps to acquire an interest.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31004

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31004) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31004)
    Sec. 5-31004. Election. (a) In any county having less than 1,000,000 population which is not organized as a forest preserve district and in which the county board has not in any 3 of the past 5 years levied taxes in support of an historical museum as authorized by Division 6-23, at least 1% of the voters may file with the circuit clerk of the county a petition addressed to the circuit court of the county requesting the creation of a county historical museum district, the boundaries of which shall be those of the county. At least 1% of the voters in each county of a group of not more than 5 contiguous counties, each of which has less than 1,000,000 population and none of which is organized as a forest preserve district and in none of which the county board has in any 3 of the past 5 years levied taxes in support of an historical museum as authorized by Division 6-23, may jointly file with the circuit clerk of the county having the largest population a petition addressed to the circuit court of the county having the largest population requesting the creation of an historical museum district, the boundaries of which shall be those of the counties as a whole. If the museum district shall embrace more than one county, the petition shall be accompanied by the written approval of the Illinois State Museum. A museum district composed of a single county shall be designated by the name of the county.
    The circuit court of the county shall set the petition for hearing. The petition shall set forth (1) a description of the territory to be embraced in the proposed museum district, (2) the names of the municipalities located within the area, (3) the name of the proposed museum district, (4) the population of the museum district, and request that the question be submitted to the electors residing within the limits of the proposed museum district whether they will establish a museum district under this Division to be known as .... Historical Museum District. The petitioners in and by the petition shall designate one or more persons to represent them on the petition, and in the proceedings thereon in the circuit court, with authority to amend, to move to dismiss, or to withdraw the petition. The circuit court shall set the petition for hearing within not less than 30 nor more than 40 days after the filing of the petition with the circuit clerk.
    Notice shall be given by the circuit court of the time and place where the hearing will be held, by publication on 3 separate days in one or more newspapers having a general circulation within the territory proposed to be incorporated as a museum district, the first of which publications shall be not less than 20 days prior to the date set for the hearing and if there is no such newspaper, then such notice shall be posted in 10 of the most public places in such territory, not less than 20 days prior to the date set for the hearing. This notice shall include a description of the territory as set out in the petition, names of municipalities located therein and the name of the proposed museum district and the question of creating such area into a museum district.
    The filing fee on the petition and costs of printing and publication or posting of notices of public hearing thereon shall be paid in advance by the petitioners, and, if a museum district is organized under this Division, they shall be reimbursed out of the funds received by the museum district from taxation or other sources.
    (b) The court may continue the hearing on the petition from time to time. During the public hearing the petitioners may move to amend the petition or to dismiss or to withdraw it, and any such motion shall be allowed by the court. If such petition is not dismissed or withdrawn, the court by written order shall find and determine whether such territory meets the requirements of this Division, and the sufficiency of the petition as filed or amended, and of the proceedings thereon.
    Should 2 or more petitions covering in part the same territory be filed prior to the public hearing, such petitions shall be consolidated for public hearing, and hearing upon the first petition which is filed may be continued to permit the giving of notice of any such subsequent petition or petitions. At the public hearing upon such petitions, the petitioners in the petition first filed may move to amend such petition to include any part of the territory described in the subsequent petition or petitions, either as originally filed or as amended. Any such motion shall be allowed by the court. The public hearing shall proceed upon the first petition as originally filed or as so amended, and further proceedings upon any such other petitions subsequently filed shall be stayed and held in abeyance until the termination of all proceedings upon the first petition, or any such petition may be dismissed or withdrawn upon motion of the petitioners therein by their representatives.
    If such territory, petition and proceedings meet the requirements of this Division, the court shall in, and by the order finding and determining the sufficiency of the petition and that the territory meets the requirements of this Division or by a separate order, order the proposition submitted to referendum in accordance with the general election law. The clerk of the circuit court shall certify the order and the proposition to the appropriate election officials who shall submit the proposition to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law.
    (c) In addition to the requirements of the general election law, notice of the referendum shall state briefly the purpose of the referendum and shall include a description of the territory. The notice shall further state that any such museum district upon its establishment shall have the powers, objects and purposes provided by this Division, including the power to levy a tax of not to exceed .02 per cent of value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of all taxable property within the area of the museum district. Each legal voter residing within the territory shall have a right to cast a ballot at such election. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the County Historical
 Museum District Law be adopted
 and the.... Historical Museum
 District be established?                    YES
 If established, the Museum
 District will have the powers,
 objects and purposes provided          ----------------------
 by the Law, including the power
 to levy a tax of not to exceed
 .02 per cent of the value                   NO
 of taxable property, as equalized
 or assessed by the Department of
 Revenue.
 -------------------------------------------------------------
    The court shall cause the order determining and declaring results of the election to be entered of record in the court and a certified copy thereof shall be filed with the circuit clerk of each such other county who shall cause the same to be filed in the records of the court of such county.
    (d) If a majority of the voters in any county voting upon the question of the adoption of this Division and the establishment of a museum district shall be favorable, the inhabitants thereof shall be deemed to have accepted the provisions of this Division, and the territory of the approving county or counties shall thenceforth be deemed an organized museum district under this Division, having the name stated in the petition which shall be evidenced by an order to be entered of record by the court.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31005

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31005) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31005)
    Sec. 5-31005. Board of trustees. The affairs of a museum district shall be managed by a board of 5 trustees. If the museum district is composed of one county, the trustees shall be residents of the county. If the museum district is composed of 2 counties, 3 trustees shall be residents of the county with the larger population and 2 shall be residents of the other county. If the museum district is composed of 3 counties, one trustee shall be a resident of the county with the smallest population and the remaining trustees shall be residents 2 each of the other counties. If the museum district is composed of 4 counties, 2 trustees shall be residents of the county with the largest population and the remaining trustees shall be residents one each of the other counties. If the museum district is composed of 5 counties, one trustee shall be a resident of each county.
    The chairman of the county board for the county of which the trustee is a resident shall, with the consent of the county board, appoint the first trustees who shall hold office for terms expiring on June 30 after one, 2, 3, 4 and 5-year periods respectively as determined by lot. Successor trustees shall be appointed in the same manner no later than June 1 prior to the commencement of their terms. Trustees shall be selected on the basis of their demonstrated interest in the purpose of the museum district.
    Each successor trustee shall serve for a term of 5 years. A vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment of a trustee by the county board chairman of the county of which the trustee shall be a resident, with the approval of the county board of that county. When any trustee during his term of office shall cease to be a bona fide resident of the museum district, he is disqualified as a trustee and his office becomes vacant.
    Trustees shall serve without compensation but may be paid their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties. A trustee may be removed for cause by the county board chairman for the county of which the trustee is a resident, with the approval of the county board of that county, but every such removal shall be by a written order which shall be filed with the county clerk.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31006

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31006) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31006)
    Sec. 5-31006. Organization of board. Within 60 days after their appointment, the trustees shall organize by selecting from their number a president, secretary, treasurer and such other officers as are deemed necessary who shall hold office for the fiscal year in which elected and until their successors are selected and qualified. Three trustees shall constitute a quorum of the board for the transaction of business. The board shall hold regular monthly meetings. Special meetings may be called by the president and shall be called on the request of a majority of members.
    The board shall provide for the proper and safe keeping of its permanent records and for the recording of the corporate action of the museum district. It shall keep in order proper systems of accounts showing a true and accurate record of its receipts and disbursements, and it shall cause an annual audit to be made of its books, records, and accounts.
    The museum district shall annually make a full and complete report to the county board of each county within the museum district and to the Illinois State Museum of its transactions and operations for the preceding year. Such report shall contain a full statement of its receipts, disbursements and the program of work for the period covered, and may include such recommendations as may be deemed advisable.
    Executive or ministerial duties may be delegated to one or more trustees or to an authorized officer, employee, agent, attorney or other representative of the museum district.
    All officers and employees authorized to receive or retain the custody of money or to sign vouchers, checks, warrants or evidences of indebtedness binding upon the museum district shall furnish a surety bond for the faithful performance of their duties and the faithful accounting for all moneys that may come into their hands in an amount to be fixed and in a form to be approved by the board.
    All contracts for supplies, materials or work involving an expenditure in excess of $4,000 shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder after due advertisement except work requiring personal confidence or necessary supplies under the control of monopolies where competitive bidding is impossible. All contracts for supplies, materials or work shall be signed by the president of the board and by any such other officers as the board in its discretion may designate.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31007

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31007) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31007)
    Sec. 5-31007. Funds. The board of any museum district, when requested by the treasurer, shall designate a bank, banks or other depository in which the funds received by the treasurer may be placed.
    Each designated depository shall furnish the museum district with a copy of all statements of resources and liabilities which it is required to furnish to the Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate or to the Comptroller of the Currency. No bank is qualified to receive museum district funds until it has furnished the museum district with copies of the 2 most recent statements.
    The treasurer of the museum district shall be discharged from responsibility for all funds while they are in a designated bank or depository, except that the amount of such deposits shall not exceed 75% of the capital stock and surplus of such bank or depository. The treasurer shall not be discharged from responsibility for any funds deposited in excess of such limitation.
    When a bank has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days after a new depository is designated and is qualified. When a new depository is designated, the museum district shall notify the sureties of the treasurer of that fact in writing at least 5 days before the transfer of funds.
(Source: P.A. 89-508, eff. 7-3-96.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31008

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31008) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31008)
    Sec. 5-31008. Ordinances. All ordinances of the board imposing any penalty or making any appropriations shall be published at least once a week for 2 weeks in at least one general circulation newspaper published in the museum district. If no newspaper of general circulation is published in the museum district, copies of such ordinances shall be posted in at least 15 conspicuous public places in the museum district. No such ordinance shall take effect until 10 days after it is so published or posted. All other ordinances and resolutions shall take effect from and after their passage unless otherwise provided therein.
    All ordinances, orders and resolutions and the date of their publication may be proven in court by the certificate of the secretary under the seal of the museum district and, when printed in book or pamphlet form and purporting to be published by the museum district, such book or pamphlet shall be received as evidence of the passage and legal publication of such ordinances, orders and resolutions as of the dates mentioned in such book or pamphlet.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31009

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31009) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31009)
    Sec. 5-31009. Judicial effect. The courts of this State shall take judicial notice of the existence of a museum district and its jurisdiction. A museum district shall constitute a body corporate and public and as such may sue and be sued.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31010

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31010) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31010)
    Sec. 5-31010. Consultation. Every museum district shall seek the guidance of and consult with the Illinois State Museum and related agencies on all matters relating to preservation and restoration policies and plans.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31011

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31011) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31011)
    Sec. 5-31011. Preservation. Every museum district shall consider the preservation of natural conditions and protection of any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the county as part of its principal purpose and shall assist any cities, towns, villages and institutions to preserve materials.
    A museum district may dedicate the preservation of historical buildings, monuments and markers so as not to conflict with national, State or other local similar designations.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31012

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31012) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31012)
    Sec. 5-31012. Powers of district. To the extent necessary to carry out the purpose of this Division and in addition to any other powers, duties and functions vested in museum districts by law, but subject to limitations and restrictions imposed elsewhere by this Division or other law, a museum district is authorized and empowered:
        (a) To adopt bylaws, adopt and use a common seal,
    
enter into contracts, acquire and hold real and personal property and take such other actions as may be necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs.
        (b) To make and publish all ordinances, rules and
    
regulations necessary for the management and protection of its property and the conduct of its affairs.
        (c) To study and ascertain the museum district
    
artifacts and other materials, the need for preserving such resources and providing such facilities and the extent to which such needs are currently being met, and to prepare and adopt coordinated plans to meet such needs.
        (d) To acquire by gift, devise, purchase, lease,
    
agreement or otherwise the fee or any lessor right or interest in real and personal property, and to hold the same with public access for those who wish to examine or study it. The museum district may accept the transfer of any real or personal property owned or controlled by the State of Illinois, the county board, or the governing body of any municipality, district or public corporation and not devoted or dedicated to any other inconsistent public use. In acquiring or accepting land or rights thereto, the museum district shall give due consideration to its historical value or county significance, and no real property shall be acquired or accepted which in the opinion of the museum district and the Illinois State Museum is of low value as to its proposed use.
        (e) To acquire any or all interest in real or
    
personal property by a contract for purchase providing for payment in installments over a period not to exceed 10 years with interest on the unpaid balance owing not to exceed an amount calculated pursuant to the provisions of "An Act to authorize public corporations to issue bonds, other evidences of indebtedness and tax anticipation warrants subject to interest rate limitations set forth therein", approved May 26, 1970, as amended. The indebtedness incurred under this subsection when aggregated with existing indebtedness may not exceed the debt limits provided in Section 5-31016.
        (f) To classify, designate, plan, develop, preserve,
    
administer and maintain all areas and facilities in which it has an interest and to construct, reconstruct, alter, renew, equip and maintain buildings and other structures. Any work performed on any building, appurtenance, structure or area listed on the National Register of Historic Places or deemed eligible for such listing shall be performed within such guidelines as are established by the Department of Natural Resources.
        (g) To accept gifts, grants, bequests, contributions
    
and appropriations of money and personal property for museum district purposes.
        (h) To employ and fix the compensation of an
    
executive officer who shall be responsible to the board for the implementation of its policies. The executive officer shall have the power, subject to the approval of the board, to employ and fix the compensation of such assistants and employees as the board may consider necessary for the implementation of this Division.
        (i) To charge and collect reasonable fees for the use
    
of such facilities, privileges and conveniences as may be provided.
        (j) To police its property and to exercise police
    
powers in respect thereto or in respect to the enforcement of any rule or regulation provided by its ordinances.
        (k) To lease land for a period not longer than 50
    
years to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for construction, reconstruction, alteration, development, operation and maintenance of buildings, roads, and parking areas. Any work performed on any leased building, structure, appurtenances or area which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or deemed eligible for such listing shall be performed within such guidelines as are established by the Department of Natural Resources. Upon expiration of any lease of land under this subsection, title to all structures on the leased land shall be vested in the museum district.
        (l) To lease any building or facility constructed,
    
reconstructed, altered, renewed, equipped, furnished, extended, developed, and maintained by the museum district to a responsible person, firm or corporation for operation or development or both, and maintenance for a period not longer than 20 years. Development, maintenance or both of any building, structures, appurtenances or area which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or deemed eligible for such listing shall be performed within such guidelines as are established by the Department of Natural Resources.
        (m) To make grants to not-for-profit historical
    
clubs, organizations or groups within the county.
(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31013

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31013) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31013)
    Sec. 5-31013. Transfer of property. No personal or real property may be disposed of, sold, conveyed or otherwise transferred except upon approval of 3/5 of the district trustees.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31014

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31014) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31014)
    Sec. 5-31014. Finance. The fiscal year of each museum district shall commence July 1 and extend through the following June 30.
    The board of each museum district shall, on or before the second Tuesday in September of each year, adopt a combined annual budget and appropriation ordinance as provided in The Illinois Municipal Budget Law.
    Except as otherwise provided in this Division, a museum district may annually levy taxes at the following rates and for the following purposes upon the value of the taxable property within the museum district as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue:
    (a) .01% for the general purposes of the museum district, including acquisition and development of real property which may be in excess of current requirements and allowed to accumulate from year to year, to not more than .05% of the equalized assessed value of property within the museum district.
    (b) .01% for acquisition of historic properties both real and personal which may be in excess of current requirements and allowed to accumulate from year to year, to not more than .10% of the equalized assessed value of the property within the museum district. However, this levy may be used also for the development of real property and for the general purposes of the museum district.
    Unless otherwise provided by law, a museum district may not levy annual taxes for all its purposes in the aggregate in excess of .02% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of the taxable property therein.
    After the adoption of the appropriation ordinance and on or before the second Tuesday in September of each year, the board shall ascertain the total amount of the appropriations which are to be provided from tax levies for the current year. Then, by an ordinance specifying in detail the purposes for which such appropriations have been made and the amounts appropriated for such purposes, the board shall levy upon the taxable property within the museum district a tax the proceeds of which shall not exceed the amount so ascertained. A certified copy of such ordinance shall be filed on or before the first Tuesday in October with the clerk of each county within the museum district.
    However, if the museum district has levied such tax at a rate lower than the maximum rate set forth in this Section, the board of trustees may increase the rate of the tax, but not exceeding such maximum rate, by following the procedures set forth above in this Section and then by certifying the proposition of such increase to the proper election officials for submission to the voters of the museum district at a regular election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the maximum rate
of the tax levied by the County            YES
Historical Museum District
for the purposes provided by the       -----------------------
County Historical Museum District
Law be increased from .......              NO
to .......(not to exceed .02%)?
--------------------------------------------------------------
    If a majority of all the votes cast upon the proposition are in favor thereof, the board of trustees may levy the tax at a rate not to exceed the rate set forth in this Section.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31015

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31015) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31015)
    Sec. 5-31015. Donations. Gifts, contributions and bequests of money and all licenses, fees, charges and other revenue received or collected by the museum district shall be deposited in the treasury of the museum district to be used for the purchase of land, property and equipment and the payment of expenses incurred in carrying out the activities of the museum district, except that moneys given upon specified trust shall be held and applied in accordance with such trust.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31016

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31016) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31016)
    Sec. 5-31016. Indebtedness. Whenever a museum district does not have sufficient money in its treasury to meet all necessary expenses and liabilities, it may issue tax anticipation warrants. Such issue of tax anticipation warrants shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2 of "An Act to provide for the manner of issuing warrants upon any county, township, or other municipal corporation or quasi municipal corporation, or of any farm drainage district, river district, drainage and levee district, fire protection district and jurors' certificates", approved June 27, 1913, as now or hereafter amended.
    No museum district shall become indebted in any manner or for any purpose in an amount, including existing indebtedness, in the aggregate exceeding .25% of the value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, of the taxable property within the museum district.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31017

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31017) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31017)
    Sec. 5-31017. Historical buildings. Nothing in this Division shall prohibit the museum district from appropriating funds as otherwise provided in this Division for the construction, equipment, extension, improvement, operation or maintenance of any historical building, monument or marker. Provided, however, that any work performed on any historical building, monument or marker listed on the National Register of Historic Places or deemed eligible for such listing shall be conducted within such guidelines as are established by the Department of Natural Resources.
(Source: P.A. 100-695, eff. 8-3-18.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31018

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31018) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31018)
    Sec. 5-31018. Assistance. A museum district may apply for and receive the grant or loan of money or other financial aid necessary for the undertaking, performance or execution of any of its purposes from any department or agency of the State or federal government. A museum district may undertake any of its activities aided by, in cooperation with, or as a joint enterprise with any department or agency of the State or federal government or any other museum district, forest preserve district, conservation district, park district, school district, planning commission, county board, municipality or other governmental unit.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31019

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31019) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31019)
    Sec. 5-31019. Existing county museum tax levy. Nothing in this Division shall be construed to prohibit or modify existing tax levies for county museums as authorized by Division 6-23.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31020

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31020) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31020)
    Sec. 5-31020. Dissolution. At least 5% of the voters of a museum district which has been in existence for at least 3 years may file with the circuit clerk of the county comprising the museum district or the county within the museum district having the largest population a petition addressed to the circuit court of the county requesting dissolution of the museum district.
    A hearing shall be held thereon as nearly as possible as in the case of a formation petition. If upon the hearing, the court finds that the petition is sufficient it shall certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the voters at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be substantially in the following form:
--------------------------------------------------------------
    Shall the ......                    YES
Historical Museum District    --------------------------------
be dissolved?                           NO
--------------------------------------------------------------
    If a majority of the votes cast on the proposition are in favor of dissolution, the court shall by order declare the museum district dissolved.
    If the vote is not in favor of the dissolution of the museum district, the proposition to dissolve the museum district shall not again be submitted to a vote for a period of 3 years. If the vote is in favor of dissolution of the museum district, the board shall close the affairs of the museum district and all property, excluding real property, shall be conveyed within 12 months to the Illinois State Museum or to such State or county agency, State university, community college, private college or other such semi-public, tax exempt, organization as the district trustees shall designate upon the approval of the director of the Illinois State Museum. Any remaining property may then be conveyed to the county board. The Attorney General of the State of Illinois shall be responsible for the enforcement of this Division and shall see that no liquidation of any property acquired by any district established by this Division shall violate these provisions.
    All money remaining after the business affairs of the museum district have been closed, and its debts and obligations have been paid, shall be paid to the county comprising the museum district. If the museum district is located in more than one county, then all such remaining money shall be paid to each county on a pro rata basis of the assessed value of property of the museum district located in each county. All conveyances of real property shall be subject to the approval of the Illinois State Museum.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31021

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31021) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-31021)
    Sec. 5-31021. Construction. This Division shall be construed as supplemental and in addition to existing statutory authority and as providing an independent method of financing the cost of acquiring lands or rights thereof and holding the same for historical purposes.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-31022

    (55 ILCS 5/5-31022)
    Sec. 5-31022. Cessation of district organization. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a majority vote of the board is in favor of the proposition to annex the district to another district whose boundaries are contiguous, or consolidate the district into a municipality with which the district is coterminous or substantially coterminous, or consolidate the district into the county in which the district sits if the district contains territory within only one county, and if the governing authorities of the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district agree by resolution to accept the functions (and jurisdiction over the territory, if applicable) of the consolidated or annexed district, then the district shall cease. On the effective date of the annexation or consolidation, all the rights, powers, duties, assets, property, liabilities, indebtedness, obligations, bonding authority, taxing authority, and responsibilities of the district shall vest in and be assumed by the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district.
    The employees of the former district shall be transferred to the governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district. The governmental unit assuming the functions of the former district shall exercise the rights and responsibilities of the former district with respect to those employees. The status and rights of the employees of the former district under any applicable contracts or collective bargaining agreements, historical representation rights under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, or under any pension, retirement, or annuity plan shall not be affected by this amendatory Act.
(Source: P.A. 98-1002, eff. 8-18-14.)

55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-32

 
    (55 ILCS 5/Div. 5-32 heading)
Division 5-32. Local Improvements

55 ILCS 5/5-32001

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32001) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32001)
    Sec. 5-32001. Right to make local improvements. Any county may make a local improvement outside of a municipality, as defined in Section 1-1-2 of the "Illinois Municipal Code", whenever the public necessity requires such improvement, subject only to the limitations prescribed in this Division. This Division shall not be construed as repealing any other laws with respect to county government, but shall be considered as an additional grant of power for the purposes herein set out. Any number of streets, avenues, lanes or alleys, sidewalks, or any other public places, or parts thereof, or private roads or streets, in platted subdivisions of the county to be improved may be included in one proceeding, as provided in this Division, even though they may be intersected by previously improved streets, avenues, roads or alleys which are not included in the proceeding, where they are contiguous or part of a connected system with reciprocal benefits. This Division shall not be construed to limit the powers of municipalities contained in Article 11 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32002

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32002) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32002)
    Sec. 5-32002. Definitions. In this Division the following terms have the meanings ascribed to them unless the context indicates otherwise:
    "Local improvements" means the constructing, installing, improving or extending of storm sewers, sanitary sewers or water mains; the improving, widening, extending or repairing of any street, highway, road, boulevard, alley, sidewalk or other public way; the constructing, installing or repairing of curbs, gutters, street lights and all necessary appurtenances thereto; or any combination thereof, within or abutting on any platted subdivision either prior to or after any structures are placed within such platted subdivision.
    "Platted subdivision" is any described tract of land which has been divided into 2 or more lots or parcels which involved the creation of a new street and which has been recorded.
    "County" means any county in this State which is not a home rule unit.
    "Attorney" means the attorney employed by the county committee of local improvements to furnish the necessary legal services in connection with any local improvement to be constructed under this Division.
    "Engineer" means the engineer employed by the county committee of local improvements to prepare the necessary plans, estimates and specifications, and supervise construction of any local improvement to be constructed under this Division.
    "Committee" means the Committee of Local Improvements created by this Division.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32003

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32003) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32003)
    Sec. 5-32003. Committee of local improvements. There is created the Committee of Local Improvements consisting of the presiding officer of the County Board, or some person designated by him as his representative for the purposes of this Committee, the county engineer or superintendent of highways or administrative head of the county department of public works as determined by such presiding officer, and 3 members of the County Board appointed by the presiding officer of the county board with the advice and consent of the county board. The Committee shall elect from its members a president, except that the Chairman or President of the County Board, or his representative, as the case may be is prohibited from serving in that capacity. The county board shall provide by resolution for compensation not to exceed $15 per day for each member while performing his duties as a member of the Committee. The Committee may employ a secretary who shall keep the minutes of the Committee's proceedings and be the custodian of all papers pertaining to the business of the Committee and shall perform all other duties the Committee prescribes.
(Source: P.A. 86-962; 87-217.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32004

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32004) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32004)
    Sec. 5-32004. Origination of local improvements. The Committee may originate a local improvement as defined in this Division anywhere in the county outside of a municipality, as defined in Section 1-1-2 of the "Illinois Municipal Code", as amended, such improvement to be paid for by special assessment, either with or without a petition, by the adoption of a resolution describing the local improvement abutting or within the platted subdivision to be so improved. This resolution shall be at once transcribed into the records of the Committee and shall be presented to the members of the county board at any regularly scheduled meeting accompanied by a recommendation from the Committee for the adoption of a resolution by the county board describing the public way to be so improved.
    A resolution adopted without a petition shall be revoked by the county board without further action on the improvement sought if the owners of record of more than one-half of the property abutting on or within any platted subdivision located outside the boundaries of a municipality object, by petition, by individual objections in writing, or by a combination of petitions and individual objections. Objections and petitions against an improvement shall be filed within 30 days of notification to the owners of record of the assessment.
    Proceedings to make a local improvement also may be instituted whenever the owners of record of one-half the property abutting on or within any platted subdivision located outside the boundaries of a municipality, petitions the Committee of the county for a local improvement thereon. The Committee shall present such petition to the members of the county board at a regularly scheduled meeting, and recommend the adoption of a resolution by the board describing the public way to be so improved. If the resolution is so adopted by the county board, the Committee of local improvements shall proceed with all of the necessary steps for the improvement.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32005

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32005) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32005)
    Sec. 5-32005. Applicability of Division. The provisions of this Division may be made applicable to improvement of a private street or road upon petition signed by 3/5 of the owners of record of properties abutting or served by such private street or roadway. The petition shall be filed with the Committee and is subject to the provisions of Section 5-32004 and subsequent provisions of the Division. Upon completion of the improvement, the improvement is to be incorporated into the township or district road system as provided in Section 6-325 of the Illinois Highway Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32006

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32006) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32006)
    Sec. 5-32006. Public hearing on resolution. After the adoption of the resolution for a local improvement as provided for in this Division, the Committee by a resolution shall fix a day and hour for a public hearing thereon. The hearing shall be not less than 10 days after the adoption of the resolution. The Committee shall also have an estimate of the cost of the improvement made in writing and signed by the president. This estimate shall be itemized to the satisfaction of the Committee and shall be made a part of the records of the resolution.
    Notice of the time, place and hour of the proposed hearing shall be sent by mail directed to all persons who paid the general taxes for the last preceding year on each lot, block, tract or parcel of land fronting on the proposed improvement and to all municipalities the boundaries of which lie within one and one-half miles from the location of the proposed local improvement not less than 5 days prior to the time set for the public hearing.
    These notices shall contain
    1. The substance of the resolution adopted by the Committee;
    2. The estimate of the cost of the proposed improvement;
    3. A notification that the nature, extent, kind, character and the estimated cost of the proposed improvement may be changed by the Committee at the public hearing thereon.
    If, upon the hearing the Committee considers the proposed improvement desirable it shall adopt a resolution and prepare and submit an ordinance therefor.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32007

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32007) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32007)
    Sec. 5-32007. Conduct of public hearing. At the time and place fixed in the specified notice for the public hearing, the Committee shall meet and hear the representations of any person desiring to be heard on the subject of the necessity for the proposed improvement, the nature thereof, or the cost as estimated. In case any person appears to object to the proposed improvement or any of the elements thereof at the public hearing the Committee shall adopt a new resolution abandoning the proposed improvement or adhering thereto or changing, altering or modifying the extent, nature, kind, character and estimated cost provided the change does not increase the estimated cost of the improvement to exceed 20% of such cost without a further public hearing thereon as it considers most desirable.
    Thereupon, if the proposed improvement is not abandoned, the Committee shall have an ordinance prepared to be submitted to the county board at a regularly scheduled meeting. This ordinance shall prescribe the nature, character, locality and description of the improvement and shall provide that the improvement shall be made wholly by special assessment of contiguous abutting property.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32008

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32008) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32008)
    Sec. 5-32008. Recommendation of improvement. Accompanying any ordinance for a local improvement presented by the Committee shall be a recommendation of such improvement by the Committee signed by at least a majority of the members thereof. The recommendation by the Committee shall be prima facie evidence that all of the requirements of the law have been complied with. If a variance is shown in the proceedings in the Court it shall not affect the validity of the proceedings unless the court considers the variance willful or substantial.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32009

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32009) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32009)
    Sec. 5-32009. Estimate of cost of improvement. An estimate of the cost of the improvement including the cost of engineering services as originally contemplated or as changed, altered, or modified at the public hearing itemized so far as the Committee thinks necessary shall be presented along with the ordinance and the recommendation. This estimate of cost shall be presented over the signature of the President of the Committee, who shall certify that, in his opinion, the estimate of cost does not exceed the probable cost of the improvement proposed and lawful expenses attending the improvement. The recommendation by the Committee shall be prima facie evidence that it is based upon full compliance with the requirements of the Division.
    No ordinance for any local improvement to be paid for by special assessment shall be considered or passed as provided for herein unless the ordinance is first recommended by the Committee.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32010

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32010) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32010)
    Sec. 5-32010. Petition for levy of special assessment. Upon the passage of any ordinance for a local improvement pursuant thereto, a petition shall be filed in the circuit court in the county where the affected territory lies praying that steps be taken to levy a special assessment for the improvement in accordance with the provisions of that ordinance. There shall be attached to or filed with this petition a certified copy of the ordinance and a copy of the recommendation of the Committee and the estimate of cost as approved. The failure to file any or either of these copies shall not affect the jurisdiction of the court to proceed in the cause and to act upon the petition, but if it appears in any such cause that the copies have not been attached to or filed with the petition, before the filing of the assessment roll therein, then upon motion of any objector for that purpose on or before appearance day in the cause the entire petition and the proceedings shall be dismissed.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32011

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32011) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32011)
    Sec. 5-32011. Manner of assessment. Upon the filing of such a petition the President of the Committee shall appoint some competent person who is a resident and elector of the county to make a true and impartial assessment of, the cost of the specified improvement upon the property benefited by the improvement.
    The levying officer shall apportion and assess the amount found to be of benefit to the property contiguous or abutting upon the improvement upon the several lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land in the proportion in which they will severally be benefited by the improvement. No lot, block, tract or parcel of land shall be assessed a greater amount than it will actually be benefited. In levying any special assessment each lot, block, tract or parcel of land shall be assessed separately in the same manner as upon the assessment for general taxation.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32012

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32012) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32012)
    Sec. 5-32012. Assessment roll. The assessment and the amount as found by the levying officer shall be known as the assessment roll. It shall contain,
    1. A list of all of the lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land assessed for the proposed improvement;
    2. The amount assessed against each;
    3. The name of the person who paid the taxes on each such parcel during the last preceding calendar year, in which taxes were paid as ascertained upon investigation by the levying officer making the return or under his direction;
    4. The residence of the person so paying the taxes on each such parcel if the residence on diligent inquiry can be found;
    5. The amount of each installment shall also be stated.
    The levying officer making the roll shall certify under oath that he believes that the amount assessed against each parcel of property is just and equitable and does not exceed the benefit which in each case will be derived from the improvement, and that no lot, block, tract or parcel of land has been assessed more than its proportionate share of the cost of the improvement. Each lot or part of land owned and improved as one parcel may be assessed as one parcel.
    Notice shall be given by the levying officer of the nature of the improvement, of the pendency of the proceedings, of the time and place of the filing of the petition therefor, of the time and place of the filing of the assessment roll and of the time and place at which application will be made for the confirmation of assessment, the same to be not less than 15 days after the mailing of such notices. Notices shall be sent by mail postage prepaid to each of the specified persons paying taxes on the respective parcels during the last preceding year during which taxes were paid at his residence as shown on the Assessment Roll. The notice shall include the legal description of the property assessed, the amount assessed to the person to whom it is directed for the improvement proposed and the total amount of the improvement. An affidavit shall be filed before the final hearing showing a compliance by the levying officer with the requirements of this Division, and also showing that the levying officer or some one acting under his direction made a careful examination of the collector's books, showing the payment of general taxes during the last preceding year in which the taxes were paid thereon, to ascertain the person who last paid the taxes on the respective parcel and a diligent search for his residence and that the report clearly states the person and residence as ascertained by the affiant. This report and affidavit shall be sufficient evidence for the purpose of this proceeding of the correctness of the assessment roll in these particulars. In case the affidavit is found in any respect willfully false, the person making it is guilty of perjury.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32013

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32013) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32013)
    Sec. 5-32013. Installments; interest. The ordinance provided for in this Division shall provide that the aggregate amounts assessed in each individual assessment shall be divided into installments not more than 10 in number. Such division shall be made so that all installments shall be equal in amount except that all fractional amounts shall be added to the first installment so as to leave the remaining of the aggregate equal in amount and each a multiple of $100. The first installment shall be due and payable on January 2 next, after the date of the first voucher issued on account of construction work done, and the second installment one year thereafter and so on annually until all installments are paid. The Committee shall file in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court in which such assessment was confirmed a certificate signed by its secretary of the date of the first voucher and the amount thereof within 30 days after the issuance thereof. All installments shall bear interest as hereinafter provided until paid at the rate of not to exceed 7% annually. Interest on assessments shall begin to run from the date of the first voucher issued on account of construction work done. The interest on each installment shall be paid as follows: On January 2, next succeeding the date of the first voucher as certified the interest accruing up to that time on all unpaid installments shall be due and payable with the installment, and thereafter the interest on all unpaid installments then payable shall be payable annually and be collected therewith. In all cases the County Collector, whenever payment is made on any installment, shall collect interest thereon up to the date of such payment whether the payment be made at or after maturity. Any person may at any time pay the whole assessment against any lot, piece or parcel of land or any installment thereof with interest as herein provided up to the date of the payment.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32014

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32014) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32014)
    Sec. 5-32014. Special assessment notice. The Committee in addition to the notice in this Division provided for shall publish a notice at least twice not more than 30 days nor less than 15 days in advance of the time at which the confirmation of the specified assessment is to be sought, in one or more newspapers published in the county or if no newspaper is published therein then in one or more newspapers with a general circulation in the county. The notice shall be over the name of the levying officer and shall be substantially as follows:
"SPECIAL ASSESSMENT NOTICE
    Notice is hereby given to all persons interested that the County of .... has order that (herein insert a brief description of the nature of the improvement), the ordinance for the improvement being on file in the office of the County Clerk, having applied to the Circuit Court of .... County, for an assessment of the costs of the improvement according to benefits an assessment therefor having been made and returned to that Court, a final hearing thereon will be had on (insert date), or as soon thereafter as the business of the Court will permit.
    All persons desiring may file objections in that Court before that day and may appear on the hearing and make their defense. (Here give date)
NAME
        
.... (LEVYING OFFICER)."
The number of installments and the rate of interest also shall be stated.
(Source: P.A. 91-357, eff. 7-29-99.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32015

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32015) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32015)
    Sec. 5-32015. Extension of time for filing objections. If 15 days have not elapsed between the first publication and the day fixed in the notice for filing objections, the cause shall be continued for 15 days, and time for filing objections shall be correspondingly extended.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)

55 ILCS 5/5-32016

    (55 ILCS 5/5-32016) (from Ch. 34, par. 5-32016)
    Sec. 5-32016. Filing objections to report; default. Any person interested in any real estate to be affected by an assessment, may appear and file objections to the report by the time mentioned in the specified notice, or in case of incomplete notice than as specified in Section 5-32015, or within such further time as the court may allow. The court may make an order in regard to the time of filing these objections but no prior rule need be taken therefor unless directed by the court.
    As to all lots, blocks, tracts and parcels of land, to the assessment of which objections are not filed within the specified time, or such other time as may be ordered by the court, default may be entered and the assessment may be confirmed by the court, notwithstanding the fact that objections may be pending and undisposed of as to other property.
(Source: P.A. 86-962.)