605 ILCS 5/ Illinois Highway Code.

(605 ILCS 5/10-201) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-201)

Sec. 10-201. Bridges across streams forming the boundary line between this and any adjoining state, or bridges upon any road which lies upon the boundary line between this and any adjoining state, may be constructed or repaired by any county or counties of this State contiguous to the proposed construction or repair, acting in conjunction with any county, municipality or subordinate division of the adjoining state, as provided in this Division of this Article. A bridge may likewise be constructed at the point of intersection of any highway with the boundary line between this and any adjoining state, or a bridge already constructed at such point may likewise be repaired, as provided in this Division of this Article. A county shall be deemed contiguous to such construction or repair if any part of such county lies within 80 rods thereof. The total of the cost to be borne by any county (or counties) of this State shall not exceed one-half of the total cost of such construction or repair.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-202) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-202)

Sec. 10-202. The county board of any such county is empowered to appropriate moneys for the purpose of assisting in the construction or repair of any such bridge or bridges, or bonds of such county may be issued for that purpose as follows: Upon the filing with the county clerk of a petition signed by 100 electors of such county who are owners of land therein, requesting that the proposition of issuing bonds of that county for such purpose be submitted to the electors of such county for their approval or rejection, the county clerk shall certify the petition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition at a regular election. Such referendum shall be conducted and notice given in accordance with the general election law.

(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-203) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-203)

Sec. 10-203. Such proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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Shall county bonds for YES

the purpose of.... be -------------------------------

issued to the amount of....? NO

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(Source: P.A. 81-1489.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-204) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-204)

Sec. 10-204. If a majority of the legal voters voting at such election on such question, voted in favor of the proposition, the county clerk shall issue (from time to time as the work progresses) a sufficient amount, in the aggregate, of the bonds of such county for the purpose of assisting in the construction or repair of any such bridge or bridges, as set forth in this Division of this Article, and in accordance with the prayer of the petition. Such bonds shall be of such denominations, upon such time, bear such rate of interest (not exceeding the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract), and be disposed of, as the necessities and convenience of such county may require. However, such bonds shall not be sold nor disposed of, either by sale or by payment to contractors for labor or materials, for less than par value. Such bonds shall be issued in not less than 5 nor more than 30 annual series, the first series of which shall mature not more than 5 years from the date of issue, and each succeeding series in succeeding years thereafter. A register of all issues of such bonds shall be kept in the office of the county clerk of such county, showing the date, amount, rate of interest, maturity, and the purpose for which such bonds were issued, and it shall be the duty of such county clerk, to extend annually against all the property in such county, a tax sufficient to pay the interest of such bonds in each year prior to the maturity of such first series, and thereafter he shall extend a tax in each year sufficient to pay each series as it matures, together with interest thereon and with the interest upon the unmatured bonds outstanding. Such bonds may be lithographed and the interest for each year evidenced by interest coupons thereto attached, which coupons shall be signed with the original or facsimile signatures by the same officers who executed the bonds.

With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1989, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Act that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts.

(Source: P.A. 86-4.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-205) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-205)

Sec. 10-205. The plans and specifications for the construction or repair of any such bridge or bridges shall be approved by the county superintendent of highways (or county superintendents of highways, in case two counties of this State are assisting in such construction or repair), and by the Department. The contract for any such work shall be let by the county board (or county boards, in case two counties of this State are assisting in such construction or repair), acting jointly with the corporate authorities of the county, municipality, or other subordinate division of the adjoining state. However, no contract shall be considered as let unless the contractor shall within 15 days after the final award of same, file with the county clerk of such county (or of each such county) a bond, with good and sufficient sureties, in a sum equal to the part of the total cost which that county is to bear, conditioned upon the faithful performance of such contract.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-206) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-206)

Sec. 10-206. If the cost of such construction or repair is $1,000 or less, such county (or counties) shall not be liable for any part of such expense until all the work has been fully completed, and has been accepted by the county superintendent of highways (or by each county superintendent of highways). Such official (or officials) shall certify such acceptance to his county board (or to their respective county boards), and shall accompany such certificate with an itemized statement of all expenditures in such construction or repair.

If the total cost of the construction or repair exceeds $1,000, partial payments not oftener than once a month, and not to exceed 90% of the work actually completed, may be paid the contractor by the county (or counties). No such partial payments shall be made unless approved by the county superintendent of highways (or by each county superintendent of highways), and no partial payments shall in any way be deemed an acceptance of the work until such work has been fully completed and accepted by the county superintendent (or by each county superintendent of highways) and such acceptance certified as provided above.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/Art. 10 Div. 3 heading) DIVISION 3. COUNTY TOLL BRIDGES

(605 ILCS 5/10-301) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-301)

Sec. 10-301. Each county of this State, is authorized to acquire by purchase or otherwise, to construct, repair, maintain and operate a bridge or bridges over and across any navigable or non-navigable stream within such county, or forming a boundary line between such county and any other county in the State of Illinois, or forming a boundary line between the State of Illinois and any adjoining state, and shall have authority to exercise all such powers within its boundaries and in adjacent territory within this State, and in any adjoining state, after first having obtained authority, if any be necessary, from the Department and the United States. Such powers may be exercised either directly through the county board of any such county, or through a bridge commission created as in this Division of this Article provided.

For the purposes of this Division of this Article "Bridge" means any bridge over or across any stream, navigable or non-navigable, including any bridges and the approaches thereto, and all necessary elevated structures to eliminate intersection at grade with any streets, tunnels, public roads, thoroughfares, highways, railroads or street railroads.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-302) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-302)

Sec. 10-302. Every county which, by ordinance, determines to exercise the powers granted by this Division of this Article has the right to acquire by purchase or otherwise, to construct, repair, maintain and operate any such bridge and its approaches across, above or under any railroad or public utility right-of-way, and in, upon, under or above any public or private road, highway, street, alley or public ground, or upon any property owned by any municipality, political subdivision or agency of this State, and for the purpose of acquiring property or easements necessary or incidental in the construction, repair, maintenance or operation of any such bridge and the approaches thereto, any such county shall have the right of eminent domain as provided by the Eminent Domain Act. The county board of each such county has power to make, enact and enforce all needful rules and regulations in connection with the acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation, management, care or protection of any such bridge, and such county board shall establish rates of toll or charges for the use of each such bridge which shall be sufficient at all times to pay the cost of maintenance and operation of such bridge and its approaches, and the principal of and interest on all bonds issued and all other obligations incurred by such county under the provisions of this Division of this Article. Rules and regulations shall be established from time to time by ordinance.

Rates of toll or charges for the use of each such bridge shall be established, revised, maintained, be payable and be enforced, including by administrative adjudication as provided in Section 10-302.5, as the county board of each such county may determine by ordinance.

The General Assembly finds that electronic toll collection systems in Illinois should be standardized to promote safety, efficiency, and traveler convenience. If electronic toll collection is used on such bridge, the county shall configure the electronic toll collection system to be compatible with the electronic toll collection system used by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. The county may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to provide for such compatibility or to have the Authority provide electronic toll collection or toll violation enforcement services. Any toll bridges in Winnebago County that are in operation and collecting tolls on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly are exempt from the provisions of the Act.

(Source: P.A. 97-252, eff. 8-4-11.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-302.5)

Sec. 10-302.5. Administrative adjudication of toll violations.

(a) The county may provide by ordinance for a system of administrative adjudication for fixing, assessing, and collecting civil fines for a vehicle's operation on a county toll bridge if the required toll or charge has not been paid.

(b) An ordinance establishing a system of administrative adjudication under this Section shall provide for the following:

(1) Written notice of the alleged violation sent by first class U.S. mail.

(2) Availability of a hearing in which the violation may be contested on its merits and the time and manner in which the hearing may be held.

(3) An opportunity for the person who allegedly violated the ordinance to appear at the hearing and contest the merits of the alleged violation. The rules of evidence shall not apply to the hearing.

(4) A civil fine not to exceed $500 imposed as the result of an administrative adjudication.

(5) A burden of proof on the county to establish a violation by a preponderance of the evidence.

(6) Judicial review of final determinations of ordinance violations, subject to the provisions of the Administrative Review Law.

(c) The county may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority under which the Authority may provide administrative adjudication of toll violations occurring on a county toll bridge.

(Source: P.A. 97-252, eff. 8-4-11.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-303) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-303)

Sec. 10-303. For the purpose of acquiring by purchase or otherwise or the constructing of any such bridge, the county board of each such county is authorized to borrow money and in evidence thereof to issue the bonds of such county, and to refund the same from time to time, payable solely from the revenues derived from the operation of such bridge. Such bonds may be issued as serial or term bonds, shall mature in not to exceed 40 years from the date thereof, and may be made redeemable, prior to maturity, with or without premium. Such bonds may be issued in such amounts as may be necessary to provide sufficient funds to pay the cost of acquiring or constructing such bridge and the approaches thereto, including all property real or personal, necessary or incidental in the acquisition or construction of such bridge and its approaches, including reasonable legal and engineering, traffic survey, and architectural fees, costs of financing, and interest during construction and for not less than 12 months thereafter. Such bonds shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed that permitted in "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, payable semi-annually. Bonds issued under the provisions of this Division of this Article have the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the laws of the State of Illinois, shall be executed in the name of the county by the chairman of the county board and the county clerk of such county, and shall be sealed with the corporate seal of the county, and the interest coupons attached to such bonds shall be executed by the facsimile signatures of such chairman and county clerk, and such officials by the execution of such bonds shall adopt as and for their own proper signatures their respective facsimile signatures appearing on such coupons. In case any officer whose signature appears on any such bonds or coupons ceases to be such officer before delivery of such bonds, such signatures shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such officer had remained in office until such delivery.

Such bonds may be registered as to principal at any time prior to maturity in the name of the holder on the books of the county in the office of the county treasurer, such registration to be noted on the reverse side of the bonds by the county treasurer, and thereafter the principal of such registered bonds shall be payable only to the registered holder, his legal representatives or assigns. Such registered bonds shall be transferable to another registered holder, or back to bearer, only upon presentation to the county treasurer with the legal assignment duly acknowledged or approved. Registration of any such bonds shall not affect negotiability of the coupons thereto attached, but such coupons shall be transferable by delivery merely.

All such bonds issued by any such county shall be sold in such manner and at such time as the governing body shall determine. Whenever the governing body of any such county determines to issue bonds as provided for in this Division of this Article, it shall adopt an ordinance describing in a general way the bridge to be acquired or constructed and its general location. Such ordinance shall set out the aggregate amount of the estimated cost of the acquisition or construction of such bridge, as prepared by the engineers employed for that purpose, determine the period of usefulness thereof and fix the amount of revenue bonds to be issued, the maturity or maturities, redemption privileges, the interest rate, sinking fund, and all other details in connection with such bonds, including such reserve accounts as the county board of such county may deem necessary. Such ordinance may contain such covenants and restrictions upon the issuance of additional revenue bonds thereafter as may be deemed necessary or advisable for the assurance of the payment of the bonds thereby authorized. Revenue bonds issued under the provisions of this Division of this Article shall be payable solely from the revenue derived from such bridge, and such bonds shall not, in any event constitute or be deemed an indebtedness of such county within the meaning of any constitutional provisions or statutory limitation as to debt, and it shall be plainly stated on the face of each bond that it does not constitute an indebtedness within any constitutional or statutory limitation. Such ordinance shall be published within 30 days after its passage in a newspaper, published and having a general circulation in such county, and shall not become effective until 10 days after its publication.

(Source: P.A. 83-225.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-304) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-304)

Sec. 10-304. Any ordinance authorizing the issuance of bonds under this Division of this Article shall provide for the creation of a sinking fund into which shall be payable from the revenues of such bridge, from month to month, as such revenues are collected, such sums in excess of the cost of maintenance and operation and the sums necessary to maintain any reserve accounts created by such ordinance, as will be sufficient to pay the accruing interest and retire the bonds at or before maturity. The moneys in such sinking fund shall be applied solely in the payment of matured interest on bonds authorized under the provisions of this Division of this Article and for the retirement of such bonds at or prior to maturity in the manner herein provided. All sums in the sinking fund in excess of the amount required for the payment of interest and principal of all outstanding bonds for the current year shall be paid out upon the order of the governing body for the purchase or redemption of bonds issued under the provisions of this Division of this Article, for the account of which such sinking fund has been accumulated, where it is possible to purchase or redeem the same at not more than par and accrued interest. If such bonds cannot be purchased or redeemed, such funds shall be used to pay the principal or interest on bonds issued under the provisions of this Division of this Article as the same become due. Any excess sums in the sinking fund which cannot be applied to the purchase or redemption of bonds may be invested in securities of the United States maturing not more than 6 months after the date such sums can be applied to the retirement of the bonds at maturity.

Upon the issuance of any bonds as in this Division of this Article provided and while any of such bonds are outstanding, all revenues, in excess of the sums required for maintenance and operation of the bridge, and the maintenance of the reserve accounts created, shall be deposited in the sinking fund, and shall be used for the purchase, redemption or payment at maturity of the interest and principal of bonds as provided in this section, that have been issued in accordance with the provisions of this Division of this Article.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-305) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-305)

Sec. 10-305. The county treasurer of each such county shall be the legal custodian of all funds derived from the issuance of bonds provided for under this Division of this Article and of all revenues derived from the operation of any such bridge, and before he shall receive any such funds he shall be required to post with the county board of such county and subject to their approval, a separate corporate surety bond in an amount to be determined by resolution of such county board. He shall be required to keep proceeds of bonds issued and revenues derived from the operation of any such bridge separate and apart from all other funds which come into his hands as the county treasurer, and the proceeds of bonds issued and the revenues derived from the operation of the bridge shall be by him deposited in separate bank or savings and loan association accounts to be designated for that purpose by the county board of the county. No money shall be paid out of such accounts by the county treasurer except upon an order signed by the chairman of the county board or the chairman of the finance committee of such county board and the county clerk. All such orders shall specify the purpose for which the amount thereof is to be paid with sufficient clearness to indicate the purpose for which the order is issued, and there shall be endorsed thereon the name of the particular fund out of which it is payable, and it shall be paid from the fund constituted for such purpose and from no other fund.

(Source: P.A. 83-541.)

(605 ILCS 5/10-306) (from Ch. 121, par. 10-306)

Sec. 10-306. The county board of each such county shall install and maintain a proper system of accounts, showing the receipts from the operation of the bridge and the application of the same, and the county board shall at least once a year cause such accounts to be properly audited by a certified public accountant and copies of such audit shall be filed in the office of the county clerk and shall be open for inspection at all proper times to any taxpayer, bondholder or other creditor of such county.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)