Illinois Statutes Chapter 55. Counties § 5/5-1049.2. Lease of county property

(a) The county board may lease real estate acquired or held by the county for any term not exceeding 99 years and may lease the real estate when, in the opinion of the county board, the real estate is no longer necessary, appropriate, required for the use of, profitable to, or for the best interests of the county. The authority to lease shall be exercised by an ordinance passed by three-fourths of the full county board then holding office, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose.

(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), upon three-fourths vote, by the full county board, the county board may lease farmland acquired or held by the county for any term not exceeding 5 years. Farmland may be leased to either public or private entities via a cash lease, crop-sharing arrangement, or custom farming arrangement. The bid process for a lease entered into under this subsection must be publicly advertised and sealed bids must be opened at a county board meeting for public review. Counties shall not acquire farmland for the sole purpose of entering into a cash lease, crop-sharing arrangement, or custom farming arrangement or other speculative purpose.