Illinois Statutes Chapter 60. Townships § 1/205-100. Township utility board

(a) The township board of a township availing itself of the provisions of this Article may, in its discretion and before the issue of any bonds under this Article, by ordinance create a township utility board for the purpose of exercising all of the powers conferred by this Article. The township supervisor, subject to the approval of the township board, shall appoint 5 persons, all of whom are legal voters of the township and have resided in the township for at least 2 years before the date of their appointment. Any person holding an elective or appointive public office is not eligible for appointment to the utility board, and any person who has held an elective office or an appointive public office is not eligible for appointment for one year after the expiration of his or her term of office.

(b) One of the appointees shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of 2 years, one for a term of 3 years, and 2 for terms of 4 years. One additional member shall be appointed to any utility board in existence on August 3, 1967, for a term of 3 years. Annually thereafter, appointments to fill the expired terms shall be made in the same manner, except that the term of each appointee shall be 4 years. Vacancies shall be filled for an unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointments.

(c) Within 30 days after their appointment, the members shall meet and elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from their membership and a secretary who need not be a member of the utility board. The board shall constitute and be the (Name of township) Utility Board. The utility board shall fix the compensation of the secretary, subject to the approval of the township board.

(d) The utility board may establish bylaws, rules, and regulations for its own government. Upon its organization, the utility board shall have general supervision over the construction, operation, maintenance, and management of the system of the township. The utility board shall exercise all of the powers authorized and provided for by this Article instead of the township board, including the establishment of rules and regulations covering the maintenance, operation, and use of the system, the power to require connection of abutting improved real estate with the system, the fixing of rates and charges for the use and service of the system, and the power to improve and extend the system from time to time as provided in this Article.