Illinois Statutes Chapter 70. Special Districts § 1842/2. Findings

(1) Illinois' many port districts are an important part of Illinois' waterway system since they support and facilitate use of those waterways for the transport of goods.

(2) By supporting and facilitating use of the State's waterways, Illinois' port districts provide economies of scale in the movement of goods and economic development and job creation opportunities within the area of the port districts.

(3) The geographic size of each port district varies and can cover areas as small as the limits of a single municipality or as large as multiple counties.

(4) Each port district is unique, faces different challenges, and uses different approaches to encourage waterway use.

(5) It is in the interest of supporting Illinois' waterway system to create the Rock Island Regional Port District to streamline governance by using existing municipal governments participating in the Rock Island Regional Port District to make decisions within each municipality's corporate limits.