Illinois Statutes Chapter 70. Special Districts § 2105/11.5. Public development projects

(a) The board of trustees of a river conservancy district located in one or more counties may enter into lease agreements for the development of projects that are intended to enhance economic development, create jobs, and increase tourism (i) when the aggregate unemployment rate, as determined by the United States Department of Labor, for the county or counties served by the district exceeded 12% during any month of the first quarter of 1993 and (ii) in the case of a river conservancy district serving a county that is contiguous with 2 or more counties, when the aggregate unemployment rate for those contiguous counties exceeded 18% during any month of the first quarter of 1993. These projects include tourism development projects including, but not limited to, resorts, motels, and other related service and tourism development, built by private developers under the conditions set forth in this Section.

(b) The board of trustees of a river conservancy district may enter into future agreements for the transfer of certain lands between a State agency or agencies and a river conservancy district when (i) a basic agreement providing for the transfer of certain lands was entered into on or before January 1, 1993, between a State agency or agencies and a river conservancy district meeting the unemployment guidelines set forth in this Section and (ii) a river conservancy district obtains the land from a State agency or agencies for the purposes of economic development or job creation projects.

(c) A board of trustees authorized to enter into lease agreements under the requirements of subsection (a) may lease land to a responsible person, firm, or corporation for a period not longer than 50 years for development as authorized in this Section and grant the person, firm, or corporation the option to extend the lease for subsequent periods not longer than 50 years.

(d) A board of trustees authorized to enter into lease agreements under the requirements of subsection (a) shall take appropriate steps to insure that, within 5 years after the board enters into a lease agreement, (i) at least 50% of the land for the proposed development is available and developed for public use, and (ii) at least 50% of the buildings constructed for the proposed development are available for public use.