Illinois Statutes Chapter 70. Special Districts § 3715/5.1. Election rather than appointment of trustees; petition; referendum; ballot; terms of elected trustees; nominations

§ 5.1. Any water authority organized under this Act may determine, in the manner provided in this Section, to have an elected, rather than an appointed, board of trustees.

Upon presentation to the board of trustees of a petition, signed by not less than 10% of the electors of the authority, requesting that a proposition for the election of trustees be submitted to the electors of the authority, the secretary of the board of trustees shall certify the question to the appropriate election authorities who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

If a majority of the votes cast on such proposition are in the affirmative, the trustees of the authority shall thereafter be elected as provided by this Section.

At the first ensuing election for trustees of water authorities as provided by the general election law, 3 trustees shall be elected. The 3 trustees so elected shall serve for terms of 2, 4 and 6 years, respectively, commencing on the first day of the month following the month of their election and until their respective successors are elected and qualified. The length of the terms of the trustees first elected shall be determined by lot at their first meeting. Thereafter one trustee shall be elected at the election provided by the general election law for a term of 6 years commencing on the first Monday of the month following the month of his election and until his successor is elected and qualified.

Nominations of candidates for trustee shall be made in the manner provided for independent candidates by the general election law. No party designation shall appear on such ballot. The provisions of the general election law shall apply to and govern the nomination and election of trustees.

The provisions of this Act relating to eligibility, powers and disabilities of trustees shall apply equally to elected trustees.

Whenever a water authority determines to elect trustees as provided in this Section, the trustees appointed pursuant to Section 3 shall continue to constitute the board of trustees until the first Monday of the month following the month of the first election of trustees. If the term of office of any appointed trustees expires before the first election and qualification of trustees, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor to serve until the elected successor takes office. The terms of all appointed trustees in such district shall expire on the first Monday of the month following the month of the first election of trustees under this Section.