(70 ILCS 200/Art. 240 heading)

(70 ILCS 200/240-1) Sec. 240-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Rockford Civic Center Law of 1997. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-5) Sec. 240-5. Definitions. When used in this Article: "Authority" means the Rockford Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. "Board" means the governing and administrative body of the Rockford Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority. "Metropolitan area" means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the County of Winnebago. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-10) Sec. 240-10. Authority created; principal office. There is hereby created a political subdivision, body politic and municipal corporation by the name and style of Rockford Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium and Office Building Authority in the metropolitan area. The principal office of the Authority shall be in the City of Rockford. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-15) Sec. 240-15. Rights and powers. The Authority shall have the following rights and powers: (a) To acquire, own, construct, lease, operate, equip and maintain fair, exposition, arena, office and municipal office buildings, and associated facilities and grounds, including sites and parking areas and facilities therefor located within the metropolitan area. (b) To plan for such grounds, centers and auditoriums and to plan, sponsor, hold, arrange, and finance fairs, industrial, cultural, educational, theatrical, sports, trade and scientific exhibits, shows and events and to use or allow the use of such grounds, centers and auditoriums for the holding of fairs, exhibits, shows and events whether conducted by the Authority or some other person or governmental body or agency. (c) To fix and collect just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory charges and rents for the use of such parking areas and facilities, grounds, centers, buildings and auditoriums and admission charges to fairs, shows, exhibits and events sponsored or held by the Authority and to lease air space over and appurtenant to such areas, facilities, grounds, centers, buildings and auditoriums. The charges so collected may be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and the interest upon any bonds issued by the Authority. (d) To own, lease or otherwise acquire an interest, in whole or in part, in any public or private firm, corporation or association useful for its purposes and in conformance with its rights and powers. (e) To enter into contracts, leases, obligations and the like with any public or private person, firm, corporation or association treating in any manner within the rights and powers as set forth in this Article. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-20) Sec. 240-20. State office building. The Authority may make expenditures for the planning, acquisition, development and construction of a State office building in Rockford, Illinois. Such expenditures may be made from funds appropriated for such purposes from the Build Illinois Bond Fund. (Source: P.A. 94-91, eff. 7-1-05.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-22) Sec. 240-22. Bonds other than revenue bonds. No Bonds, other than revenue bonds issued pursuant to Section 2-52, shall be issued by the Authority until the proposition to issue the same has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters of said metropolitan area voting upon the proposition at a general election in accordance with the general election law. The Authority may by resolution order such proposition submitted at a regular election in accordance with the general election law, whereupon the recording officer shall certify the resolution and the proposition to the proper election officials for submission. Any proposition to issue bonds as herein set forth shall be in substantially the following form: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall bonds of the "Rockford Metropolitan Exposition, Auditorium YES and Office Building Authority" to-------------------- the amount of .... Dollars ($) NO be issued for the purpose of ....?-------------------------------------------------------------- (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-23) Sec. 240-23. Tax. If a majority of the voters of said metropolitan area approve the issuance of bonds as provided in Section 240-22, the Authority shall have power to levy and collect annually a sum sufficient to pay for the annual principal and interest charges on such bonds; provided, that such tax levy shall be reduced by a sum equal to such grants or matching grants as the Authority shall receive, in any year, for this purpose. Such taxes proposed by the Authority to be levied upon the taxable property within the metropolitan area shall be levied by ordinance. After the ordinance has been adopted it shall, within 10 days after its passage, be published once in a newspaper published and having a general circulation within the metropolitan area. A certified copy of such levy ordinance shall be filed with the county clerk no later than the 3rd Tuesday in September in each year. Thereupon the county clerk shall extend such tax; provided the aggregate amount of taxes levied for any one year shall not exceed the rate of .0005% of the full fair cash value, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-25) Sec. 240-25. Board created. The governing and administrative body of the Authority shall be a board consisting of 9 members and shall be known as the Rockford Metropolitan Exposition Auditorium and Office Building Board. The members of the board shall be individuals of generally recognized ability and integrity. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-30) Sec. 240-30. Board members appointed. Within 60 days after October 7, 1969 (the effective date of Public Act 76-1769), the mayor of Rockford, with the advice and consent of the Rockford city council, shall appoint 5 members of the board for initial terms expiring June first of the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 respectively; the mayor of Loves Park, with the advice and consent of the Loves Park city council, shall appoint one member for an initial term expiring June first, 1972; the Chairman of the Winnebago County Board, with the advice and consent of the Winnebago County Board, shall appoint 3 members for initial terms expiring June first of the years 1970, 1972, and 1974, respectively. At the expiration of the term of any member appointed by the Mayor of Rockford, his successor shall be appointed by the Mayor of Rockford in like manner; at the expiration of the term of the member appointed by the Mayor of Loves Park, his successor shall be appointed in like manner by the Mayor of Loves Park; at the expiration of the term of any member appointed by the Chairman of the Winnebago County Board, his successor shall be appointed by the Chairman of the Winnebago County Board in like manner as appointments for the initial term. All successors shall hold office for a term of 5 years from the first day of June of the year in which they are appointed, except in case of an appointment to fill a vacancy. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-35) Sec. 240-35. Meetings; quorum; approval of ordinances and resolutions by chairman; public records. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at least once in each calendar month, the time and place of such meetings to be fixed by the Board. Five members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All action of the Board shall be by ordinance or resolution and the affirmative vote of at least 5 members shall be necessary for the adoption of any ordinance or resolution. All such ordinances and resolutions before taking effect shall be approved by the chairman of the Board, and if he shall approve thereof he shall sign the same, and such as he shall not approve he shall return to the Board with his objections thereto in writing at the next regular meeting of the Board occurring after the passage thereof. But in case the chairman shall fail to return any ordinance or resolution with his objections thereto by the time aforesaid, he shall be deemed to have approved the same and it shall take effect accordingly. Upon the return of any ordinance or resolution by the chairman with his objections, the vote by which the same was passed shall be reconsidered by the Board, and if upon such reconsideration said ordinance or resolution is passed by the affirmative vote of at least 6 members, it shall go into effect notwithstanding the veto of the chairman. All ordinances, resolutions and all proceedings of the Authority and all documents and records in its possession shall be public records, and open to public inspection, except such documents and records as shall be kept or prepared by the Board for use in negotiations, actions or proceedings to which the Authority is a party. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-37) Sec. 240-37. Funds; compliance with Public Funds Investment Act. All funds deposited by the treasurer shall be placed in the name of the Authority and shall be withdrawn or paid out only by check or draft upon the bank or savings and loan association, signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the chairman of the Board. The Board may designate any of its members or any officer or employee of the Authority to deposit funds or to sign any check or draft. No bank or savings and loan association shall receive public funds as permitted by this Section, unless it has complied with the requirements established pursuant to Section 6 of the Public Funds Investment Act. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-40) Sec. 240-40. Security police force. The Board of the Authority may establish and maintain a Security Police Force and may define and prescribe all such peace officers' duties and compensation. Every security police officer appointed by the Board to such Security Police Force, as the same shall be from time to time hereafter constituted, shall have and is hereby vested with police powers, and is hereby authorized to act as a conservator of the peace within and upon driveways, sidewalks and property controlled by such Authority, and shall have power to make arrests or cause to be arrested, with or without process, any person who breaks the peace, or may be found violating any of the penal ordinances of such Authority, or of the City of Rockford or any criminal law of the State. An arrest may be made by any such officer without a warrant when a criminal offense is committed or attempted in his presence or when a criminal offense has, in fact, been committed, and the officer has reasonable ground for believing that the person to be arrested has committed it. Any person so arrested shall, without unnecessary delay, be taken by such officer before the circuit court of the county having jurisdiction of the offense committed or charged against such person, and such police officer shall thereupon make and file a complaint in writing under oath, against such defendant, charging the violation by such defendant of such statute or ordinance, and such offender shall thereupon be dealt with according to law in the same manner as if he had been arrested in the first instance under warrant lawfully issued. However, no member of any such Security Police Force shall be vested with any police power outside the limits of the metropolitan area except pursuant to and in accordance with an intergovernmental cooperation agreement to which the Authority is a party. In all actions for the violation of any ordinance of the Authority, the first process shall be a summons or a warrant. A warrant for the arrest of an accused person may issue upon the affidavit of any person that an ordinance has been violated, and that person making the complaint has reasonable grounds to believe that the party charged is guilty thereof. Every person arrested upon a warrant, without unnecessary delay, shall be taken before the proper officer for trial. The Board of the Authority may establish reasonable eligibility requirements for appointment to such Security Police Force relating to health, habits and moral character. However, no person may be appointed hereunder unless that person is at least 21 years of age. No person may be appointed to or be retained in the Security Police Force unless that person is of good character and not a habitual drunkard, gambler or a person convicted of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude. All such Security Police Force personnel authorized to carry weapons shall receive a course of training in the legal and practical use of such weapons as is required of a police officer under the Peace Officer and Probation Officer Firearm Training Act, and all such Security Police Force personnel shall also have received the training and certification required by the Illinois Police Training Act. (Source: P.A. 98-725, eff. 1-1-15.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-45) Sec. 240-45. Ordinances and rules; fines and penalties. The Board shall have power to pass all ordinances and make all rules and regulations proper or necessary to carry into effect the powers granted to the Authority, with such fines or penalties as may be deemed proper. No fine or penalty, however, shall exceed $500 and no imprisonment authorized by this Section for failure to pay any fine, penalty or cost shall exceed 6 months for one offense. All fines and penalties shall be imposed by ordinance, which shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation published in the area embraced by the Authority. No such ordinance shall take effect until ten days after its publication. The Board is authorized to recover the fines and penalties imposed for violation of its ordinances by suit in the name of the Authority before the circuit court of Winnebago County. The procedure in such suits shall be the same as that provided by law for like suits for the violation of ordinances in cities organized under the Illinois Municipal Code, and offenders may be imprisoned for nonpayment of fines and costs in the same manner as in such cities. All fines when collected shall be paid into the treasury of the Authority. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-50) Sec. 240-50. Contracts. All contracts for sale of property of the value of more than $10,000 or for a concession in or lease of property including air rights, of the Authority for a term of more than one year shall be awarded to the highest responsible bidder, after advertising for bids. All construction contracts and contracts for supplies, materials, equipment and services, when the expense thereof will exceed $10,000, shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, after advertising for bids, excepting (1) when repair parts, accessories, equipment or services are required for equipment or services previously furnished or contracted for; (2) when the nature of the services required is such that competitive bidding is not in the best interest of the public, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the services of accountants, architects, attorneys, engineers, physicians, superintendents of construction, and others possessing a high degree of skill; and (3) when services such as water, light, heat, power, telephone or telegraph are required. All contracts involving less than $10,000 shall be let by competitive bidding to the lowest responsible bidder whenever possible, and in any event in a manner calculated to ensure the best interests of the public. In determining the responsibility of any bidder, the Board may take in account the past record of dealings with the bidder, experience, adequacy of equipment, ability to complete performance within the time set, and other factors besides financial responsibility, but in no case shall any such contracts be awarded to any other than the highest bidder (in case of sale, concession or lease) or the lowest bidder (in case of purchase or expenditure) unless authorized or approved by the affirmative vote of at least 6 of the members of the Board present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, and unless such action is accompanied by a statement in writing setting forth the reasons for not awarding the contract to the highest or lowest bidder, as the case may be, which statement shall be kept on file in the principal office of the Authority and open to public inspection. From the group of responsible bidders the lowest bidder shall be selected in the following manner: to all bids for sales the gross receipts of which are not taxable under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, there shall be added an amount equal to the tax which would be payable under said Act, if applicable, and the lowest in amount of said adjusted bids and bids for sales the gross receipts of which are taxable under said Act shall be considered the lowest bid; provided, that, if said lowest bid relates to a sale not taxable under said Act, any contract entered into thereon shall be in the amount of the original bid not adjusted as aforesaid. Contracts shall not be split into parts involving expenditures of less than $10,000 for the purposes of avoiding the provisions of this Section, and all such split contracts shall be void. If any collusion occurs among bidders or prospective bidders in restraint of freedom of competition, by agreement to bid a fixed amount or to refrain from bidding or otherwise, the bids of such bidders shall be void. Each bidder shall accompany his bid with a sworn statement that he has not been a party to any such agreement. Members of the Board, officers and employees of the Authority, and their relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity by the terms of the civil law, are forbidden to be interested directly or indirectly in any contract for construction or maintenance work or for the delivery of materials, supplies or equipment. The Board shall have the right to reject all bids and to readvertise for bids. If after any such advertisement no responsible and satisfactory bid, within the terms of the advertisement, shall be received, the Board may award such contract, without competitive bidding, provided that it shall not be less advantageous to the Authority than any valid bid received pursuant to advertisement. The Board shall adopt rules and regulations to carry into effect the provisions of this Section. (Source: P.A. 99-642, eff. 7-28-16.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-55) Sec. 240-55. Bidders; civil action to compel compliance. Any bidder who has submitted a bid in compliance with the requirements for bidding under this Article may bring a civil action in the circuit court in Winnebago County to compel compliance with the provisions of this Article relating to the awarding of contracts by the Board. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/240-60) Sec. 240-60. Standard civic center provisions incorporated by reference. The following Sections of this Code are incorporated by reference into this Article: Section 2-5. Definitions. Section 2-10. Lawsuits; common seal. Section 2-16. Duties; auditorium and other buildings; lease of space. Section 2-25. Incurring obligations. Section 2-30. Prompt payment. Section 2-35. Acquisition of property from person, State, or local agency. Section 2-40. Federal money. Section 2-45. Insurance. Section 2-52. Borrowing; revenue bonds; interest payable semi-annually; bond sale price; effect of Omnibus Bond Acts. Section 2-55. Bonds; nature of indebtedness. Section 2-60. Investment in bonds. Section 2-76. Board members; financial matters; compensation for secretary or treasurer; conflict of interest. Section 2-80. Board members' oath. Section 2-83. Removal of Board member from office. Section 2-85. Board members; vacancy in office. Section 2-90. Organization of the Board. Section 2-101. Secretary; treasurer; funds deposited in bank or savings and loan association. Section 2-110. Signatures on checks or drafts. Section 2-115. General manager; other appointments. Section 2-130. Bids and advertisements. Section 2-135. Report and financial statement. Section 2-140. State financial support. Section 2-145. Anti-trust laws. Section 2-150. Tax exemption. Section 2-155. Partial invalidity. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)