(70 ILCS 200/Art. 280 heading)

(70 ILCS 200/280-1) Sec. 280-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority Law of 1997. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-5) Sec. 280-5. Definitions. When used in this Article: "Authority" means the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority. "Board" means the governing and administrative body of the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority. "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Illinois. "Metropolitan area" means all that territory in the State of Illinois lying within the corporate boundaries of the County of Will. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-10) Sec. 280-10. Authority created; principal office. There is hereby created a unit of local government known as the Will County Metropolitan Exposition and Auditorium Authority in the metropolitan area. The principal office of the Authority shall be in the County of Will. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-15) Sec. 280-15. Duties. It shall be the duty of the authority to promote, operate and maintain expositions and conventions from time to time in the metropolitan area and in connection therewith to arrange, finance and maintain industrial, cultural, educational, theatrical, sports, trade and scientific exhibits and to construct, equip and maintain auditoriums and exposition buildings for such purposes. The Authority is granted all rights and powers necessary to perform such duties. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-20) Sec. 280-20. Rights and powers. The Authority shall have the following rights and powers: (a) To purchase, own, construct, lease as lessee or

in any other way acquire, improve, extend, repair, reconstruct, regulate, operate, equip and maintain fair and expositions grounds, convention or exhibition centers, civic auditoriums, including sites and parking areas and facilities therefor located within the metropolitan area and office buildings, if such buildings are acquired as part of the main auditorium complex;

(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 agency;

(c) To exercise the right of eminent domain to

acquire sites for such grounds, centers and auditoriums, and parking areas and facilities in the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act;

(d) To fix and collect just, reasonable and

nondiscriminatory charges for the use of such parking areas and facilities, grounds, centers and auditoriums and admission charges to fairs, shows, exhibits and events sponsored or held by the Authority. The charges collected may be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the Authority and to pay the principal of and the interest on any bonds issued by the Authority;

(d-5) To sell the following real property and retain

the proceeds from the sale: the 2 Rialto Square Building at the southeast corner of Chicago Street and Clinton Street, legally described as follows: Lot 1 and Lot 2 in Block 3 in East Juliet (now Joliet) in the City of Joliet in Will County, Illinois; and

(e) To enter into contracts treating any manner with

the objects and purposes of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 94-790, eff. 5-19-06; 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07; 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-22) Sec. 280-22. Eminent domain. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, any power granted under this Article to acquire property by condemnation or eminent domain is subject to, and shall be exercised in accordance with, the Eminent Domain Act. (Source: P.A. 94-1055, eff. 1-1-07.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-25) Sec. 280-25. Federal money. The Authority shall have the power to apply for and accept grants, loans or appropriations from the federal government or any agency or instrumentality thereof to be used for any of the purposes of the Authority and to enter into any agreement with the federal government in relation to such grants, loans or appropriations. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-30) Sec. 280-30. Borrowing; revenue bonds. The Authority shall have the continuing power to borrow money for the purpose of carrying out and performing its duties and exercising its rights and powers under this Article. For the purpose of evidencing the obligation of the Authority to repay any money borrowed as aforesaid, the Authority may, pursuant to an ordinance adopted by the Board, from time to time issue and dispose of its interest bearing revenue bonds, and may also from time to time issue and dispose of its interest bearing revenue bonds to refund any of its interest bearing revenue bonds or its general obligation bonds at maturity or pursuant to redemption provisions or at any time before maturity with the consent of the holders thereof. All such interest bearing revenue bonds of the Authority shall be payable solely from such of the revenues or income to be derived from the fairs, exhibits, shows and events and other authorized activities operated by it, the charges made for the use of its facilities and the funds, if any, received and to be received by the Authority from any other source as are pledged by the ordinance authorizing the bonds. Such bonds may bear such date or dates, may mature at such time or times not exceeding forty years from their respective dates, may bear interest at such rate or rates, not exceeding the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 8% per annum payable semi-annually, may be in such form, may carry such registration privileges, may be payable at such place or places, may be made subject to redemption in such manner and upon such terms, with or without premium as is stated on the face thereof, may be executed in such manner and may contain such terms and covenants, all as may be provided in said ordinance. In case any officer whose signature appears on any bond ceases (after attaching his signature) to hold office, his signature shall nevertheless be valid and effective for all purposes. The holder or holders of any bonds, or interest coupons appertaining thereto issued by the Authority may bring suits at law or proceedings in equity to compel the performance and observance by the Authority or any of its officers, agents or employees of any contract or covenant made by the Authority with the holders of such bonds or interest coupons, to compel the Authority and any of its officers, agents or employees to perform any duties required to be performed for the benefit of the holders of any such bonds or interest coupons by the provisions of the ordinance authorizing their issuance, and to enjoin the Authority and any of its officers, agents or employees from taking any action in conflict with any such contract or covenant. Notwithstanding the form and tenor of any such bonds and in the absence of any express recital on the face thereof that it is non-negotiable, all such bonds shall be negotiable instruments under the law of the State of Illinois. The bonds shall be sold by the corporate authorities of the Authority in such manner as said corporate authorities shall determine, except that if issued to bear interest at the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) the rate of 8% per annum, the bonds shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest and except that the selling price of bonds bearing interest at a rate of less than the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 8% per annum shall be such that the interest cost to the Authority of the money received from the sale of the bonds shall not exceed the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 8% annually computed to absolute maturity of said bonds according to standard tables of bond values. From and after the issuance of any bonds as herein provided it shall be the duty of the corporate authorities of the Authority to fix and establish rates, charges, rents and fees for the use of facilities acquired, constructed, reconstructed, extended or improved with the proceeds of the sale of said bonds sufficient at all times, with other revenues of the Authority so pledged to pay: (a) the cost of maintaining, repairing, regulating and operating the said facilities; and (b) the bonds and interest thereon as they shall become due, and all sinking fund requirements and other requirements provided by the ordinance authorizing the issuance of the bonds or as provided by any trust agreement executed to secure payment thereof. To secure the payment of any or all of such bonds and for the purpose of setting forth the covenants and undertaking of the Authority in connection with the issuance thereof and the issuance of any additional bonds payable from such revenue income to be derived from the fairs, exhibits, shows and events and from charges made for the use of its facilities or for admissions to its events, or from other revenue, if any, the Authority may execute and deliver a trust agreement or agreements; provided that no lien upon any physical property of the Authority shall be created thereby. A remedy for any breach or default of the terms of any such trust agreement by the Authority may be had by mandamus proceedings in any Court of competent jurisdiction to compel performance and compliance therewith, but the trust agreement may prescribe by whom or on whose behalf such action may be instituted. Before any such revenue bonds (excepting refunding bonds) are sold the entire authorized issue, or any part thereof, shall be offered for sale as a unit after advertising for bids at least 3 times in a daily newspaper of general circulation published in the metropolitan area, the last publication to be at least 10 days before bids are required to be filed. Copies of such advertisement may be published in any newspaper or financial publication in the United States. All bids shall be sealed, filed and opened as provided by ordinance and the bonds shall be awarded to the highest and best bidder or bidders therefor. The Authority shall have the right to reject all bids and readvertise for bids in the manner provided for in the initial advertisement. However, if no bids are received such bonds may be sold at not less than par value, without further advertising, within 60 days after the bids are required to be filed pursuant to any advertisement. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of Public Act 86-4, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Article that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Article that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-35) Sec. 280-35. Bonds; nature of indebtedness; Under no circumstances shall any bonds issued by the Authority under Section 280-30 be or become an indebtedness or obligation of the State of Illinois or of any other political subdivision of or municipality within the State, nor shall any such bond be or become an indebtedness of the Authority within the purview of any constitutional limitation or provision, and it shall be plainly stated on the face of each such bond that it does not constitute such an indebtedness or obligation but is payable solely from the revenues or income as aforesaid. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-40) Sec. 280-40. General obligation bonds. The Authority may borrow money for the purpose of carrying out its duties and exercising its powers under this Article, and issue its general obligation bonds as evidence of the indebtedness incurred. In addition to other purposes, such bonds may be issued for the purpose of refunding outstanding general obligation or revenue bonds of the Authority. Such general obligation bonds shall be in the form, shall mature at the time (no later than 40 years from the date of issuance), shall bear interest at the rates (not to exceed the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 8% per annum), shall be executed by the officers and shall be sold in the manner as the Board shall determine; except that if issued to bear interest at the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) the rate of 8% per annum, the bonds shall be sold for not less than par and accrued interest, and that the selling prices of bonds bearing interest at a rate of less than the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 8% per annum shall be such that the interest cost to the Authority of the money received from the sale of the bonds shall not exceed the greater of (i) the maximum rate authorized by the Bond Authorization Act, as amended at the time of the making of the contract, or (ii) 8% annually computed to absolute maturity of the bonds in accordance with standard tables of bond values. In case any officer whose signature appears on any bond ceases, after affixing his signature, to hold office, his signature shall nevertheless be valid and effective for all purposes. With respect to instruments for the payment of money issued under this Section either before, on, or after the effective date of Public Act 86-4, it is and always has been the intention of the General Assembly (i) that the Omnibus Bond Acts are and always have been supplementary grants of power to issue instruments in accordance with the Omnibus Bond Acts, regardless of any provision of this Article that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts, (ii) that the provisions of this Section are not a limitation on the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts, and (iii) that instruments issued under this Section within the supplementary authority granted by the Omnibus Bond Acts are not invalid because of any provision of this Article that may appear to be or to have been more restrictive than those Acts. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-45) Sec. 280-45. G.O. bonds; election. General obligation bonds of the Authority shall not be issued until the proposition to issue the same has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the voters of the metropolitan area voting upon the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. Any such proposition shall be in substantially the following form: -------------------------------------------------------------- Shall bonds of the Will CountyMetropolitan Exposition and YESAuditorium Authority in the ----------------------amount of ....... Dollars ($)NObe issued for the purpose of ......?-------------------------------------------------------------- (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-50) Sec. 280-50. Conduct of election; canvass of returns. Any referendum required under Sections 280-40 and 280-45 shall be certified by the Board to the proper election officials, who shall conduct the referendum in accordance with the general election law. The returns shall be filed with the secretary of the Board and shall be canvassed and the results ascertained by the Board and entered upon the records of the Authority. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-55) Sec. 280-55. Board created. The governing and administrative body of the Authority shall be a board consisting of 7 members and shall be known as the Will County Exposition and Auditorium Authority Board. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-60) Sec. 280-60. Board members appointed. Within 60 days after September 22, 1977 (the effective date of Public Act 80-909), the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint 3 members to the Board, one to serve an initial term expiring December 1, 1979, and 2 to serve initial terms expiring December 1, 1981; and the Mayor of Joliet, with the advice and consent of the city council, shall appoint 4 members to the Board, 3 to serve initial terms expiring December 1, 1979, and one to serve an initial term expiring December 1, 1981. Thereafter all terms shall be for 5 years. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, except as otherwise provided in this Section. When a term expires, the same appointing authority shall make the appointment for the next term. Members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. When the appointments are final, the Governor or the Mayor, as the case may be, shall certify the appointees to the Secretary of State. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-65) Sec. 280-65. Organization of Board. As soon as practicably possible after the appointment of the initial members and, thereafter, within 15 days of each election of members, the Board shall organize for the transaction of business, select a chairman, vice-chairman, and a temporary secretary from its own number, and adopt by-laws and regulations to govern its proceedings. The initial chairman and his successors shall be elected by the Board from time to time for the term of his office as a member of the Board. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-70) Sec. 280-70. Meetings; 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 4 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 4 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 200/280-75) Sec. 280-75. Funds; compliance with Public Funds Investment Act. All funds deposited by the treasurer in any bank or savings and loan association 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 chairman, vice-chairman, secretary or treasurer and countersigned by one of the same officers, but no one officer shall both sign and countersign a check or draft. The Board may designate any of its members or any officer or employee of the Authority to affix the signature of the chairman and another to affix the signature of the treasurer to any check or draft for payment of salaries or wages and for payment of any other obligation of not more than $2,500. 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 200/280-80) Sec. 280-80. Contracts; bidding. All contracts for the sale of property of the value of more than $10,000 or for any concession in or lease of property 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 whenever possible, and in any event in a manner calculated to ensure the best interests of the public. Competitive bidding is not required for the lease of real estate or buildings owned or controlled by the Authority on July 13, 1982 (the effective date of Public Act 82-786). The Board is empowered to offer such leases upon such terms as it deems advisable. In determining the responsibility of any bidder, the Board may take into account the past record of dealings with the bidder, the bidder's experience, adequacy of equipment, and 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 a vote of at least three-fourths of the members of the Board, 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", approved June 28, 1933, as amended, 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 of 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. 93-491, eff. 1-1-04.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-85) Sec. 280-85. Report and financial statement. As soon after the end of each fiscal year as may be expedient, the Board shall cause to be prepared and printed a complete and detailed report and financial statement of its operations and of its assets and liabilities. A reasonably sufficient number of copies of such report shall be printed for distribution to persons interested, upon request. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)

(70 ILCS 200/280-90) Sec. 280-90. Standard civic center provisions incorporated by reference. The following Sections of this Code are incorporated by reference into this Article: Section 2-3. Purpose. Section 2-5. Definitions. Section 2-10. Lawsuits; common seal. Section 2-25. Incurring obligations. Section 2-30. Prompt payment. Section 2-35. Acquisition of property from person, State, or local agency. Section 2-45. Insurance. 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 2-101. 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 2-120. Ordinances, rules, and regulations; fines and penalties. Section 2-130. Bids and advertisements. Section 2-132. Bidders; civil action to compel compliance. Section 2-140. State financial support. Section 2-145. Anti-trust laws. Section 2-150. Tax exemption. (Source: P.A. 90-328, eff. 1-1-98.)