Special districts provide essential services for communities throughout Illinois. Because these services involve such varied aspects of daily life, from sanitation and cemeteries to libraries and forests, every type of special district in Illinois has a unique body of regulating law and its own set of powers and responsibilities. This handbook is your guide through starting, maintaining, financing, and conducting the business of a special district. The handbook includes chapters on cemetery maintenance, drainage, fire protection, forest preserve, sanitary, park, hospital, and public water districts as well as Illinois tax-supported public libraries. There is also discussion on the numerous other laws that apply to Illinois’ special districts, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Open Meetings Act, the Public Officer Prohibited Activities Act, the Illinois Municipal Budget Law, the Local Government Prompt Payment Act, the Local Government Professional Services Selection Act, the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act, and the Prevailing Wage Act.
Chapter 1 — General Considerations
John M. O’Driscoll, James J. Hess, and Marlene S. Fuentes, Tressler LLP Chicago
Chapter 2 — Cemetery Maintenance Districts
John M. O’Driscoll, James J. Hess, and Marlene S. Fuentes, Tressler LLP Chicago
Chapter 3 — Drainage Districts
John L. Barger, Craig & Craig, LLC, Mattoon
Chapter 4 — Fire Protection Districts
Shawn P. Flaherty, Ottosen Britz Kelly Cooper Gilbert & DiNolfo, Ltd., Naperville,and James S. Sinclair, Stobbs, Sinclair & Associates, Ltd., Alton
Chapter 5 — Forest Preserve Districts
Hon. John T. Elsner, Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Wheaton, and Patrick K. Bond, Bond, Dickson & Associates, P.C. (no website), Wheaton
Chapter 6 — Illinois Tax-Supported Public Libraries
Phillip B. Lenzini and Ann R. Pieper, Heyl, Reyster, Voelker & Allen, Peoria
Chapter 7 — Sanitary Districts
Brian F. Johnson, Greater Peoria Sanitary District, Peoria
Chapter 8 — Park Districts
John M. O’Driscoll and Andrew S. Pain, Tressler LLP, Chicago
Chapter 9 — Public Water Districts
Kathleen Elliott, Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor,Lisle
Chapter 10 — Hospital Districts
Deanna S. Mool, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Boone, N.C.
