A Public Building Commission is a municipal corporation and constitutes a body both corporate and politic separate and apart from any other municipal corporation or any other public or governmental agency. It may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and have a seal and alter such at pleasure, have perpetual succession, make and execute contracts, leases, deeds and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers, and make and from time to time amend and repeal its by-laws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with this Act. In addition, it has and shall exercise the following public and essential governmental powers and functions and all other powers incidental or necessary, to carry out and effectuate such express powers:

1. (a) To select, locate and designate, at any time and from time to time, one or more areas lying wholly within the territorial limits of the municipality or of the county seat of the county in which the Commission is organized, or within the territorial limits of the county if the site is to be used for county purposes, or (in the case of a county having a population of at least 20,000 but not more than 21,000 as determined by the 1980 federal census) within the territorial limits of the county if the site is to be used for municipal purposes, as the site or sites to be acquired for the erection, alteration or improvement of a building or buildings, public improvement or other facilities for the purposes set forth in this Section. The site or sites selected shall be conveniently located within such county, municipality or county seat and of an area in size sufficiently large to accomplish and effectuate the purpose of this Act and sufficient to provide for proper architectural setting and adequate landscaping for such building or buildings, public improvement or other facilities.

   1. (1) Where the governing body of the county seat or the governing body of any municipality with 3,000 or more inhabitants has adopted the original resolution for the creation of the Commission, the site or sites selected, and in the case of a project for an Airport Authority, the site or sites selected, the project and any lease agreements, are subject to approval by a majority of the members of the governing body of the county seat or by a majority of the members of the governing body of the municipality. However, where the site is for a county project and is outside the limits of a municipality, the approval of the site shall be by the county board.

   2. (2) Where the original resolution for the creation of the Commission has been adopted by the governing body of the county, the site or sites selected, and in the case of a project for an Airport Authority, the site or sites selected, the project and any lease agreements, are subject to approval by a majority of the members of the governing body of the county and to approval by 3/4 of the members of the governing body of the county seat, except that approval of 3/4 of the members of the governing body of the county seat is not required where the site is for a county or (in the case of a county having a population of at least 20,000 but not more than 21,000 as determined by the 1980 federal census) a municipal project and is outside the limits of the county seat, in which case approval by 3/4 of the members of the governing body of any municipality where the site or sites will be located is required; and, if such site or sites so selected, and in the case of a project for an Airport Authority, the site or sites selected, the project and any lease agreements, are not approved by 3/4 of the members of the governing body of the county seat the Commission may by resolution request that the approval of the site or sites so selected, and in the case of a project for an Airport Authority, the site or sites selected, the project and any lease agreements, be submitted to a referendum at the next general election in accordance with the general election law, and shall present such resolution to the county clerk. Upon receipt of such resolution the county clerk shall immediately notify the board of election commissioners, if any; however, referenda pursuant to such resolution shall not be called more frequently than once in 4 years. The proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

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      Shall ......... be acquired for the

      erection, alteration or improvement of

      a building or buildings pursuant to YES

      the Public Building Commission Act,

      approved July 5, 1955, which project

      it is estimated will cost $........., ----------------------------------------------------------------

      including the cost of the site

      acquisition and for the payment of which

      revenue bonds in the amount of $...., NO

      maturing .... and bearing interest at

      the rate of .....% per annum, may be

      issued?

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      If a majority of the electors voting on the proposition vote in favor of the proposition, the site or sites so selected, and in the case of a project for an Airport Authority, the site or sites selected, the project and any lease agreements, shall be approved. Except where approval of the site or sites has been obtained by referendum, the area or areas may be enlarged by the Board of Commissioners, from time to time, as the need therefor arises. The selection, location and designation of more than one area may, but need not, be made at one time but may be made from time to time.

2. (b) To acquire the fee simple title to or any lesser interest in the real property located within such area or areas, including easements and reversionary interests in the streets, alleys and other public places and personal property required for its purposes, by purchase, gift, legacy, or by the exercise of the power of eminent domain, and title thereto shall be taken in the corporate name of the Commission. Eminent domain proceedings shall be in all respects in the manner provided for the exercise of the right of eminent domain under the Eminent Domain Act. All land and appurtenances thereto, acquired or owned by the Commission are to be deemed acquired or owned for a public use or public purpose.

   Any municipal corporation which owns fee simple title to or any lesser interest in real property located within such an area, may convey such real property, or any part thereof or interest therein, to the Commission with a provision in such conveyance for the reverter of such real property or interest therein to the transferor municipal corporation at such time as all revenue bonds and other obligations of the Commission incident to the real property or interest therein so conveyed, have been paid in full, and such Commission is hereby authorized to accept such a conveyance.

3. (c) To demolish, repair, alter or improve any building or buildings within the area or areas and to erect a new building or buildings, improvement and other facilities within the area or areas to provide space for the conduct of the executive, legislative and judicial functions of government, its various branches, departments and agencies thereof and to provide buildings, improvements and other facilities for use by local government in the furnishing of essential governmental, health, safety and welfare services to its citizens; to furnish and equip such building or buildings, improvements and other facilities, and maintain and operate them so as to effectuate the purposes of this Act.
4. (d) To pave and improve streets within such area or areas, and to construct, repair and install sidewalks, sewers, waterpipes and other similar facilities and site improvements within such area or areas and to provide for adequate landscaping essential to the preparation of such site or sites in accordance with the purposes of this Act.
5. (e) To make provisions for offstreet parking facilities.
6. (f) To operate, maintain, manage and to make and enter into contracts for the operation, maintenance and management of such buildings and other facilities and to provide rules and regulations for the operation, maintenance and management thereof.
7. (g) To employ and discharge without regard to any Civil Services Act, engineering, architectural, construction, design-build, legal and financial experts and such other employees as may be necessary in its judgment to carry out the purposes of this Act and to fix compensation for such employees, and enter into contracts for the employment of any person, firm, or corporation, and for professional services necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of the objects and purposes of the Commission and the proper administration, management, protection and control of its property.
8. (h) To rent all or any part or parts of such building, buildings, or other facilities to any municipal corporation that organized or joined in the organization of the Public Building Commission or to any branch, department, or agency thereof, or to any branch, department, or agency of the State or Federal government, or to any other state or any agency or political subdivision of another state with which the Commission has entered into an intergovernmental agreement or contract under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, or to any municipal corporation with which the Commission has entered into an intergovernmental agreement or contract under the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, or to any other municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation, political subdivision or body politic, or agency thereof, doing business, maintaining an office, or rendering a public service in such county for any period of time, or to any not for profit corporation or any non-profit organization or association. For this Section, "not for profit corporation" means an Illinois corporation organized and existing under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 in good standing with the State and having been granted status as an exempt organization under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor or similar provision of the Internal Revenue Code. "Non-profit organization or association" means any organization or association where no part of the net earnings enures to the lawful benefit of any person.
9. (i) To rent such space in such building or buildings as from time to time may not be needed by any governmental agency for such other purposes as the Board of Commissioners may determine will best serve the comfort and convenience of the occupants of such building or buildings, and upon such terms and in such manner as the Board of Commissioners may determine.
10. (j) To execute written leases evidencing the rental agreements authorized in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this Section.
11. (k) To procure and enter into contracts for any type of insurance or indemnity against loss or damage to property from any cause, including loss of use and occupancy, against death or injury of any person, against employer's liability, against any act of any member, officer or employee of the Public Building Commission in the performance of the duties of his office or employment or any other insurable risk, as the Board of Commissioners in its discretion may deem necessary.
12. (l) To accept donations, contributions, capital grants or gifts from any individuals, associations, municipal and private corporations and the United States of America, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, for or in aid of any of the purposes of this Act and to enter into agreements in connection therewith.
13. (m) To borrow money from time to time and in evidence thereof to issue and sell revenue bonds in such amount or amounts as the Board of Commissioners may determine to provide funds for the purpose of acquiring, erecting, demolishing, improving, altering, equipping, repairing, maintaining and operating buildings and other facilities and to acquire sites necessary and convenient therefor and to pay all costs and expenses incident thereto, including, but without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, architectural, engineering, legal and financing expense, which may include an amount sufficient to meet the interest charges on such revenue bonds during such period or periods as may elapse prior to the time when the project or projects may become revenue producing and for one year in addition thereto; and to refund and refinance, from time to time, revenue bonds so issued and sold, as often as may be deemed to be advantageous by the Board of Commissioners.
14. (n) To enter into any agreement or contract with any lessee, who, pursuant to the terms of this Act, is renting or is about to rent from the Commission all or part of any building or buildings or facilities, whereby under such agreement or contract such lessee obligates itself to pay all or part of the cost of maintaining and operating the premises so leased. Such agreement may be included as a provision of any lease entered into pursuant to the terms of this Act or may be made the subject of a separate agreement or contract between the Commission and such lessee.

(from Ch. 85, par. 1044)

(Source: P.A. 98-258, eff. 8-9-13.)