Summary as Introduced
Amends the Illinois Highway Code. Requires a township (rather than any township in Lake County or McHenry County) to abolish a road district of that township if the roads of the road district are less than 15 centerline miles in length.
Staff Analysis
House Bill 4270 proposes an amendment to the Illinois Highway Code that would expand the mandatory abolition of small road districts statewide. Currently, the law specifically requires townships in Lake County and McHenry County to abolish any road district under their jurisdiction if the district maintains fewer than 15 centerline miles of road. The proposed legislation strikes the limiting language "in Lake County or McHenry County," effectively applying this 15-mile threshold requirement to every township across the State of Illinois.
Under the bill's provisions, once a county engineer or superintendent of highways determines that a road district falls below the 15-mile threshold, the district must be abolished upon the expiration of the current highway commissioner's term. Upon abolition, the township government would automatically assume all rights, powers, duties, assets, and liabilities of the former road district. The township board of trustees would take over taxing authority and the responsibilities previously held by the highway commissioner. Additionally, the bill permits the township board to contract with the county, a local municipality, or a private contractor to handle the actual administration and maintenance of the roads absorbed into the township's jurisdiction.