Division 5-26 - Monuments In Honor Of Soldiers And Sailors


      (55 ILCS 5/Div. 5‑26 heading)
Division 5‑26. Monuments in
Honor of Soldiers and Sailors

    (55 ILCS 5/5‑26001) (from Ch. 34, par. 5‑26001)
    Sec. 5‑26001. Submission of question of erecting memorial. Upon the petition of two hundred, or more, legal voters of a county being filed with the county clerk, praying that the proposition of erecting or completing a monument or memorial building in honor of its soldiers and sailors at the county seat be submitted to a vote of the people of such county, such proposition shall be submitted to a vote of the people at any regular election. The county board shall certify the proposition to the proper election officials, who shall submit the proposition at an election in accordance with the general election law. Such proposition shall be in substantially the following form:

    Proposition for the
erection of a monument or           YES
memorial building in honor      
of the soldiers and sailors         NO
of the county.

    If a majority of all the votes cast on such proposition is in favor thereof, the county board of such county, within one year after such election, shall appropriate sufficient funds to erect a suitable monument or a suitable memorial building, and purchase a site therefor, if necessary, at the county seat, in honor of its soldiers and sailors. If the revenues of the county under the general tax levy are insufficient to provide for the erection of such building and the purchase of a site therefor, if necessary, the county board may also at the same election cause submission to the voters the proposition of levying an additional tax and issuing bonds therefor in the manner provided by Sections 5‑2001 and 5‑2005, as amended.
    If a memorial building is erected it shall be under the supervision and control of the county board, and the county board may permit such use of the building as it deems advisable.
(Source: P.A. 86‑962.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5‑26002) (from Ch. 34, par. 5‑26002)
    Sec. 5‑26002. Subscriptions. Whenever the people of any county shall desire to erect, or contribute to the erection of a memorial building in honor of their soldiers and sailors and shall procure bona fide subscription to the extent of two‑thirds of the estimated cost thereof, it shall be lawful for any county by a two‑thirds vote of the county board or board of county commissioners, as the case may be, to contribute such sum or sums of money toward the cost of erecting such a memorial building not exceeding one‑third of the cost thereof, as shall be deemed discreet and proper: Provided, that such contribution shall be made subject to the following conditions: (1) said building shall be constructed in accordance with plans, approved by such county board; (2) when erected, shall be forever used exclusively for public or civic purposes; and (3) if, at any time after the construction thereof, it shall cease to be used for such purposes, it and the property upon which it is situate, shall revert to and become the property of said county.
(Source: P.A. 86‑962.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5‑26003) (from Ch. 34, par. 5‑26003)
    Sec. 5‑26003. Lease of county building as memorial. If any county shall own and possess any real estate suitable for a site for a memorial building, it shall be lawful for the county board or board of county commissioners, as the case may be, by two‑thirds vote, to enter into a lease for a period not exceeding ninety‑nine years, by which said real estate may be leased to the organization or individuals contemplating the erection of a memorial building through private donations or contributions: Provided, the amount contributed or donated by public subscriptions for such purpose shall be equal to at least double the value of such real estate: Provided, further, that said lease shall provide that said building shall, when erected, be used exclusively for public or civic purposes, and that upon the expiration of said lease, or the violation of any of its terms or conditions, the improvements thereon shall revert to and become the property of said county.
(Source: P.A. 86‑962.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5‑26004) (from Ch. 34, par. 5‑26004)
    Sec. 5‑26004. Use. Available space in memorial buildings constructed under the provisions of this Division, may be set aside for the use of organizations of honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the United States without charge.
    Boys' clubs, associations of commerce, civic improvement and health bodies, farm bureaus and other similar non‑partisan and non‑sectarian organizations, not organized for profit, shall be deemed within the meaning of the words "public or civic purposes," and available space in such memorial buildings may be rented or leased at a reasonable rental to any such organization.
    In the discretion of the county board, the memorial building may be constructed so as to be suitable for use as a county orphans' home, or a county hospital, and may be used for either purpose.
(Source: P.A. 86‑962.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5‑26005) (from Ch. 34, par. 5‑26005)
    Sec. 5‑26005. Maintenance. Whenever any memorial building is erected through private subscriptions, as herein provided, it shall be lawful for the county board or board of county commissioners, as the case may be, to appropriate such sums of money from year to year as it may deem reasonable and proper to cover any deficiency in the cost of the maintenance thereof.
(Source: P.A. 86‑962.)

    (55 ILCS 5/5‑26006) (from Ch. 34, par. 5‑26006)
    Sec. 5‑26006. Exempt from taxation. Memorial buildings erected in accordance with the provisions of this Division shall be deemed county property and shall be exempt from taxation.
(Source: P.A. 86‑962.)