65 ILCS 5/11-119.2-5
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 65 - MUNICIPALITIES|65 ILCS 5/ - Illinois Municipal Code.|Article 11 - Corporate Powers and Functions

 (from Ch. 24, par. 11-119.2-5)Sec. 11-119.2-5.     A.     A municipal natural gas agency shall have all  the powers enumerated in this Section in furtherance of the purposes of  this Division.  In the exercise thereof it shall be deemed to be performing  an essential governmental function and exercising a part of the sovereign  powers of the State of Illinois, separate and distinct from member municipalities,  and shall have the privileges, immunities and rights of a public body politic  and corporate, municipal corporation and unit of local government, but shall  not have taxing power.  All powers of the municipal natural gas agency shall be  exercised by its Board of Directors unless otherwise provided by the bylaws.B.  A municipal natural gas agency may plan, finance, acquire, construct, reconstruct,  own, lease, operate, maintain, repair, improve, extend or otherwise participate  in, individually or jointly with other persons, public agencies, eligible  utilities or other entities of any type, one or more projects, proposed,  existing or under construction, within or without the State of Illinois,  acquire any interest in or any right to products and services of a project,  purchase, own, sell, dispose of or otherwise participate in securities issued  in connection with the financing of a project or any portion thereof, and  may act as agent, or designate one or more persons, public agencies, eligible  utilities or other entities of any type, whether or not participating in  a project, to act as its agent, in connection with the planning, financing,  acquisition, construction, reconstruction, ownership, lease, operation,  maintenance, repair, extension or improvement of the project.  Any acquisition  by eminent domain under this subsection is subject to the provisions of  Section 11-119.2-7.C. A municipal natural gas agency may investigate the desirability of and  necessity  for additional sources and supplies of natural gas and fuel of any  kind for such purpose, and make studies, surveys, and estimates as may be  necessary to determine the feasibility and cost thereof.D. A municipal natural gas agency may cooperate with other persons, public agencies,  eligible utilities or other entities of any type in the development of sources  and supplies of natural gas and fuel of any kind for such purposes,  and give assistance with personnel and equipment in any project.E. A municipal natural gas agency may apply for consents, authorizations or  approvals required for any project within its powers and take all actions  necessary to comply with the conditions thereof.F. A municipal natural gas agency may perform any act authorized by this Division  through, or by means of, its officers, agents, or employees or by contract  with others, including, without limitation, the employment of engineers,  architects, attorneys, appraisers, financial advisors, and such other consultants  and employees as may be required in the judgment of the municipal natural gas  agency, and fix and pay their compensation from funds available to the municipal  natural gas agency therefor.G. A municipal natural gas agency may, individually or jointly with other persons,  public agencies, eligible utilities or other entities of any type, acquire,  hold, use, and dispose of income, revenues, funds and money.H. A municipal natural gas agency may, individually or jointly with other persons,  public agencies, eligible utilities or other entities of any type,  acquire, own, hire, use, operate and dispose of personal property and any  interest therein.I. A municipal natural gas agency may, individually or jointly with other persons,  public agencies, eligible utilities or other entities of any type, acquire,  own, use, lease as lessor or lessee, operate and dispose of real  property and interests in real property, including projects existing, proposed  or under construction, and make improvements thereon.J. A municipal natural gas agency may grant the use by franchise, lease or otherwise  and make charges for the use of any property or facility owned or controlled by it.K. A municipal natural gas agency may borrow money and issue negotiable bonds,  secured or unsecured, in accordance with this Division.L. A municipal natural gas agency may invest money of the municipal natural gas agency  not required for immediate use, including proceeds from the sale of any  bonds, in such obligations, securities, and other investments as authorized  by the provisions of "An Act relating to certain investments of public funds  by public agencies", approved July 23, 1943, as amended.M. A municipal natural gas agency may exercise the power of eminent domain in  accordance with the provisions of Section 11-119.2-7.N. A municipal natural gas agency may determine the location and character of,  and all other matters in connection with, any and all projects it is authorized  to acquire, hold, establish, effectuate, operate or control.O. A municipal natural gas agency may contract with any persons, public agencies,  eligible utilities or other entities of any type for the planning, development,  construction or operation of any project or for the sale, transmission or  distribution of the products and services of any project, or for any interest  therein or any right to the products and services thereof, on such terms  and for such period of time as its Board of Directors shall determine.P. A municipal natural gas agency may enter into any contract or agreement necessary,  appropriate or incidental to the effectuation of its lawful purposes and  the exercise of the powers granted by this Division, including without limitation,  contracts or agreements for the purchase, sale, exchange, interchange, wheeling,  pooling, transmission, distribution or storage of natural gas and  fuel of any kind for any such purposes, within and without the State of  Illinois, in such amounts as it shall determine to be necessary and appropriate  to make the most effective use of its powers and to meet its responsibilities,  on such terms and for such period of time as its Board of Directors determines.  Any such contract or agreement may include  provisions for requirements purchases, restraints on resale or other dealings,  exclusive dealing, pricing, territorial division, and other conduct or arrangements  which may have an anti-competitive effect.Q. A municipal natural gas agency may procure insurance against any losses in  connection with its property, operations, or assets in such amounts and  from such insurers as it deems desirable, or may self-insure against such losses.R. A municipal natural gas agency may contract for and accept any gifts or grants  or loans of funds or property or financial or other aid in any form from  any source, and may comply, subject to the provisions of this Division,  with the terms and conditions thereof.S. A municipal natural gas agency may mortgage, pledge and grant a security interest  in any or all of its real and personal property to secure the payment of  its bonds or contracts.T. That part of a project owned by a municipal natural gas agency shall be exempt  from property taxes.  However, each municipal natural gas agency owning all or  any part of a project shall, in lieu of property taxes, pay to any governmental  unit authorized to levy property taxes the amount which would be assessed  as taxes on real property of a project if such project were otherwise subject  to valuation and assessment.  Such payments in lieu of taxes shall be due  and shall bear interest if unpaid, as in the cases of taxes on other property.  Payments in lieu of taxes made under this Division shall be treated in the  same manner as taxes for purposes of all procedural and substantive provisions  of law, except that no lien may be placed upon such property to enforce  the payment of such taxes.  The remedy for such payment shall be limited  to mandamus or other civil action requesting an order directing the agency  to pay such taxes and interest, if any.U. No municipal natural gas agency shall be authorized by this Division to sell  natural gas directly to other than a member municipality or an eligible utility.V. A municipal natural gas agency may adopt a corporate seal, and may sue and be sued.W. A municipal natural gas agency may exercise all other powers not inconsistent  with the Constitution of the State of Illinois or the United States Constitution,  which powers may be reasonably necessary or appropriate for or incidental  to effectuate its authorized purposes or to the exercise of any of the powers  enumerated in this Division.    (Source: P.A. 84-1221.)