Section 70 ILCS 1870/4 - Functions, powers and dutiesThe Port District has the following functions, powers and duties:
(a) study the existing harbor facilities within the area of the Port District and recommend to appropriate governmental agencies, including the General Assembly of Illinois, such changes and modifications as may from time to time be required for continuing development therein and to meet changing business and commercial needs;(b) investigate conditions within the Port District and prepare and adopt a comprehensive plan for the development of port facilities for the Port District. In preparing and recommending changes and modifications in existing harbor facilities, or a comprehensive plan for the development of such port facilities, the Port District, if considered desirable, may set aside and allocate an area or areas, within the lands owned by the Port District, to be leased to private parties for industrial, manufacturing, commercial, or harbor purposes, where such area or areas in the opinion of the Board, are not required for primary purposes in the development of harbor and port facilities for the use of public water and land transportation, or will not be needed immediately for such purposes, and where such leasing in the opinion of the Board will aid and promote the development of terminal and port facilities;(c) issue permits for the construction of wharves, piers, dolphins, booms, weirs, breakwaters, bulkheads, jetties, bridges or other structures of any kind in any navigable waters within the Port District or for the deposit of rock, earth, sand or other material, or any matters of any kind or description in such waters and to regulate beyond the limits or jurisdiction of any municipality the anchorage, moorage and speed of vessels and to establish and enforce regulations for the operation of bridges. Any permit issued or regulation established or adopted by the Port District shall be subject to the paramount authority of the Federal Government to regulate navigation and the Department of Natural Resources of the State of Illinois under the Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act;(d) acquire, own, construct, lease and maintain port and water terminal facilities and transportation facilities thereto within the Port District, and, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of this Act, to operate or contract for the operation of such facilities, and fix and collect just, reasonable, and non-discriminatory charges or rentals for the use of such facilities. The charges or rentals so collected shall be deposited in the treasury of the Port District, and be used to defray the reasonable expenses of the Port District, and to pay the principal and interest upon any revenue bonds issued by the Port District;(e) enter into contracts dealing in any manner with the objects and purposes of this Act.P.A. 89-445, eff. 2/7/1996.