§ 10-311

The county board of each such county may in its discretion, by ordinance, create a bridge commission for the purpose of exercising the powers conferred by this Division of this Article if such county board deems it expedient and necessary. The chairman of the county board, subject to the approval of the county board, shall appoint 4 persons, all of whom, in counties under township organization, shall be members of the county board of such county, who with such chairman, ex officio, shall constitute a bridge commission to be designated the ".... County Bridge Commission." All members appointed to such commission shall be legal voters of said county, and shall have resided in said county for at least 2 years prior to the date of their appointment to such commission. Any person holding an elective or appointive public office shall not be eligible for appointment to the commission, and any person who has held an elective or appointive public office shall not be eligible for one year after the expiration of his term of office; provided, however, such restrictions as to eligibility for appointment shall not be applicable to members of the county board of the county who shall be eligible for appointment nevertheless. One of such appointees shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of 2 years, one for a term of 3 years, and one for a term of 4 years, and annually thereafter appointments to fill the expired terms shall be made in like manner except that the term of each such appointee shall be for a term of 4 years. Vacancies shall be filled for any unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment. Such bridge commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from its membership and a secretary who need not be a member of such commission. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their service and shall give such bond as may be required from time to time by the county board of the county. The commission shall fix the compensation of the secretary subject to the approval thereof by the governing body of the county. The commission shall have power to establish by-laws, rules and regulations for its own government and shall have general supervision over the construction, operation, and management of each such bridge proposed or constructed by each county under the provisions of this Division of this Article; may employ engineering, structural and construction experts, inspectors and attorneys and such other employees as may be necessary in its opinion, fix their compensation and prescribe their duties. All salaries and compensation shall be obligations of the county, payable solely from the revenues derived from the operation of the bridge as provided under this Division of this Article. The office records, books and accounts of the bridge commission shall be maintained in the office of the county clerk of the county. Each such bridge commission may be authorized and directed by the county board to prepare all necessary plans and specifications for the construction of such bridge or bridges, select the location for the same, determine the size, type, method of construction, make all necessary estimates of the probable cost of the construction and the acquisition of land and rights necessary and incidental to the construction of the bridge and its approaches and enter into all contracts to build and construct such bridge and its approaches subject to the limitations provided in this Division of this Article. No plans and specifications or estimate of cost for the construction of any such bridge and its approaches shall be adopted by the bridge commission until it has first been submitted to the county board of the county and approved by such county board, and such bridge commission shall not enter into any contract or incur any liabilities in connection with the construction of any such bridge or its approaches unless and until such contracts or liabilities have been approved by the county board of such county. Such bridge commission shall operate, manage and control any such bridge constructed or acquired under the provisions of this Division of this Article, fix the rates of toll, or charges for the use thereof, establish rules and regulations for the use and operation of such bridge, and if and when authorized by the county board of any such county shall have power to reconstruct, extend and enlarge any such bridge or bridges.

Legislative History

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 196.)