§ 5-3 — Original Assessments - Assessment Roll

(1) In their assessment roll, the commissioners shall set down in proper columns (a) the name and address of the owner, when known, of each tract of land (including lots, railroad tracks and right-of-way and like property) within the district and affected by the proposed work or, if the name and address of the owner is unknown, then the name and address of the person who last paid the general taxes thereon, as shown by the County Collector's books; (b) a description of each tract affected, in words or figures or both; provided that, in counties in which a real estate index number system has been established in accordance with Section 9-45 of the Property Tax Code, the index number shall be used in addition to the legal description; (c) the number of acres in each tract of land (but not including lots, railroad tracks and rights-of-way and like property); (d) the amount of benefits, if any, levied against each tract; (e) the amount of annual benefits, if any, levied against each tract; (f) the amount of damages to land not taken, if any, allowed to each tract; (g) the amount of compensation for land taken, if any, allowed to each tract; and (h) the amount of fees for the future recordation of documents anticipated for each tract. (2) The commissioners shall also include in their assessment roll (a) the names and addresses of the municipal corporations or quasi municipal corporations owning municipally owned property or property held for public use within the district and affected by the proposed work; (b) a general description of all such municipally owned or controlled property; (c) the amount of benefits, if any, levied against such municipally owned or controlled property; (d) the amount of annual benefits, if any, levied against such property; (e) the amount of damages allowed to land not taken, if any, and (f) the amount of compensation allowed for land taken, if any. (3) In like manner, the commissioners shall include in their assessment roll (a) the name and address of any other district or municipal corporation exercising drainage powers and made a party to the proceedings to organize the district, (b) a general description of the lands, lots or other property in such other district or municipal corporation benefited by the proposed work, (c) the amount of the assessment for benefits levied against such other district or municipal corporation and (d) the amount of annual benefits, if any, assessed against such other district or municipal corporation. The land to be occupied by the district for its right-of-way and the land or other property to be taken or used for any drainage purposes shall not be subject to assessment for benefits. In describing lands in their assessment rolls, the commissioners shall not be required to describe the same in 40 acre tracts, but they may include in a single description all of the land owned by the same individual or the same group of individuals situated in the same section, or they may use the same descriptions as those used in the Collector's books if such descriptions are otherwise adequate and correct. The assessment roll shall be accompanied by an affidavit stating (a) that diligent inquiry and search of public records have been made by the commissioners, or by someone acting under their direction, to determine the names and addresses of the owners of land within the district and subject to assessment; (b) that a careful examination was made of the Collector's books to ascertain the names and addresses of the persons who last paid the general taxes on any lands for which the names and addresses of the owners are unknown; and (c) that such names and addresses are set forth in the assessment roll. The affidavit may be made by the commissioners or by the person who made the search under their direction.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 88-670, eff. 12-2-94.)