District General Election was held February 18th, 2010      
Results to be posted here soon
 

Here you will find additional information regarding the District’s objectives, Directors’ responsibilities and upcoming Director Elections.   If we do not answer all of your questions here, or if you wish to explore the Associate Director or elected Director of the Board positions further please contact us. We appreciate your interest and welcome your inquiries.   

WHAT IS A SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT?
A Soil & Water Conservation District is a locally organized and operated public body; created by State Law for the purpose of promoting the protection and conservation of the District’s soil, water and related natural resources. The districts are organized in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 70 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes and are subject to the powers and restrictions as set forth in paragraphs 405/1 et seq.

Districts are:
1. legal subdivisions of state government, yet they are units of local government as well;
2. public bodies, corporate and politic, exercising public powers, with certificates of organization issued by the Secretary of State;
3. organized and operated under the provisions of Chapter 70 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes, (70 ILCS 405/1 et seq.)4. managed by Boards of Directors elected by landowners and occupiers within the district;
5. assisted by various agencies, organizations, and individuals in carrying out their responsibilities.

PRACTICAL DEFINITION OF AN SWCD
For most purposes, a district may be described as a locally organized and locally operated unit of government functioning under Illinois law, to promote protection, maintenance, improvement, and wise use of the soil, water, and related resources within the district.

THE DISTRICT
Currently, the primary functions of the North Cook Co. SWCD are:
• Providing technical assistance for the prevention of urban soil erosion, sedimentation and water quality degradation.
• Educating for the wise use of natural resources.
• Flood prevention.
• Conservation education.
• Encouraging responsible watershed planning through technical assistance.
• Landowner assistance and informational programs.
• Repository of historical documents needed for Phase I Environmental Reports, required to assess potential environmental hazards for future development.

There are 13 Townships in the District: ~Barrington ~Hanover ~Elk Grove ~Wheeling ~Northfield ~Maine ~Palatine ~Schaumburg ~Niles ~Leyden ~Proviso ~New Trier ~Evanston

There are 60 Municipalities in the District: ~Arlington Heights ~Barrington* ~Barrington Hills* ~Bartlett* Bellwood ~Bensenville* ~Berkeley ~Berwyn* ~Broadview* ~Buffalo Grove* ~Chicago* ~Cicero* ~Deerfield* ~Des Plaines ~East Dundee* ~Elgin* Elk Grove Village* ~Elmwood Park ~Evanston ~Forest Park ~Franklin Park ~Glencoe ~Glenview ~Golf ~Hanover Park* ~Harwood Heights ~Hillside ~Hoffman Estates ~Inverness ~Kenilworth ~Lincolnwood ~Maywood ~Melrose Park ~Morton Grove ~Mt. Prospect ~Niles ~Norridge ~Northbrook ~Northfield ~Northlake ~North Riverside* ~Oak Park ~Palatine ~Park Ridge ~Prospect Heights ~River Forest ~River Grove ~Rolling Meadows ~Roselle* ~Rosemont ~Schaumburg ~Schiller Park ~Skokie ~South Barrington ~Stone Park ~Streamwood ~Westchester* ~Wheeling ~Wilmette ~Winnetka 

*Some portion located outside of the county or District. The District is bound by the Cook Co. line to the north, west and east and by Cermak Ave. to the south.
 

DISTRICT ELECTIONS
The SWCD is governed by a five member board of elected directors. Directors are elected by owners and / or occupiers of land within the district. The District holds an election every year, usually in February. Two Directors are elected on odd numbered years and three are elected on even numbered years. Newly elected Directors’ terms begin on the first Tuesday in March following the District election.
 

NORTH COOK CO. SWCD’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Being a Director on the Soil & Water Conservation District Board is an opportunity to serve a local public body that makes decisions and creates programs regarding natural resource conservation in North Cook County.

The Board meets regularly to formulate and administer programs of work that are tailored specifically to the conservation and protection of soil, water and related natural resources within the district.

All Directors must be 18 years or older and must have their residence within the District. Anyone living within these townships may also become an Associate Director as appointed by the Board.  Associates can provide additional advice and perspective as well as learn more about the District prior to running for a seat on the Board. However, they are not afforded the same legal protection as directors and cannot vote on official business under any circumstance.

The Board of Directors meets the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the District office:           
The Isaak Walton Home, 899 Jay Street,  Elgin, IL. 60120    PH 847-468-0071   FX 847-608-8302   www.northcookswcd.org

The presence of at least three Directors at a meeting constitutes a quorum.

Some common activities of the board include the following;
• Prepare an Annual and Long-range Plan of Work.
• Establish SWCD policies and procedure.
• Carry out activities promoting conservation of the soil, water & related natural resources.
• Provide opinions & valuable resource information to units of government & land developers to support well-informed development choices & to promote natural resource preservation as zoning ordinances are developed, or as zoning changes are requested (NRI program).
• Secure cooperation of other agencies, groups and individuals to further the goals and objectives of the SWCD.
• Develop and carry out strategies for the improvement of water quality.
• Carry out both youth and adult informational and educational programs.
• Work with SWCD staff in establishing priorities on the type of services needed & where that assistance should be provided.

PLEASE NOTE: This is only a partial summary of Directors’ duties. District Directors perform on a voluntary basis.
This is not a salary position.
 

POWERS AND DUTIES OF DISTRICTS AND DIRECTORS
The following is a summary of the powers of the districts and directors as provided by paragraph 405/22 (Section 22) of the Districts Act.  Having public powers infers that a local unit of government will also, on occasion, have the duty to use those powers.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PARTIAL LIST IS PROVIDED TO SHOW THE RANGE OF DUTIES AND POWERS AFFORDED
TO ILLINOIS’ 98 SWCDs.
YOUR DISTRICT MAY OR MAY NOT UTILIZE ALL OR PART OF THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONS.

• To conduct surveys, investigations, and research on erosion, floodwater and sediment damages, and the preventive and control measures needed.
• To carry out preventive and control measures within the district on public and private lands with the consent of the landowners.
• To make all natural resource information available to the appropriate county agency or municipality in the promulgation of zoning ordinances or variances.
• To issue written opinions to the appropriate county agency or municipality on proposed zoning variances, amendments, or other terms of zoning relief.
• To issue written opinions to the appropriate county agency or municipality on proposed subdivisions of vacant or agricultural lands.
• To cooperate or enter into agreements to furnish financial or other aid to any agency, owner or occupier of lands within the district in carrying on erosion control and flood prevention operations within the district.
• To acquire any property, real or personal, necessary for the purpose of the district.
.To maintain, administer, and improve any properties acquired.
• To receive income from properties owned and to expend such income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of the Districts Act.
• To sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any of its property or interests.
• To make available to land users within the district the use of agricultural or engineering machinery, material, and equipment for erosion control purposes.
• To construct, improve, operate, and maintain structures as may be necessary for the performance of any operations authorized by the Districts Act.
• To sponsor and manage any soil and water conservation project within its boundaries undertaken by the United States, or by this State, or any of its agencies.
• To cooperate and effectuate agreements with individuals or agencies of government.
• To plan, construct, operate, and maintain programs and projects relating to the conservation of renewable natural resources.
• To assist in maintaining the navigability of rivers and harbors.
• To cooperate with local interests and governmental agencies in providing domestic, industrial, municipal, and agricultural water supplies and recreational project developments and improvements.
• To sue and be sued in the name of the district.
• To have perpetual succession unless terminated.
• To make and execute contracts necessary to the exercise of its powers.
• To make, and from time to time amend and repeal, rules and regulations consistent with the Districts Act.
• To require contributions in money, services, materials, etc. as a condition to extend any benefits of the Districts Act on lands not owned or controlled by this State.
• As a condition to extending any benefits under this Act, to require landowners to enter into and perform the provisions of agreements or covenants as to the permanent use of such lands as will tend to prevent or control erosion or promote the welfare of the lands in the district.
• To charge fees to any person who makes a request for services or receives benefits rendered by the district, provided that such charges are uniform.
• To maintain a uniform schedule of fees.
• To revise from time to time the uniform schedule of fees.
• To file with the Illinois Department of Agriculture copies of ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, contracts, forms, or other documents as shall be adopted or employed by the district.
• To file with the Illinois Department of Agriculture such information concerning their activities as the Department may require.
• To designate Natural Area Guardians for the purpose of managing Natural Areas on the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory and Natural Areas of regional or local significance designated by the governing body within the district.
• To formulate regulations governing the use of lands within the district in the interest of conserving soil and water resources.
• To develop and adopt a soil erosion and sediment control program and standards that are technically feasible, economically reasonable and consistent with the State program and guidelines developed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.  (All SWCDs had developed and received approval of such a plan by the end of 1983.)