In force, Feb. [February]27, 1841.
An ACT to incorporate the town of Vienna, in Johnson county.
1Name & style of body corporate.
Powers.
Sec. [Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the inhabitants and residents in the town of Vienna, in Johnson county, are hereby made a body corporate and politic, in law and in fact, by the name and style of the "President and Board of Trustees of the town of Vienna;" and by that name shall have perpetual succession, and a common seal, which they may alter at pleasure, and in whom the government of
the corporation shall be vested, and by whom its affairs shall be managed.
Boundaries.
Sec. 2. The boundary of said corporation shall include all that country contained within the limits of the plat of the town
of Vienna, as of record in the recorder's office of the county of Johnson.
Election for five trustees.
Notice of election.
Qualification for trustee.
Qualification of voters.
Election of president.
Vacancies, how filled.
Town officers.
Bond of officers.
Oath of constable.
Sec. 3. That there shall, on the first Monday of June next, be elected, five trustees; and on every first Monday of June, thereafter, who shall
hold their offices for one year, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified; and public notice of the time and place of holding said election shall be given by
the president and trustees, by an advertisement, published in a newspaper in said
town, or posting it up in at least four of the most public places in said town. No person shall be a trustee of said town, who has not arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and who has not resided in said
town six
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months next preceding his election, and who is not, at the time thereof, a bona fide
freeholder, and, moreover, who has not paid a corporation tax. And all white free male inhabitants, over twenty-one years of age, who have resided
in said town three months, next preceding an election, shall be entitled to vote for trustees.
And the said trustees shall, at their first meeting, proceed to elect one of their body president, and shall have power to fill all vacancies in said board, which may be occasioned
by death, resignation, removal, or six months' absence from the town; and to appoint a clerk, an assessor, a treasurer, a street inspector, and a town constable—to give bond and security, in such amount as the trustees may
require; and the said town constable shall take an oath or affirm before some justice of the
peace, that he will faithfully discharge the duties of said office; and it shall be
his duty to collect all fines, and serve all processes, at the suit of the corporation, and to do such other matters and things, pertaining to the office, as may be required
of him by the ordinances and by-laws of said corporation.
May hold lands.
May improve streets.
Injury by improv’g[improving] streets, how assessed.
Persons benefited by improvement of streets.
Sec. 4. The said corporation is hereby made capable in law, to take and hold, to themselves and their successors, any lands, tenements, hereditaments,
and the rents, issues and profits thereof, which may be necessary for the erection
of any market house, or other public buildings—to promote the interest and public
good of the citizens of said town, and the same to sell, grant and dispose of, if necessary. They shall also have power to regulate, to grade, pave and improve the streets, lanes
and alleys, within the limits of said town and corporation, and to extend, open and widen the same, making the persons injured thereby adequate
compensation—to ascertain which, the board shall cause to be summoned six good and lawful men, freeholders and inhabitants
of said town, not directly interested, who, being first duly sworn, for that purpose, shall inquire
into and take into consideration, as well the benefits as the injury, which may accrue,
and estimate and assess the damages which would be sustained by reason of the opening,
extending or widening of any street, avenue, lane or alley; and shall, moreover, estimate the amount which other persons will be benefited thereby, and shall contribute towards compensating the person injured; all of which
shall be returned to the board of trustees, under their hands and seals; and the persons
who shall be benefited, and so assessed, shall pay the same, in such manner as shall be provided, and the
residue, if any, shall be paid out of the town treasury; and they shall sue and be
sued, plead and be answered in any court whatsoever.
by-laws and rul s.
Sec. 5. The trustees, aforesaid, and their successors, or a majority of them, shall have full power and authority to ordain and establish such rules and regulations,
for their government and direction, and for the transaction of the business and concerns
of the corporation, as they may deem expedient, and to ordain and establish and put into execution such
by-laws, ordinances and regulations, as shall seem necessary for the go-
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vernment of said corporation, and for the management, control, disposition and application of its corporate property;
and generally to do and execute all and singular, such acts, matters and things, which
to them may seem necessary to do, and not contrary to the laws and Constitution of
this State.
May levy and collect tax.
May license shows.
Assessment & collection of taxes.
Proviso.
Sec. 6. The said trustees shall have power to levy and collect a tax, not exceeding one-half of one per cent., on all lots and improvements and personal property, lying and being within the
incorporated limits of said town, according to valuation; to tax public shows, and houses of public entertainment, taverns, stores and groceries,
for the purpose of making and improving the streets, and keeping them in repair, and
for the purpose of erecting such buildings and other works of public utility, as the
interest and convenience of the inhabitants of said town may require, and the circumstances render proper and expedient; and said trustees may adopt such modes and means, for the assessment and collection
of taxes, as they may, from time to time, fix upon and determine; and to prescribe
the manner of selling property, when the tax levied upon it is not paid: Provided, No sale of any town lots or other real estate shall be made, until public notice
of the time and place shall be given by advertisement, in the newspapers, or at four
of the most public places in said town, at least fifteen days previous thereto: Provided, That in conducting such sales, the provisions of the act concerning public revenue, so far as the same may be applicable, shall be complied with.
Punishment for violation of by-laws & ordinances.
Sec. 7. That the trustees of said town, or a majority of them, shall have power to preserve good order and harmony in said
town; to punish open indecency, breaches of the peace, gambling, gaming houses, horse racing,
shooting, and all disorderly houses, and riotous meetings; to remove obstructions
in the streets and public ways, and all nuisances—for which purpose they may make
such by-laws and ordinances, as to them may seem expedient, and not inconsistent with any public
law of this State, and impose fines for the breach thereof—which fines shall be recoverable before
any justice of the peace, residing in said town. And all suits and judicial proceedings, under this act, shall be brought in the
name and style of the "President and Trustees of the town of Vienna."
Duty of justices of the peace.
Proviso.
Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of any justice of the peace, residing in said town, and he is hereby authorized and empowered, upon the violation of any law or ordinance
of said corporation, to issue his warrant, directed to the town constable, or any authorized county officer,
to apprehend the offender or offenders, and bring them or him, forthwith, before him,
and, after hearing the evidence, if it shall appear that the said accused has been
guilty of the violation of any such law or ordinance of the corporation, to impose such fine or imprisonment as shall be pointed out in such law or ordinance:
Provided, Such fine shall not exceed five dollars, and imprisonment not to exceed twenty-four
hours: Provided, however, That writs of
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certiorari and appeals shall be granted from judgments under this act, as in other civil cases;
and in all criminal cases, the defendant shall be entitled to an appeal to the circuit
court, by entering into bond or recognizance, as the case may require, before the
justice of the peace, within twenty days after the rendition of the judgment, with
such securities, and in such an amount as the justice shall think right and proper;
and all fines imposed for a breach of the peace, or a violation of the corporation
ordinances, shall be paid into the treasury of said corporation.
Lands or lots sold for taxes, may be redeemed.
Sec. 9. That when any town lots or real estate shall be sold for taxes, by virtue of this
act, the same may be redeemed, at any time, within two years, from the date of such sale,
by the owner of said property, or his or her agent, executor, or administrator, paying
to the treasurer of said town, for the use of the purchaser of said property, the full amount of purchase money,
with interest, at the rate of twelve per cent. per annum, together with costs accruing thereon.
Special tax to pave streets.
Sec. 10. That upon the application of the owners of two-thirds of the front lots, on any
street, it shall be lawful for the board of trustees to levy and collect a special tax on
the owners of the lots on said street, or parts of a street, according to their respective
fronts, not to exceed one per cent., for the purpose of grading and paving the said (side) walks on said streets.
Ordinances, how made public.
Sec. 11. That all ordinances of said trustees shall be fairly written out, signed by the clerk, and published in a newspaper printed in the town, or posted up at three of the most public places in said town ; and no ordinance shall be in force until published, as aforesaid.
Fees of officers.
Sec. 12. The justices of the peace and constables, who are required to render services,
under this act, shall be entitled to the same fees, and collect them in the same manner, as now is
or hereafter may be provided by law.
Meetings of board.
Quorum.
Sec. 13. That the president, or any two of the trustees, shall have power to call a meeting of the board, by giving one day's notice thereof; and a majority shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a minority shall have
power to adjourn from time to time—to compel the attendance of absent members; and
in the event that the notice of an election is not given, as required by this act,
or from any other cause, that an annual election shall not be holden at the proper
time, it shall be lawful for the late clerk of the board, or any two qualified voters,
in said town, at any time thereafter, to give notice, as aforesaid, of the time and place of holding
a special election; and the trustees elected at such special election, shall have
all the powers conferred by this act.
Electors to vote for or against incorporation.
Sec. 14. The qualified voters within the corporation, shall, at the first annual election for trustees, vote for or against becoming incorporated, under the provisions of this act. And
if two-thirds of all the votes given at said election is in favor of being incorporated,
then this act to be in force; otherwise,
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to be null and void. This incorporation may, at any regular annual election for trustees,
be dissolved, by two-thirds of the votes given being in favor of such dissolution;
then this act shall be null and void.
Approved, February 27, 1841.
1On February 17, 1841, Worthington J. Gibbs introduced SB 211 in the Senate, and the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Incorporations. On February
22, the committee reported back the bill with an amendment, in which the Senate concurred.
On February 23, the Senate passed the bill as amended. On February 27, the House of Representatives passed the bill. On February 27, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 487, 553; Illinois Senate Journal. 1840. 12th G. A., 332, 367, 381, 439, 443, 454.
Printed Document, 5 page(s), Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Twelfth General Assembly (Springfield, IL: William Walters, 1841), 340-44, GA Session 12-2,