Highway Commissioner

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The highway commissioner in each road district comprised of a single township is an officer of that township. The township highway commissioner or road district commissioner has all the road district roads under his or her jurisdiction except those inside incorporated cities and villages. He or she is responsible for their construction and maintenance to the extent that the electors provide him or her with the funds for such. The commissioner can only do that which the statutes say he or she can do, and he or she has no authority beyond that point. In no case has he or she the legal right to spend more money that the trustees appropriate for road purposes.

Township and road commissioners have sole jurisdiction over the roads and bridges of the district and are not subject to direction of the township board, with certain exceptions.

The highway commissioner has the authority to purchase, lease or to finance the purchase of highway construction and maintenance equipment.

A highway commissioner has authority to make agreements with the highway commissioner of any other road district or with the corporate authorities of any municipality located in the same county or in an adjoining county or with the county board or the county in which such road district is located, for the lease or exchange of idle machinery, equipment or tools belonging to the district upon such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon.