The governing and administrative body of the District shall be a board consisting of 9 members, to be known as the Illinois International Port District Board. Members of the Board shall be residents of a county whose territory, in whole or in part, is embraced by the District and persons of recognized business ability. The members of the Board shall receive compensation for their services, set by the Board at an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 annually, except the Chairman may receive an additional $5,000.00 annually, if approved by the Board. All such compensation shall be paid directly from the Port District's operating funds. The members shall receive no other compensation whatever, whether in form of salary, per diem allowance or otherwise, for or in connection with his service as a member. The preceding sentence shall not prevent any member from receiving any non-salary benefit of the type received by employees of the District. Each member shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties. Any person who is appointed to the office of secretary or treasurer of the Board may receive compensation for services as such officer, as determined by the Board, provided such person is not a member of the Board. No member of the Board or employee of the District shall have any private financial interest, profit or benefit in any contract, work or business of the District nor in the sale or lease of any property to or from the District.
70 ILCS 1810/12