Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-129 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 29-129
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-129
Status: in_force

Nothing contained in Sections 51-29-119 through 51-29-129 shall be construed to permit the enlargement of any prescriptive rights now or hereafter existing or acquired, nor permit the diversion of water from one watershed or basin to another watershed or basin. Nor shall said sections apply to or affect, change, modify, or alter the law as now existing relative to the diversion and control of seep water, and they shall not be construed to repeal, amend, or modify any existing laws, but shall be deemed as supplemental to the law as it now exists.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-191 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-191
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-191
Status: in_force

Words and phrases used in this article shall have meanings as follows:

(a) “Act” means the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Act (this article) as originally enacted or hereafter amended.

(b) “Board of directors” means the board of directors of the district.

(c) “Bonds” means revenue bonds, interim notes (having a maturity of three (3) years or less) and other certificates of indebtedness of the district issued under this act.

(d) “District” means the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District.

(e) “Person” means and includes the State of Mississippi, any city, town, county, political subdivision or public agency of the state or of the United States of America, and any corporation, individual, partnership, association, firm, trust estate or any other entity whatsoever.

(f) “Public agency” means any city, town, public agency or political subdivision of the state authorized by law to supply water to persons within the geographical boundaries of such city, town, public agency or political subdivision.

(g) “Water supply system” means pipelines, conduits, pumping stations and all other structures, devices and appliances appurtenant thereto, including land and right-of-way thereto, for use in transporting water to public agencies, with respect to the district, or to a point of ultimate use with respect to any other public agency.

(h) “Waterworks” means, with respect to the district, all works, plants or other facilities, including open channels, necessary for the purpose of collecting, storing, treating and transporting water to public agencies and means, with respect to any other public agency, all works, plants or other facilities necessary for the purpose of collecting, storing, treating and transporting water to persons for municipal, commercial, domestic, industrial, agricultural or manufacturing purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-119 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 29-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-119
Status: in_force

Any drainage district operating under the provisions of this chapter, having as its purpose and object a comprehensive and general plan to control overflow and surplus water of rivers and their tributaries, is hereby given the power, in addition to the foregoing powers given by this chapter, to construct and maintain by-passes for conveying surplus and overflow waters by means of ditches, canals, floodways, levees, conduits, or other artificial means by shorter and more direct route from tributaries of natural streams and their watersheds to their main water course, and from one point in a natural water course to another point therein. However, said by-passes, ditches, canals, floodways, levees, or conduits shall empty the water directly into the same watercourse to which it would naturally flow.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-71 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 29-71
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-71
Status: in_force

The commissioners may at any time alter the plans of ditches and drains, but before constructing the ditches according to the changed plans, the changed plans with accompanying specifications, showing the width and depth of the ditches as changed, shall be filed with the clerk of the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, and notice of such filing shall be given by publication for two insertions in some newspaper issued and having a bona fide circulation in each of the counties in which there are lands belonging to the district. If by reason of such change of plans any property owner deems that the assessment has become inequitable, he may petition the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, which shall thereupon refer his petition to the board of commissioners of the district, who shall reassess his property, increasing or diminishing his assessment as they may find just. From such action of the commissioners the property owner shall have the same right of appeal to the board of supervisors that is herein provided for in cases of original assessment. However, in no case after the issuance of bonds, shall the assessment be lowered either by the board of commissioners or the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, so as to endanger the security of said bonds. Any reduction in benefits may be allowed as damages, and the allowances for such damage shall be secondary and subordinate to the rights of holders of bonds or evidences of indebtedness issued theretofore. No change of plans as above authorized shall be made so as to lower the standard of efficiency of the proposed system of improvement, nor so as to jeopardize the rights of any holder or holders of bonds previously issued; and this question may be raised by any landholder before the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, with rights of appeal as herein provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-61 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 8-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-61
Status: in_force

Within ninety (90) days after the close of each fiscal year, the board of commissioners shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the county a sworn statement showing the financial condition of the district, the earnings for the fiscal year just ended, a statement of the water and sewer rates being charged and a brief statement of the method used in arriving at such rates. Such statement shall also be filed with the local governmental units creating the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-23 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-23
Status: in_force

Where the land to be included in a proposed drainage district lies wholly within one county or a judicial district of a county, the petition for the organization of the district shall be filed in the chancery court of such county or judicial district. Where the lands to be included in such proposed drainage district lie in two or more districts or counties in this state, the petition shall be filed in the chancery court of the county or judicial district in which the greatest or greater number of acres of land to be included lie. Such chancery court or the chancellor thereof shall have jurisdiction of the entire drainage district, whether all of the proposed lands of the drainage district lie within the chancery court district, or a part of the lands lie outside thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-31 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 3-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-31
Status: in_force

Any person desiring to use water for a beneficial purpose shall apply to the board for a permit for such use on a form prescribed by the board for such purpose. The application shall be accompanied by a fee of Ten Dollars ($10.00). Said application shall provide such information as deemed appropriate by the board to its decision to issue such permit.

All fees received by the board as herein prescribed shall be deposited in the General Fund of the state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-109 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 13 / Section 15-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-109
Status: in_force

The Board of Water Commissioners shall file a written answer to the petition within thirty (30) days after such service. After the filing of the answer of the Board of Water Commissioners, and upon motion of the petitioners, the chancellor shall enter an order fixing the date for a hearing of the cause on the original petition, the exhibits, the answer of the Board of Water Commissioners, and any other answers filed or other pleadings. The chancery clerk shall give notice of such hearing to all persons interested by posting notices thereof at the door of the courthouse of the county or counties in which the district is situated and in at least ten (10) public places in said proposed district, and also by publishing said notice at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in each of the counties or municipalities proposed to be included in such waterway district. If there is no newspaper published in any such county or municipality, then it shall be sufficient to publish said notice in a newspaper having a general circulation in such county or municipality. Such notice shall be addressed to the property owners and qualified electors of such proposed district and all other persons interested, shall state when and in what court said petition was and is filed, shall state the counties and municipalities included in such district, and shall command all such persons to appear before the Chancery Court, or the chancellor in vacation, at the Chancery Court building of Forrest County upon the date fixed by the chancellor to show cause, if any they can, why the proposed waterway district should not be organized and established as prayed for in said petition. The date for such hearing shall not be less than twenty-one (21) days nor more than forty (40) days after the last publication of such notice. It shall be sufficient in describing the lands to be included in the waterway district to name the counties and municipalities to be included therein in the publication or notice hereinbefore mentioned.

If the court or chancellor finds that the notice or publication was not given as provided for in this article, it shall not thereby lose jurisdiction, but the court or chancellor shall order due publication or notice to be given and shall continue the hearing until such publication or notice shall be properly given; and the court or chancellor shall thereupon proceed as though publication or notice had been properly given in the first instance.

On or after July 1, 2023, the procedures of this section shall apply to a petition filed under Section 51-15-107 to modify the decree organizing the district to include a municipality as a member of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-35 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-35
Status: in_force

Any property owner may accept the assessment of damages in his favor made by the commissioners, or acquiesce in their failure to assess damages in his favor, and shall be construed to have done so unless he gives to said commissioners, within thirty days after the assessment is filed, notice in writing that he demands assessment of his damages by jury. In such event the commissioners shall institute in the proper court in the proper county an action to condemn the lands that must be taken or damaged in making such improvements, which action shall be in accordance with the proceeding for the condemnation of property for public use provided in the chapter on eminent domain. Where condemnation proceedings are had as herein provided and an appeal is taken to the circuit court, the drainage commissioners may pay the amount awarded by the jury into the hands of the clerk of the circuit court, who shall hold the same to abide the decision of said appeal, and the drainage commissioners may proceed with the work of constructing the drain as laid out by them.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-117 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-117
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-117
Status: in_force

(1) The board of directors of the district shall have the power to adopt and promulgate all reasonable regulations to secure, maintain, and preserve the sanitary condition of all water in and to flow into any reservoir owned by the district, to prevent waste of water or the unauthorized use thereof, and to regulate residence, hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and all recreational and business privileges along or around any such reservoir, any body of land, or any easement owned by the district.

(2) Such district may prescribe reasonable penalties for the breach of any regulation of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 5 / Section 8-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-1
Status: in_force

(1) Any two (2) or more local governmental units, being defined herein to mean a county or municipality, may create a joint water management district in the manner set forth in this chapter.

(2) If any local governmental unit is located within an existing water management district, then the local governmental unit shall petition the district to provide a service or function needed by the petitioning unit, provided the service or function is one which the district has the power and authority to perform. Upon receipt of the petition, the existing district shall have ninety (90) days within which to respond affirmatively to the petition, setting forth its intent to meet the need or perform the service or function and its proposal or plan for meeting the need or performing the service or function. If the existing water district does not affirmatively respond in a timely fashion, then any two (2) or more local governmental units may create a joint water management district in the manner set forth in this chapter.

(3) The joint water management district may include any geographic area within the boundaries of the interested governmental units.

(4) A joint water management district may be created although adequate water supply, flood control, drainage or other water or wastewater management activities are being undertaken by one or more of the local governmental units interested in creating a joint water management district or by another corporate agency existing and operating within the geographical area of the joint water management district. The term “corporate agency,” as used herein, means any agency or subdivision of the state or federal government, any body politic and corporate created under the laws of this state, any utility, or any public or private profit or nonprofit corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-2-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 2-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-2-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be cited as the “Mississippi Marine Litter Act of 1989.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-339 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 35-339
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-339
Status: in_force

The accomplishment of the purposes stated in this article being for the benefit of the people of this state and for the improvement of their properties and industries, the district, in carrying out the purposes of this article, will be performing an essential public function and shall not be required to pay any tax or assessment on the project and related facilities or any part thereof. The interest on the bonds issued hereunder shall at all times be free from any taxation within this state, and the state hereby covenants with the holders of any bonds to be issued hereunder that the district shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments imposed by the state or any of its political subdivisions or taxing districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-225 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-225
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-225
Status: in_force

The provisions of this act are cumulative of other statutes now or hereafter enacted relating to the issuance of bonds; to waterworks or water supply systems; and to the design, construction, acquisition or approval of facilities for such purposes, and any public agency may exercise all presently held powers in the furtherance of this act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-137 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-137
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-137
Status: in_force

The board of directors of the district is hereby authorized to provide by resolution for the issuance of refunding bonds of the district for the purpose of refunding any bonds then outstanding and issued under authority of this article, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon and any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of redemption of such bonds. The issuance of such refunding bonds, the maturity and other details thereof, and the rights, duties, and obligations of the board of trustees and of the district in respect to such bonds shall be governed by the provisions of this article, in so far as they are applicable. In no event shall such bonds mature over a period of time exceeding forty years from January 1, 1964.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-77 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 31 / Section 31-77
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-77
Status: in_force

In case any damages shall be allowed to any landowner for the construction of ditches across his said lands, actual damages shall be allowed. Such damages shall be paid in cash by giving to the party entitled thereto an order for the amount thereof on said district treasurer, who shall pay the same on presentation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-29 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 41-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-29
Status: in_force

(1) The proceeds derived from all of the bonds, other than refunding bonds, may be used only to pay the costs of acquiring, constructing, improving, enlarging and equipping the project with respect to which they were issued, as may be specified in the proceedings in which the bonds are authorized to be issued and all costs incidental thereto, including without limitation:

(a) The costs of any land forming a part of the project and all easements that may pertain to or be associated with any project;

(b) The costs of the labor, materials and supplies used in any construction, improvement and enlargement, including architect's and engineer's fees and the cost of preparing contract documents and advertising for bids along with all other reasonable and necessary project cost;

(c) The purchase price of and the cost of installing equipment for the project;

(d) Legal, fiscal, accounting and recording fees and expenses incurred in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds issued in connection with the project;

(e) Interest, if any, on bonds for a reasonable period before, during and after the time required for completion of the project;

(f) The amount necessary to fund a debt service reserve in an amount deemed appropriate by the water authority;

(g) Cost associated with the obtaining of default insurance ratings and other credit enhancements of every nature; and

(h) Other operational expenses, reserves and other accounts of every nature.

(2) If any of the proceeds derived from the issuance of bonds remains undisbursed after completion of the project and the making of all such expenditures, the balance shall be used for the redemption of bonds of the same issue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-153 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-153
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-153
Status: in_force

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall have authority to act jointly with political subdivisions of the state and agencies, commissions, and instrumentalities thereof, with other states, with municipalities, and with the federal government and other agencies thereof, in the performance of the purposes and services authorized in this article, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the directors.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-16 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-16
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-16
Status: in_force

The Bureau of Land and Water Resources through the Division of Regional Water Resources shall have the following duties and powers in assisting waterway, river basin and watershed authorities and districts:

(a) To offer such assistance as may be appropriate to the various authorities and districts, as set forth in Section 51-3-18, in the performance of any of their powers and programs;

(b) To keep the authorities and districts informed of the activities and experiences of all other such authorities and districts and to facilitate an interchange of experiences among such authorities and districts;

(c) To coordinate the programs of the various authorities and districts;

(d) To secure the cooperation and assistance of the United States and any of its agencies and of agencies of this state in the work of such authorities and districts;

(e) To disseminate information throughout the state concerning the activities and programs of the various authorities and districts and to encourage the formation of such authorities and districts in areas where their organization is desirable;

(f) To seek and receive grants of monies, and other assets, from any legitimate sources for use in carrying out the purposes of this section;

(g) To distribute any appropriated or other funds or assets in its custody or under its control, from state, federal or other governmental agencies or political subdivisions thereof, or from private grants, appropriate in carrying out the purposes of this article, including matching funds to districts;

(h) To give guidance and overall supervision to districts when such assistance is requested, or acceptable;

(i) To provide technical assistance and information to the State Permit Board in the performance of its duties under this chapter;

(j) To receive, file and review permit applications and notices of claims and any other documents regarding water uses and rights;

(k) To serve as the repository for information gathered or filed under the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-27 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-27
Status: in_force

The chancery court in which such petition shall be filed may hear the petition at any term thereof, or the chancellor of said court may fix a time to hear such petition at any time in vacation, may determine all matters pertaining thereto and all subsequent proceedings of the district when organized under this chapter, may adjourn the hearing from time to time, and may continue the case for want of sufficient notice or other good cause. If said petition shall prove defective in any manner, the petitioners, upon motion, shall be permitted to amend the same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-5 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 13 / Section 15-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-5
Status: in_force

The commission shall be financed in all of its activities from funds made available by each of the associated counties, and each such county is authorized and empowered to contribute any amount or amounts which the board of supervisors thereof shall deem advisable, acting in their sole discretion, to be paid from the general county fund of the respective counties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-47 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 8 / Section 8-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-47
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners of the district issuing bonds pursuant to this chapter shall prescribe and collect reasonable rates, fees, tolls or charges for the services, facilities and commodities of its system or systems; shall prescribe penalties for the nonpayment thereof; and shall revise such rates, fees, tolls or charges from time to time whenever necessary to insure the economic operation of such system or systems. The rates, fees, tolls or charges prescribed shall be, as nearly as possible, such as will always produce revenue at least sufficient to:

(a) Provide for all expenses of operation and maintenance of the system or systems, including reserves therefor;

(b) Pay when due all bonds and interest thereon for the payment of which such revenues are or shall have been pledged, charged or otherwise encumbered, including reserves therefor; and

(c) Provide funds for reasonable expansions, extensions and improvements of services.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-113 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-113
Status: in_force

The bonds, notes, or other objects of indebtedness issued under the provisions of Section 51-31-111 shall bear interest not exceeding 6% per annum and shall be non-taxable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-25-8 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 25-8
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-25-8
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be considered supplemental and additional to any and all other laws and confers sufficient authority in and of itself for the purposes set forth herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-15 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-15
Status: in_force

A majority of the commissioners shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority of their number in any matter within their duties and authority under this chapter shall be sufficient to bind the said board.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-29 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 29-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-29
Status: in_force

Said commissioners shall proceed to assess the land within the district and shall inscribe in a book the description of each tract of land, the benefit to accrue to each tract by reason of such improvement, and shall enter such assessments of benefits opposite the description, together with an estimate of what the landowner will probably have to pay on such assessment for the first year. The assessment shall embrace not merely the land, but all railroad and other improvements on lands which will be benefited by the drainage system. In preparing the description of the lands so assessed, the commissioners may use either (1) the descriptions of lands and subdivisions thereof as shown on the official United States Government surveys and plats of lands within the district; (2) the descriptions of lands and subdivisions thereof as shown upon any plat of lands within the district and recorded upon the land records of the county in which said lands are located; (3) any metes and bounds descriptions found in the latest filed conveyance of said lands and of record in the records of deeds of the county in which said lands are located, and in such case it shall be sufficient to describe said lands by stating the number of acres and the general location of the land within the section, together with the book and page numbers of said conveyance. They shall place opposite each tract of land the name of the supposed owner, as shown by the last county land assessment roll; but a mistake in the name shall not vitiate the assessment. If any landowner or private corporation or any other drainage district has dug ditches or made drainage work that can be profitably used as a part of the general proposed system, the value of such ditches or drainage work to the district shall be assessed by said commissioners and shall appear upon the assessment and be paid for by the district, either in cash or by reduction of assessment. The commissioners shall also assess and place upon said roll or book of assessment, opposite each tract of land, all damages that will accrue to any landowner by reason of the proposed improvement, including all injury to lands taken or damaged; and when said commissioners return no assessment of damages as to any tract of land, it shall be deemed a finding by them that no damages will be sustained. If the commissioners, at any time either before or after the organization of the district, find that other land not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be benefited by the proposed improvement or improvements already made, they shall assess the estimated benefit to such lands and shall specially report to the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, the assessments which they have made on land beyond the boundaries of the district, as already established. It shall thereupon be the duty of the clerk of the chancery court to give notice by two (2) weekly insertions in a newspaper published in the county where such lands lie describing the additional lands which have been assessed; and the owners of real property so assessed shall be allowed not less than ten (10) days after the last publication of such notice in which to file with the clerk of the chancery court their protest against being so assessed, or included within the district. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, shall, at its next succeeding session after the time for filing of such protest shall have expired, investigate the question whether the lands beyond the boundaries of the district so assessed by the commissioners will in fact be benefited by the making of the improvement, and from its finding in that regard, either the property owner or the commissioners of the district may, within twenty (20) days appeal to the supreme court. If the finding is in favor of the commissioners, the limits of the district shall be extended so as to embrace any lands that may be benefited by the making of the improvement. When their assessment is completed, the commissioners shall subscribe such assessment and deposit it with the clerk of the chancery court where it shall be kept and preserved as a public record; provided that, for the purpose of providing funds with which to clean out, restore, repair and rehabilitate the whole or any part of the drainage system of such district or for the purpose of cooperating with the United States or any agency thereof in such works, there may be imposed a uniform assessment on each acre of unsubdivided land lying within the district, and a uniform assessment by lot on subdivided land lying within the district, and the records required in this chapter shall show the amount of the assessment in lieu of the amount of benefits to accrue to each tract. Taxes levied hereunder are hereby declared to be taxes for maintenance purposes and shall not diminish in any manner the amount of assessed benefits in any such district which is otherwise available for the payment of any outstanding bonds of such district.

The assessments provided for in this section may be made even though evidences of indebtedness have been issued or validated or both prior thereto, but the lien of the holders of any such indebtedness shall not be impaired thereby.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-47 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-47
Status: in_force

It shall be the duty of the board of supervisors of each county to make an annual tax levy, at the same time when the county tax levy is made or at any succeeding regular meeting, in an amount not exceeding the installment of assessment levied for that year sufficient to meet the obligations of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-119 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-119
Status: in_force

Any drainage district operating under the provisions of this chapter, having as its purpose and object a comprehensive and general plan to control overflow and surplus water of rivers and their tributaries, is hereby given the power, in addition to the foregoing powers given by this chapter, to construct and maintain by-passes for conveying surplus and overflow waters by means of ditches, canals, floodways, levees, conduits, or other artificial means by shorter and more direct route from tributaries of natural streams and their watersheds to their main water course, and from one point in a natural water course to another point therein. However, said by-passes, ditches, canals, floodways, levees, or conduits shall empty the water directly into the same watercourse to which it would naturally flow.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-37 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-37
Status: in_force

If upon the hearing of said report and of objections made thereto, the court or chancellor shall be of opinion that said drainage district should be organized, he shall order the confirmation of said report and declare said district duly organized. If it shall appear to the court or chancellor that additional ditches or drains for main outlets not named in the report are necessary, the court or chancellor shall modify the same to conform to the equities in the premises; or if not sufficiently informed, the court or chancellor may refer the said report back to the commissioners for correction, may order the commissioners to correct and reform their report, and may make directions how they shall reform their report. The court may make all necessary orders in the premises for the continuance of the hearing of said report and the confirmation thereof.

If the report be referred back to the commissioners for amendment, the court or chancellor may fix a day when the commissioners may again present their report, in which case the hearing shall stand adjourned to that date and no further notice shall be required thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-23 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 39-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-23
Status: in_force

The board may contract with any member to provide support services. Any member may contract with or as part of their service contract with the district to provide any staff support, administrative and operational services as it deems advisable and on any terms as may be mutually agreed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-7 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-7
Status: in_force

No reimbursement on the additional tax levies herein provided shall be made under the Homestead Exemption Law of 1946, being Sections 27-33-1 through 27-33-61 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-163 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 29-163
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-163
Status: in_force

At said hearing, if said owner or owners shall have then paid over to the chancery clerk the amount set out in said petition and if all of the holders of not less than 95% in amount of the outstanding original indebtedness of the district and all of the holders of outstanding refunding bonds of said district shall have signified in writing, filed with the clerk of said court, their consent to receive the sum so paid as a credit on the said outstanding indebtedness held by them, the chancellor shall determine whether said amount is the true amount of the assessment of benefits of said district against said tract or tracts then remaining unpaid, whether or not the release of said tract or tracts as prayed for will interfere with the continued functioning of the improvements of said district, and whether or not the proposal of sale as set out in said petition is submitted in good faith and accepted as aforesaid. In event it is found that the sum tendered was the true amount of the assessments of benefits of said district against said tract or tracts remaining unpaid, that a release of said tract or tracts will not interfere with the continued functioning of the improvements made by said district, and that the proposal of sale as set out in said petition was submitted in good faith and accepted as aforesaid, the chancellor shall order an acquittance of said tract or tracts from liability for all the outstanding indebtedness of said district and release said tract or tracts from the boundaries of said district, on condition that the sale so proposed and accepted be consummated and a deed to said tract or tracts be delivered to the United States government, to any agency or instrumentality thereof, or to any corporation organized under an Act of the Congress of the United States for the purpose of engaging in reforestation activities. The effect of such order shall be to render said tract or tracts of land, on delivery of said deed, as fully free of any obligation, lien, or incumbrance arising from its inclusion in said district as if said tract or tracts had never been within said district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-225 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 8 / Section 9-225
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-225
Status: in_force

The provisions of this act are cumulative of other statutes now or hereafter enacted relating to the issuance of bonds; to waterworks or water supply systems; and to the design, construction, acquisition or approval of facilities for such purposes, and any public agency may exercise all presently held powers in the furtherance of this act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-107 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-107
Status: in_force

(1) Within twenty (20) days after the passage of this article, the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, State Board of Health, Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and the Forestry Commission of the State of Mississippi shall appoint their respective members to the proposed district board of directors as provided in Section 51-13-105 . The four (4) appointive members, upon taking the oath as provided, shall meet in the Office of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in Jackson, Mississippi, within ten (10) days and adopt by a majority vote a resolution setting forth their intentions of creating the district and shall forthwith send a certified copy of said resolution to: (1) each member of the Tombigbee Valley Authority as now constituted, (2) the Governor, (3) executive officers of the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality, Board of Health, Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, and Forestry Commission, and (4) the president of the board of supervisors and chancery clerk of each county through which any part of the Tombigbee River or any of its tributaries lie. The four (4) state agencies herein named and the Tombigbee Valley Authority may, within ten (10) days from receipt of said resolution, adopt its own resolution favorable or unfavorable to the creation of said district; and the respective boards of supervisors may at their next regular meeting likewise adopt a resolution favorable or unfavorable to creating said district. All of said resolutions adopted shall be certified by its secretary, clerk, or executive officer and shall be filed with each state agency, political subdivision, or other agency named in Section 55-13-105.

(2) Every board of supervisors of those counties desiring to become members of the district, through which the Tombigbee River or any of its tributaries lie, shall, upon receipt of the certified resolutions mentioned in this section, declare said board's intentions by adopting a resolution expressing its desire to have said district created and to levy an ad valorem tax not to exceed one-half ( 1 / 2 ) mill on all the taxable property within the Tombigbee Watershed area of said county for the use and benefit of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District. The said resolution shall be published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in the county and having a general circulation therein, and if no petition signed by twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of the county is filed with the board requesting the calling of an election on the question of the county's participation in the district and the levying of the one-half ( 1 / 2 ) mill tax levy aforesaid, the board may proceed to have the county become a member of said district and to levy the one-half ( 1 / 2 ) mill tax levy but if, within twenty-one (21) days after the date of the first publication of said resolution, a petition signed by at least twenty percent (20%) of the qualified electors of said county, requesting an election on the proposition of said county becoming a member of the proposed district and the levying of the one-half ( 1 / 2 ) mill tax as herein provided, is filed, said election shall be held and conducted as now provided by law for such elections. If such an election is held and a majority of those voting therein vote for the proposition, the board shall, by appropriate resolution, bring the county into the district and levy the one-half ( 1 / 2 ) mill tax as otherwise provided by law. If the majority of those voting in such election shall vote against the proposition, then the county shall not become a member of the district nor levy the one-half ( 1 / 2 ) mill tax; and no further election shall be so conducted until the lapse of two (2) years after the last election.

(3) Whenever an aggregate of six (6) counties have become members of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District in the manner provided in this section, the said district shall be created as an agency of the state and a body politic and corporate with all of the powers granted it by statute.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-31 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 39 / Section 39-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-31
Status: in_force

(1) Any public agency may, in accordance with a duly adopted resolution or ordinance, contract with the district for the district to acquire, construct or provide facilities and projects to be owned by the district for furnishing storm water management and related services to the public agency or to users within the boundaries of the public agency. The public agency shall be obligated to make payments which shall be sufficient to enable the district to meet its expenses, and payments into funds for operation, maintenance and renewals and replacements. The contracts may also contain other terms and conditions as the district and the public agency may determine. Any contract may be for a term covering the life of the facilities or for any other term or for an indefinite period.

(2) Contracts may provide for payments in the form of contributions to defray the cost of any purpose set forth in the contracts and as advances for any facilities subject to repayment by the district. A public agency may make those contributions or advances from its general fund, general obligation bond proceeds, or surplus fund or from any monies legally available therefor. The entering into of any contract under this section shall not constitute the incurring of a debt by a public agency within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitations on debts of the state or units of local government.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-21.2 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 4-21.2
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-21.2
Status: in_force

In accordance with Section 51-4-7 , Chunky Creek in Newton County from the confluence of Chunky Creek and Tallasher Creek, and the Chunky River in Newton, Lauderdale and Clarke Counties to the junction with the Chickasawhay River in Clarke County, are designated as eligible for nomination to the state Scenic Streams Stewardship Program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-105 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 31 / Section 31-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-105
Status: in_force

The proper chancery court of the county of the defendant district being sued shall have jurisdiction of all suits brought against such district, and between drainage districts suing unless otherwise provided. The chancery court organizing a drainage district shall have exclusive jurisdiction of all suits brought against such district, unless otherwise herein provided.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-21 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 4-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-21
Status: in_force

In accordance with Section 51-4-7 , Magee's Creek in Walthall County from the confluence of Varnell Creek to the Bogue Chitto River is designated as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-157 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-157
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-157
Status: in_force

The accomplishment of the purposes stated in this article being for the benefit of the people of this state and for the improvement of their properties and industries, the district in carrying out the purposes of this article will be performing an essential public function and shall not be required to pay any tax or assessment on the project and related facilities or any part thereof, and the interest on the bonds issued hereunder shall at all times be free from taxation within this state. The state hereby covenants with the holders of any bonds to be issued hereunder that the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments imposed by the state or any of its political subdivisions or taxing districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-13 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 8-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-13
Status: in_force

If no petition requiring an election be filed or if three-fifths ( 3 / 5 ) of those voting in said election vote in favor of the creation of such district, the governing body of such local governmental unit shall adopt a resolution creating the district as described in the initial resolution specified in Section 51-8-5 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-45 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 31-45
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-45
Status: in_force

As soon as practicable after the entry of the order organizing a drainage district, the drainage commissioners shall go upon the lands of said district, examine the same, and assess the benefits to be derived by each separate tract of land for the proposed work, putting down in dollars and cents the amount of such benefits to be derived by such tract. They shall also estimate and put down in another column the amount of damages, if any, that any of the owners of said land may, in the opinion of such commissioners, sustain by reason of the construction of such work over their land in such district; shall make an estimate of the costs of draining said district, apportioned to each tract of land; and shall make and file a schedule or assessment roll of the same, which shall be substantially in the following form:

Estimated

Name of

Description

Amount of

Amount of

Cost

Owner

of Land

Benefits

Damages

of Work

Assessment

Sub Div.

Sec. T.R.

________________

and acres

$_______________

$_______________

$_______________

$_______________

Provided that, for the purpose of providing funds with which to clean out, restore, repair and rehabilitate the whole or any part of the drainage system of such district or for the purpose of cooperating with the United States or any agency thereof in such works, there may be imposed a uniform assessment on each acre of unsubdivided land lying within the district, and a uniform assessment by lot on an acreage basis on subdivided land lying within the district, and the records required in this chapter shall show the amount of the assessment in lieu of the amount of benefits to accrue to each tract. Taxes levied hereunder are hereby declared to be taxes for maintenance purposes and shall not diminish in any manner the amount of assessed benefits in any such district which is otherwise available for the payment of any outstanding bonds of such district.

The assessments provided for in this section may be made even though evidences of indebtedness have been issued or validated or both prior thereto, but the lien of the holders of any such indebtedness shall not be impaired thereby.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-25 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-25
Status: in_force

Upon the petition being filed in the office of the clerk of said chancery court, said clerk shall cause three weeks' notice of the filing of said petition to be given, addressed “To all persons interested,” by posting notices thereof at the door of the courthouse of the county or counties in which the district is situated and in at least ten of the most public places in said proposed district, and also by publishing said notice at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in some newspaper or newspapers published in the county in which the larger part of said district lies, if there be any newspaper published in said county. Such notice shall state when and in what court said petition was and is filed, with the general description of the land included in the said proposed drainage district and the boundaries of said drainage district, and when the said petitioners will ask a hearing of said petition. If any of the landowners in said district are nonresidents of said county or counties in which said proposed district will lie, or nonresidents of this state, the petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit giving the names and post office address of said nonresidents, if known, and if unknown, stating that upon diligent inquiry their places of residence and post offices cannot be ascertained; and the clerk shall send a copy of the notice which has been published as above provided by registered mail to each of said nonresidents whose residence or post office is known, which notice shall be mailed by said clerk not later than five days before the date set for hearing of the petition. The certificate of the clerk, with registered letter receipts attached, or the affidavit of any other credible person affixed to copy of such notice shall be sufficient evidence of the posting, mailing, and publication of such notice.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-19 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 41-19
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-19
Status: in_force

Each project, all the water authority's interest therein, and all income from the project, is determined and declared by the Legislature to be public property used exclusively for a public purpose and shall be exempt from ad valorem taxation by all taxing authorities.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 8-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-1
Status: in_force

(1) Any two (2) or more local governmental units, being defined herein to mean a county or municipality, may create a joint water management district in the manner set forth in this chapter.

(2) If any local governmental unit is located within an existing water management district, then the local governmental unit shall petition the district to provide a service or function needed by the petitioning unit, provided the service or function is one which the district has the power and authority to perform. Upon receipt of the petition, the existing district shall have ninety (90) days within which to respond affirmatively to the petition, setting forth its intent to meet the need or perform the service or function and its proposal or plan for meeting the need or performing the service or function. If the existing water district does not affirmatively respond in a timely fashion, then any two (2) or more local governmental units may create a joint water management district in the manner set forth in this chapter.

(3) The joint water management district may include any geographic area within the boundaries of the interested governmental units.

(4) A joint water management district may be created although adequate water supply, flood control, drainage or other water or wastewater management activities are being undertaken by one or more of the local governmental units interested in creating a joint water management district or by another corporate agency existing and operating within the geographical area of the joint water management district. The term “corporate agency,” as used herein, means any agency or subdivision of the state or federal government, any body politic and corporate created under the laws of this state, any utility, or any public or private profit or nonprofit corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-107 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 31-107
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-107
Status: in_force

The chancellor shall have the power to appoint a master as provided by the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure to hear and determine any and all matters which, under the provisions of this chapter or any act amendatory thereof, it is the duty of the chancellor to hear and determine. The master shall report his findings to the chancellor for confirmation, such findings to be subject to exceptions in the same manner as other reports of masters are now subject to exceptions, and such masters may continue any such hearings from time to time as the chancellor may do. Said reports may be confirmed at any time and place which may have been designated in the order of reference without further notice.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-147 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-147
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-147
Status: in_force

The provisions of any other law, general, special, or local, except as provided in this article, shall not limit or restrict the powers granted by this article. The water management district herein provided for shall not be subject to regulation or control by the public service commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-149 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-149
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-149
Status: in_force

At said hearing, the court or chancellor in vacation, as the case may be, shall hear the written protests and objections against the proposed consolidation of said districts, if any be filed prior to the date set for said hearing; and unless, prior to said date of hearing, a majority of the landowners of said districts proposed to be consolidated, owning half or more of the combined land of said districts, shall have filed their written protests or objections against said proposed consolidation, shall enter a final decree, which shall have the force and effect of a judgment, consolidating said districts into a single drainage district embracing the combined territory of all of said several districts. The consolidated drainage district so formed shall have all of the power and authority of a drainage district organized under the provisions of this chapter, and shall have full, complete, and exclusive jurisdiction over such combined territory and of the complete and integrated systems of drainage of the said districts so consolidated. Any person aggrieved by said decree may appeal to the supreme court within twenty days after the date thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-151 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 8 / Section 9-151
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-151
Status: in_force

The board of directors of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is hereby authorized and empowered to negotiate and contract with the United States of America, or any agency thereof, concerning all lands, easements, and rights of way necessary for the relocation of any federal road, highway, parkway, or for the facilities appurtenant thereto.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-57 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 31 / Section 31-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-57
Status: in_force

When the commissioners shall have made their appraisement of the land taken or to be taken, they shall certify the same and file it with the clerk of the chancery court of the county in which the land lies, and if the proceedings be in another county, also with said clerk in the county where the proceedings are had. The clerk shall thereupon set down and fix a time for the hearing of objections to such appraisement, at the request of the commissioners, to be heard by the chancery court or the chancellor in vacation. The clerk shall issue a summons directed to the sheriff of the county or counties of this state in which any landowner or other person interested may reside, commanding him to summon such owner or owners or other interested person to be and appear at the time and place named. If the owner of any land sought to be taken be an infant or person of unsound mind, the summons may be executed on his guardian; and the guardian in such cases is authorized, subject to the approval of the chancellor in term time or vacation, to sell and convey such property and dedicate it thus to the public use, or he may agree upon the damages and thereby bind the ward. If there be no guardian in such case, the chancellor in vacation may, on application of any one in interest, appoint a guardian ad litem to represent such infant or person of unsound mind, whose acts and doings in the premises shall be valid and binding on the ward. The chancellor may require a bond of such guardian ad litem. If the owner of such land be a nonresident of the state or cannot be found, or if the owner be unknown, and this shall apply to any person interested, upon affidavit to that fact being made by the commissioners or by their agent or attorney, service of the summons may be had on any of his agents in charge of the land; or publication shall be made in the manner provided by law for publication for nonresident and unknown parties in chancery suits. If the land belong to a deceased person whose estate is being administered, the summons may be served on the executor or administrator, who shall, for all purposes of this chapter, be authorized to act for the owner, and he shall be responsible on his bond accordingly. Such notice, when published, need only state that the hearing will be for the purpose of confirming the report of the commissioners as to the appraisement of land taken for the use of the district and through which the ditches of the district are to run; it shall contain the names of the owners or persons interested in such land and their post-office address, if known, and if unknown that fact shall be so stated; and it shall further contain a list of the land, described by section numbers, belonging to such nonresident owners and through which the ditches of the district are to run. If any owner is not satisfied with the amount allowed by the commissioners for land taken by reason of the construction of such proposed system according to the plans of said district, he shall file written objections thereto on or before the day named in the summons or notice.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-35 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-35
Status: in_force

Any property owner may accept the assessment of damages in his favor made by the commissioners, or acquiesce in their failure to assess damages in his favor, and shall be construed to have done so unless he gives to said commissioners, within thirty days after the assessment is filed, notice in writing that he demands assessment of his damages by jury. In such event the commissioners shall institute in the proper court in the proper county an action to condemn the lands that must be taken or damaged in making such improvements, which action shall be in accordance with the proceeding for the condemnation of property for public use provided in the chapter on eminent domain. Where condemnation proceedings are had as herein provided and an appeal is taken to the circuit court, the drainage commissioners may pay the amount awarded by the jury into the hands of the clerk of the circuit court, who shall hold the same to abide the decision of said appeal, and the drainage commissioners may proceed with the work of constructing the drain as laid out by them.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-59 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 31 / Section 31-59
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-59
Status: in_force

If on the hearing by the court or chancellor in vacation no written objections are filed, a decree confirming the appraisement shall be rendered. Upon payment of said amount to the chancery clerk for the party entitled thereto, the district may enter upon and take possession of said property and appropriate it to the use of said district; and the title to the easement thereof and thereover shall thereupon vest in said district. The clerk shall receipt upon said decree for the money paid, and said decree with the receipt of the clerk thereon shall be recorded in the records of deeds of the county in which the land lies. If written objections are filed on or before the time set for the hearing, the court or chancellor in vacation shall proceed to hear the objections filed and, on demand of the party making said objections, shall empanel a jury to determine the value of the land taken and the damage due the objector.

No decree pro confesso shall be entered against an owner or person interested residing in this state unless it appear that he has been duly served with summons at least two days prior to the return-day, and no decree pro confesso shall be rendered against any nonresident or unknown owner or person interested unless proper publication has been made.

At the hearing, the report and appraisement of the value of the land sought to be taken and the damages sustained by the owner thereof shall be prima facie correct.

The court or chancellor in vacation may, at such hearing, hear all objections in entirety or in severalty, may enter a decree confirming the entire report of the commissioners, or may enter any number of decrees confirming the report as to any land taken. At such hearing, the court or chancellor in vacation may direct the board to make such alterations in the appraisement as may be deemed just and equitable, by raising or lowering any appraisement; and payment of such amount fixed by the decree shall be made to the chancery clerk as hereinbefore provided. Said clerk shall receipt for same on the decree, and such decree with receipt thereon shall be recorded.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-105 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 5 / Section 13-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-105
Status: in_force

All powers of the district shall be exercised by a board of directors, to be composed of the following:

(a) Each member of the Tombigbee Valley Authority as created by virtue of Sections 51-13-1 through 51-13-9 , whose county becomes a part of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District, and each state-at-large member of the Tombigbee Valley Authority shall become a member of the Board of Directors of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District when one or more entire counties become members of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District. Such directors shall serve on this board during their term of office on the Tombigbee Valley Authority. In addition, the board of supervisors of each county within the Tombigbee River Basin which elects to become a member of the district shall appoint one (1) board member to serve for a term of four (4) years or until his successor is named. The Governor shall appoint one (1) member from each county added to the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District which county is not now a member of the Tombigbee Valley Authority, and such member shall serve for a four-year term or until his successor is appointed.

(b) The Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the Forestry Commission, and the State Board of Health of the State of Mississippi shall each appoint one (1) director from that department to serve on the board of directors of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District, to serve at the pleasure of the entity appointing him but not to exceed four-year terms.

(c) Each director shall take and subscribe to the general oath of office required by Section 268 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi before a chancery clerk that he will faithfully discharge the duties of the office, which oath shall be filed with the said clerk and by him preserved.

(d) Each director shall receive compensation at a per diem rate as provided in Section 25-3-69 for each day or fraction thereof spent in actual discharge of his official duties and shall be reimbursed for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of his official duties in accordance with the requirements of Section 25-3-41 .

(e) The board of directors shall annually elect from its number a president and a vice-president of the district and such other officers as in the judgment of the board are necessary. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the district and the presiding officer of the board, and shall have the same right to vote as any other director. The vice-president shall perform all duties and exercise all powers conferred by this article upon the president when the president is absent or fails or declines to act, except the president's right to vote. The board shall also appoint a secretary and a treasurer who may or may not be members of the board, and it may combine those offices. The treasurer shall give bond in the sum of not less than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) as set by the board of directors, and each director shall give bond in the sum of not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) with sureties qualified to do business in this state, and the premiums on said bonds shall be an expense of the district. The condition of each such bond shall be that the treasurer or director will faithfully perform all duties of his office and account for all money or other assets which shall come into his custody as treasurer or director of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-105 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-105
Status: in_force

The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District may hereafter be organized in this state under the provisions of this article, in the manner hereinafter provided. This water supply district shall be an agency of the state and a body politic and corporate, and may be composed of one or more entire counties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-33 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 39 / Section 41-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-33
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be deemed to be full and complete authority for the creation of water authorities and the issuance of bonds as set forth in this chapter. No proceedings shall be required for the creation of water authorities or the issuance of bonds other than those provided for and required in this chapter. The board of directors of a water authority shall have all the powers necessary in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-43 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-43
Status: in_force

Any member of the board, the commission or any person authorized by either shall have the right to enter upon private or public lands for the purpose of inspecting waterworks, making surveys or conducting tests or examinations necessary for the gathering of information on water resources or uses, subject to responsibility for any damage done to property entered.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-7 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 13-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-7
Status: in_force

No reimbursement on the additional tax levies herein provided shall be made under the Homestead Exemption Law of 1946, being Sections 27-33-1 through 27-33-61 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-159 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 9-159
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-159
Status: in_force

Any municipality or county which is within the territorial limits of the district may advance funds to said district to pay the preliminary expenses, including engineers' reports, organization, or administration expenses, on such terms of repayment as the governing body of such municipality or county shall determine. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, such municipality or county is authorized and empowered to borrow money for a period not to exceed one year from the date of such borrowing, for the purpose of making such advances. The board of directors is hereby authorized to repay any such advances from the proceeds of any bonds issued under the provisions of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-30 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-30
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-30
Status: in_force

If the commissioners at any time either before or after the organization of the district find that other land not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be benefited by the proposed improvement or improvements already made, they shall assess the estimated benefit to such lands and shall specially report to the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, the assessments which they have made on land beyond the boundaries of the district, as already established. It shall thereupon be the duty of the clerk of the chancery court to give notice by two (2) weekly insertions in a newspaper published in the county where such lands lie, describing the additional lands which have been assessed. The owners of real property so assessed shall be allowed not less than ten (10) days after the last required publication of such notice in which to file with the clerk of the chancery court in writing their protest against being so assessed, or included within the district. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, shall, within ninety (90) days, investigate the question whether the lands beyond the boundaries of the district so assessed by the commissioners will in fact be benefited by the making of the improvement, and from its finding in that regard, either the property owner or the commissioners may, within twenty (20) days, appeal to the supreme court. If the finding is in favor of the commissioners, the limits of the district shall be extended so as to embrace any lands that may be benefited by the making of the improvement.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-121 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-121
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-121
Status: in_force

Whenever such districts include within their boundaries land already included in an existing drainage district, such land in the existing district shall remain liable for benefits already assessed or that may thereafter be assessed by such existing district, and shall also be liable to be assessed for benefits by the new district as now provided by law; but such land in an existing district may, for any of its improvements used by the new district, be given credit against the assessment of benefits levied by the new district to the amount of its pro rata portion of all the bonded and outstanding indebtedness, including interest to accrue upon such bonds and indebtedness of such existing district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-43 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-43
Status: in_force

All moneys that have been advanced or expended in good faith by parties interested in the organization of any district, necessary for the preliminary work in organization, such as surveys, attorneys' fees, and incidentals thereto, may be repaid by the drainage commissioners as follows: If the district is organized, to be paid as a part of the costs of said district; but if the organization of the district is denied, the court or chancellor in vacation may make such orders and decrees as may appear to be equitable and just to all parties interested towards providing for the payment of such sums, together with such sums as the commissioners have expended or contracted for in good faith after the reference of the petition to them, and to this end may assess an acreage tax against such lands in such district which were owned by the persons signing the original petition praying that the district might be organized. After the petition for the organization of a district is filed and referred to the commissioners, they are authorized and empowered to issue certificates of the district to raise funds to have all necessary surveys made and to pay all necessary expenses and costs incurred in the preliminary work prior to the organization thereof, which certificates shall bear interest at the rate of 6% from their dates, but no certificate shall be made payable for a longer period than two years from its date. These certificates shall be paid as soon as the district is organized and sufficient funds come into the hands of the commissioners to pay same. Where any district shall fail to be organized solely by reason of the fact that a sufficient number of petitioners signing the original petition withdrew therefrom so as to leave an insufficient number of petitioners or an insufficient acreage represented by the petitioners remaining, and the chancery court or chancellor shall so state in his decree, the entire costs of the proceedings shall be decreed against the lands of such petitioners so withdrawing, on an acreage pro rata basis.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-81 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 31-81
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-81
Status: in_force

At the end of the fiscal year after the organization of said drainage district and annually thereafter, the said commissioners shall make a report showing the amount of money levied for main district purposes, the amount of orders issued, the purposes for which issued, to whom payable, the amount of money on hand, and the amounts levied and expended for each and every subdistrict or lateral drain laid out and established by them. If at any time it shall appear that there is not sufficient funds to pay for any work done or contemplated, the commissioners may make a levy for the amount required to finish paying for the work already done or to perform the contemplated work; if any landowner shall feel aggrieved at any such assessments, he may have the right to appear in said court and file his objections to such additional levies for repairs and improvements, and the court shall hear and determine the same as justice and equity shall require.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-23 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 41 / Section 41-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-23
Status: in_force

Bonds shall be executed by the manual or facsimile signature of the chairman of the water authority and by manual or facsimile signature of the secretary of the water authority. In case any of the officers whose signatures appear on the bonds cease to be that officer before the delivery of the bonds, their signatures shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes. The bonds shall be sealed with the seal of the water authority.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-123 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 31-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-123
Status: in_force

At the time so appointed by the clerk, the court or chancellor in vacation shall hear the said matter and the objections, if any, of any person or firm interested. If the court or chancellor in vacation shall find that said subdrainage district will conduce to the public benefit and that the same should be organized, the court or chancellor in vacation will enter an order to that effect. Nothing in this section shall be construed so as to prohibit the formation and organization of a drainage district wholly or partly within a drainage district already organized. A district independent of the district already organized may be organized where a part or all of the lands are in the district already organized, provided that the petition of the landowners is presented as heretofore specified and asks that said court or chancellor in vacation constitute them a drainage district under the terms of Sections 51-31-119 through 51-31-127 , and that the notice set out in Section 51-31-121 has been given. Thereafter proceedings shall be had substantially in conformity with this chapter for the creation of an original drainage district hereunder. When such a subdrainage district is organized as herein provided, it shall have all the rights, privileges and powers of any other district and shall have full power to make and levy assessments, issue bonds independent of any other district, and do all other things now provided by law for the formation and organization of a drainage district under this chapter. When any such district is organized, the several parcels of land thereof that are included within the corporate limits of the original drainage district shall still be liable to the district already organized for all assessments of benefits theretofore made or to an assessment of benefits thereafter levied, if any, or received by them; and in like manner shall receive credit for any work done which is a benefit to the district already organized.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-29 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 8-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-29
Status: in_force

Districts created under this chapter shall have the powers set out in the creating resolution not inconsistent with the powers set forth in this chapter, and in addition, the power and authority to acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, better, extend, consolidate, maintain and operate facilities and to contract with any municipality, person, firm or corporation for services and for a supply and distribution of water, for collection, transportation, treatment and/or disposal of sewage and for services required incident to the operation and maintenance of such systems. Except as provided elsewhere in this chapter, as long as any such district continues to furnish any of the services which it was authorized to furnish in and by the resolution by which it was created, it shall be the sole public corporation empowered to furnish such services within such district.

Any district created pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be vested with all the powers necessary and requisite for the accomplishment of the purpose for which such district is created. No enumeration of powers herein shall be construed to impair or limit any general grant of power herein contained nor to limit any such grant to a power or powers of the same class or classes as those enumerated. Such districts are empowered to do all acts necessary, proper or convenient in the exercise of the powers granted under such sections.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-49 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 8-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-49
Status: in_force

The property and revenue of such district shall be exempt from all state, county and municipal taxation. Bonds issued pursuant to this chapter and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all state, county and municipal taxation, except inheritance, transfer and estate taxes, and it may be so stated on the face of said bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-33 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 5 / Section 7-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-33
Status: in_force

The commissioners may, at any time after the organization of the district, acquire permanent easements and rights of way for constructing, clearing, improving, and maintaining channels, canals and ditches within the district, in accordance with the provisions of Section 51-29-39 , insofar as such provisions may be applicable. It shall not be necessary to personally summon the landowners affected, but in lieu thereof notice may be given by publication in the same manner as provided by Section 51-7-11 , on plans and specifications of the district filed with the chancery clerk. The findings of the court, or chancellor in vacation, shall be final and have the force and effect of a judgment, from which appeal may be taken within twenty (20) days to the supreme court of the state, either by the property owner or by the commissioners of the district.

In lieu of the method herein provided for acquiring land and making compensation for damages, the commissioners may at any time after the organization of the district acquire permanent easements and rights-of-way for constructing and maintaining works of improvement within or without the district boundaries, such works of improvement to include floodwater retarding structures, impoundment structures and construction and improvement of channels, canals and ditches, in accordance with the provisions of Section 51-29-39 , insofar as such provisions may be applicable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 15-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-1
Status: in_force

There is hereby created the Pat Harrison Waterway Commission composed of Clarke, Covington, Forrest, George, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Lauderdale, Newton, Perry, Smith, Stone, and Wayne Counties in the State of Mississippi, to be governed by a board consisting of one member from each such county and three members from the state at large, all to be appointed by the governor to serve for a term of four years or until their successors are appointed and qualified. The governor shall designate in his appointment the chairman and vice-chairman thereof. They shall serve without pay except for their actual traveling expenses and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties, to be reimbursed as in the case of state employees under the provisions of general law. Upon appointment, said members shall meet and organize at Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and set a regular time and place for the meetings of the commission, secure offices and all necessary equipment, and obtain such engineering, professional, clerical, and other assistance as may be necessary in order to accomplish the purposes of this article. An executive director may be appointed by the board if this is deemed advisable, and salaries of all personnel may be paid out of funds provided under the terms of this article in an amount agreeable to the commission.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-3 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 15 / Section 15-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-3
Status: in_force

The Pat Harrison Waterway Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to do any and all things necessary and desirable in making a survey or surveys of the Pascagoula, Leaf, and Chickasawhay Rivers, the Tallahala Creek, and their tributaries in co-operation with the federal government and other agencies of the State of Mississippi; to promote the establishment of barge canals linking the cities of Meridian, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and other cities and communities along the Pascagoula, Leaf, and Chickasawhay Rivers, the Tallahala Creek, and their tributaries with the Gulf of Mexico. Each county represented on said commission, or two or more such counties acting in concert, pursuant to a plan to be approved by said commission, are authorized to improve all or any part of such waterways within said county or counties for navigation or flood control purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-39 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 31-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-39
Status: in_force

If, after hearing all objections, if any, to the report of the commissioners and all applications, if any, to annex other lands to the proposed district by the owners of such lands, the court or chancellor finds that a drainage district should be organized, the map of the same shall be recorded and the order may be entered according to the findings of the court or chancellor, substantially as follows:

“The State of Mississippi

County of __________

__________ Term, A.D. 20___.

In the matter of the petition to organize __________ drainage district in the county of __________ and State of Mississippi.

This day the report of the drainage commissioners of said county, filed in this cause, having been heard, and it appearing to the court or chancellor that due notice has been given “to all persons interested” for the length of time and in the manner required by law of the application to this court for the confirmation of said report, and the court or chancellor having duly examined said report and considered all objections to the same, it is ordered by the court that the report of said commissioners (or if modified by the court, say as modified by the court) be, and the same is, hereby confirmed; and the court further finds that the work proposed in said petition to be done will be beneficial for agricultural and sanitary purposes to the owners of the lands within said proposed district. And the court also finds that the persons who have signed said petition are of lawful age and owners of land in number and quantity as required by law. And it is further hereby ordered and decreed by the court that said district be, and the same is, hereby duly organized as a body politic and corporate by the name and style of __________ drainage district in the county of __________ and the State of Mississippi.”

But if the court, after hearing said report and objections, finds that the work proposed in said petition and the report with estimated costs by the drainage commissioners will not be sufficiently beneficial and justifiable for agricultural and sanitary purposes to the owners of the lands within said proposed drainage district, then an order shall be entered on the minutes of the court dismissing the petition and disallowing the organization of the proposed drainage district; and all costs and expenses shall be adjudged against the petitioners for the proposed drainage district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-49 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 8-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-49
Status: in_force

The property and revenue of such district shall be exempt from all state, county and municipal taxation. Bonds issued pursuant to this chapter and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all state, county and municipal taxation, except inheritance, transfer and estate taxes, and it may be so stated on the face of said bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-7 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 37 / Section 41-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-7
Status: in_force

There is conferred upon a water authority, the authority to take such action and to do, or cause to be done, such things as are necessary or desirable to accomplish and implement the purposes and intent of this chapter according to the import of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-25 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-25
Status: in_force

Before issuing any certificates of indebtedness hereunder, the commissioners of such district shall give notice of their intention to do so and shall cause such notice to be published in some newspaper having a general circulation in each county wherein such district is situated. Such publication shall be made once each week for two consecutive weeks prior to the date to be named therein, when the commissioners shall meet to hear objections of any interested person as to why such certificates of indebtedness should not be issued and taxes levied for the payment thereof, as herein provided. At the time and place fixed for the holding of such hearing, the commissioners of such district shall hear and act upon all such objections in a summary manner, and their disposition thereof shall be final and conclusive on all parties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-13 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-13
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-13
Status: in_force

The commissioners each shall receive per diem compensation as provided by Section 25-3-69 for each day's actual service, not exceeding four (4) days in any one (1) calendar month, to be allowed on an itemized account rendered to the board of drainage commissioners and approved by the chancery court.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-35 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 39-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-35
Status: in_force

For the purpose of attaining the objectives of this chapter, any public agency may, upon any terms as it may determine, do any of the following:

(1) Lend, contribute, or donate money to any district or perform services for the benefit of the district;

(2) Donate, sell, convey, transfer, lease or grant to any district, without the necessity of authorization at any election of qualified voters, any property of any kind, where otherwise not prohibited by law; and

(3) Do any thing, whether or not specifically authorized in this section, not otherwise prohibited by law, that is necessary or convenient to aid and cooperate with any district in attaining the objectives of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-9
Status: in_force

In every county in this state in which there is now a drainage district and in which a drainage district may hereafter be created or be proposed to be created under this chapter, the board of supervisors of such county shall select three county drainage commissioners for such county. The term of office of each commissioner shall be six years and until his successor is selected and has qualified, with said terms expiring at two-year intervals to insure the selection of one new commissioner every two years. Any vacancy in office of a county drainage commissioner in any county may be filled by the board of supervisors at any regular meeting of such board, which board is given the authority to fill all unexpired terms of any commissioner in the county.

Every resident citizen of any county, being the owner of land in said county and over 25 years of age, of good reputation, and of sound mind and judgment shall be eligible to hold the office of county drainage commissioner in the county of his residence.

If any commissioner shall refuse or neglect to discharge the duties imposed upon him by virtue of this chapter, or shall neglect or refuse to qualify as such commissioner after being selected for such office, the other two commissioners shall proceed to exercise the duties of their office and the business of said drainage district until the next meeting of said board of supervisors, when the office of the party refusing to perform or qualify shall be filled by the selection of another party in his stead.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-119 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 13-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-119
Status: in_force

The district is empowered to obtain through appropriate hearings an appropriation permit or permits from the board of water commissioners of the State of Mississippi as provided for in Sections 51-3-1 through 51-3-53 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-47 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-47
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-47
Status: in_force

Upon dissolution all powers of the district and its commissioners shall cease, except that any just claim, contract, or obligation shall not be impaired, and persons holding such claims shall, on notice of the dissolution as provided herein, file any such claim as they may have in the court; and the chancery court shall, upon the hearing for dissolution, pass upon such claims and order any assessment or levy as provided for other assessments to pay such claim in the event same shall be found justified, due, and owing by the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-33 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-33
Status: in_force

As soon as may be after such petition shall be referred to said commissioners, or within such time as the court or chancellor may direct, the commissioners shall meet and go upon said lands and examine the same, and the lands over which the work is proposed to be constructed, and determine: first, the starting point, route, and termini of the proposed work, the location and size of the main ditch to be constructed in said drainage district, which in their opinion will successfully drain the said lands, and whether the drainage of the lands in such proposed drainage district is possible or not, provided that any ditch already constructed in such proposed drainage district may be used as a “main”, or part of a main ditch, if found expedient and sufficient for the purposes of the district; second, the probable cost of same, including expenses and court costs; third, what land will be injured or damaged by the proposed work and the probable aggregate amount of damages such lands will sustain by reason of the laying out and construction of such ditch or ditches; fourth, what lands will be benefited by the construction of the proposed work, and whether the aggregate amount of benefits will equal or exceed the cost of the construction of such work. In the examination of such district and determination of the questions for said commissioners to determine, the said commissioners are authorized and empowered to employ an engineer to go with them upon the lands of said district and examine the same, make a map and profile thereof, and an estimate of the size and depth of the ditch or ditches required for main outlets for the drains of said lands, and the probable cost, and a profile thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-3 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 31-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-3
Status: in_force

The terms “benefits” and “betterments,” as used in this chapter are interchangeable and shall be construed as synonymous. The terms “ditches” and “drains” shall be construed to also include levees and closed drains, such as tiling, as well as open ditches.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-119 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-119
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-119
Status: in_force

When one third of the landowners owning a majority of the acreage or a majority of the landowners owning a third of the acreage of real property within a proposed subdrainage district, composed of lands wholly within a drainage district or partly within and partly without such drainage district, shall petition the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, and shall file a good bond to pay for the expense of the survey of the proposed subdrainage district in case the district is not formed, the said court or the chancellor in vacation shall enter an order directing the drainage commissioners of the county to cause a survey to be made and to ascertain the limits of the region which would be benefited by a proposed system of improvements, giving a general idea of its character, and the estimated costs of drainage, and making such suggestions as to the size of the drainage ditches and their location as the drainage commissioners may deem advisable. They shall file their report with the clerk of the chancery court of the county in which the greater portion of the territory proposed to be included in said subdrainage district is situate.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-43 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 29-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-43
Status: in_force

Any landowner feeling aggrieved at the decree of the chancellor shall have the right to appeal in the manner provided in this chapter. No appeal shall interfere with the right of the district to enter upon and take possession of the property sought to be taken, or hinder the district in the doing of any act necessary and proper in the construction of the proposed system and the carrying out of the purposes of its organization, provided, however, that the district shall have first paid into the court the amount of the appraisement. Drainage districts organized under the provisions of this chapter shall have the power to acquire any and all lands, lying either within or without the limits of such districts, necessary to the carrying out of the successful drainage of the district, in the manner above provided. In addition to the method above prescribed for the acquisition of lands for the purpose of the district, drainage districts shall have and are hereby given and granted the right of eminent domain, and they may proceed to acquire rights of way by proceeding under the code before the court of eminent domain.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-219 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-219
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be legal investments for trustees, other fiduciaries, savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi; and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities and other political subdivisions thereof for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-101 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 5 / Section 15-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-101
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the waterways and surface waters of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved to realize their full beneficial use, that the utilization, development, conservation, and regulation of such waters are necessary to insure an adequate flood control program, sanitary water supply at all times, to promote the balanced economic development of the state, and to aid in conservation and development of state forests, irrigation of lands needing irrigation, and pollution abatement. It is further determined and declared that the preservation, conservation, storage, and regulation of the waters of the Pat Harrison Waterway District overflow waters for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes, for recreational uses, for flood control, timber development, irrigation, and pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the state.

The creation of the Pat Harrison Waterway District is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes, and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-205 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-205
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-205
Status: in_force

(1) The district shall have the power and is hereby authorized, from time to time, to issue bonds without notice and without an election on the question of the issuance thereof in such principal amounts as the district may determine to be necessary to provide sufficient funds for achieving the purposes of this act, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to defray the cost of the acquisition, construction, improvement or extension of the waterworks or water supply system or any part thereof, whether or not such facilities are owned by the district, the payment of interest on bonds of the district issued pursuant to this act, establishment of reserves to secure such bonds and payment of the interest thereon, expenses incident to the issuance of such bonds and to the implementation of the district's waterworks, water supply system and all other expenditures of the district incident to or necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of this act. The bonds authorized by this act shall never constitute nor give rise to a pecuniary liability of the district, or a charge against its general credit or taxing powers and shall not constitute general obligations of the state.

(2) Bonds of the district issued pursuant to this act shall be payable from and secured by a pledge of all or any part of the revenues under any contract entered into pursuant to this act and from all or any part of the revenues derived from the operation of the waterworks and water supply system or any part thereof, as may be determined by the district, subject only to any agreement with the registered owners of the bonds. Such bonds may be further secured by a trust indenture between the district and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having powers of a trust company within or without the state.

(3) Bonds of the district issued pursuant to this act shall be authorized by a resolution or resolutions of the district. Such bonds shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denomination or denominations, be in such form, carry such conversion privileges, have such rank or priority, be executed in such manner and by such officers, be payable from such sources in such medium of payment at such place or places within or without the state, provided that one (1) such place shall be within the state, be subject to such terms of redemption prior to maturity, all as may be provided by resolution or resolutions of the district; however, such bonds shall not bear a greater overall interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-103, Mississippi Code of 1972 .

(4) Bonds of the district issued pursuant to this act may be sold at a price not less than ninety-seven percent (97%) of par value plus accrued interest, at public or private sale, at such times as may be determined by the district to be in the public interest, and the district may pay all expenses, premiums, fees and commissions which it may deem necessary and advantageous in connection with the issuance and sale thereof.

(5) Any pledge of earnings, revenues or other moneys made by the district shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made. The earnings, revenues or other moneys so pledged and thereafter received by the district shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act, and the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the district irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.

(6) Neither the directors of the district nor any person executing the bonds shall be personally liable on the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.

(7) Whenever any bonds shall have been signed by the officer(s) designated by the resolution of the district to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officer(s) prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the manual or facsimile signatures of such officer(s) upon such bonds shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially executing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-23 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 31 / Section 31-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-23
Status: in_force

Where the land to be included in a proposed drainage district lies wholly within one county or a judicial district of a county, the petition for the organization of the district shall be filed in the chancery court of such county or judicial district. Where the lands to be included in such proposed drainage district lie in two or more districts or counties in this state, the petition shall be filed in the chancery court of the county or judicial district in which the greatest or greater number of acres of land to be included lie. Such chancery court or the chancellor thereof shall have jurisdiction of the entire drainage district, whether all of the proposed lands of the drainage district lie within the chancery court district, or a part of the lands lie outside thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-123 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-123
Status: in_force

All construction contracts by the district, where the amount of the contract shall exceed two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00), shall be made upon at least three weeks' public notice by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the district, which notice shall state the thing to be done and invite sealed proposals, to be filed with the secretary of the district, to do the work; and in all such cases, before the notice shall be published, the plans and specification for the work shall be filed with the secretary of the district and there remain. The board of directors of the district shall award the contract to the lowest bidder, who will comply with the terms imposed by such board and enter into bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board, in such penalty as shall be fixed by such board, but in no case to be less than the contract price, conditioned for the prompt, proper, and efficient performance of the contract.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-131 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-131
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-131
Status: in_force

In each county of the State of Mississippi which is part of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District, beginning with the ad valorem tax assessment for the calendar year 1960, payable on or before February 1, 1961, and so long as any bonds issued hereunder are outstanding, the tax collector of said county shall pay into the depository selected by said water district for said purpose the amount of two mills of all ad valorem taxes due by said county to the State of Mississippi which is collected by the tax collector of said county, which may be collected by any other lawful taxing agency of said county and state and for said county, and the State of Mississippi shall continue to levy not less than two mills ad valorem taxes on each county in the district so long as any bonds issued pursuant to this article remain outstanding.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-44 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-44
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-44
Status: in_force

(1) No person may be required to disclose any trade secret, including any formula, process or methods used in any manufacturing operation or any confidential information concerning business activities.

(2) The provisions of the Mississippi Public Records Act shall govern any request to have the commission declare information confidential, subject to specific provisions of this section.

(3) No confidentiality claim or determination of confidentiality shall prevent disclosure of the information to authorized department or federal employees.

(4) Information submitted to the commission containing any trade secret, including any formula, process or methods used in any manufacturing operation or any confidential information concerning business activities, specifically identified as confidential by the applicant and which is not essential for any public review as determined by the commission, shall be kept confidential by the department if:

(a) A written confidentiality claim is made when the information is supplied; and

(b) The confidentiality claim is determined by the commission, after hearing, to be valid.

If the confidentiality claim is denied, the information will not be released until the party claiming confidentiality has withdrawn its claim or has exhausted its administrative remedies. During the pendency of the proceedings the department shall not in any way use the contested information.

(5) Any public officer or employee who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined a sum not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and dismissed from public office or employment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-7 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 8-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-7
Status: in_force

Each governmental unit proposing to form a joint water management district shall hold a public hearing in the same manner as set out in Section 19-5-155 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-143 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-143
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-143
Status: in_force

At the discretion of the board of directors of the district any bonds provided for in Section 51-9-133 may be further secured by a trust agreement between the board of directors and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having powers of a trust company within or without the state. Any such trust agreement or any resolution providing for the issuance of such bonds may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as are reasonable and proper and not in violation of law. The trust agreement may contain provision for the issuance of additional bonds for any of the purposes authorized by this article, which shall be secured by the revenues pledged thereunder for such bonds to the extent provided therein. The trust agreement may include provisions to the effect that if there is any default in the payment of principal or interest on any of said bonds, any court having jurisdiction of the action may appoint a receiver to administer the properties and facilities of the district described in the trust agreement, on behalf of the district, including authority to sell or make contracts for the sale of any services, facilities, or commodities of the district or to renew such contracts, subject to the approval of the court appointing said receiver; and with power to provide for the payment of such bonds outstanding, or the payment of operating expenses, and to apply the income and revenues to the payment of said bonds and interest thereon in accordance with the resolution of the board of directors authorizing the issuance of such bonds and said trust agreement. The fee for the services of any corporate trustee shall not exceed the normal charges for acting as paying agent plus any additional amount or amounts allowed by the court as the reasonable value of services rendered by the corporate trustee upon default in the payment of principal and interest on the bonds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-303 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 35-303
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-303
Status: in_force

(a) It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the lands and properties along the waterways and rivers of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved or fully controlled to realize their full beneficial use, that the control of such waters is necessary to insure adequate protection to the inhabitants of the State of Mississippi and their properties, and to the municipalities of the State of Mississippi, to promote the balanced economic development of the state and to aid in flood control, conservation, and development of lands and property, and of the general health and welfare of the people of the State of Mississippi. It is further determined and declared that the diversion and control of the waters of any rivers on their tributaries and their overflow waters in or near municipalities for the protection and development of domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, and manufacturing functions, for flood control, and for pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the State of Mississippi.

(b) The creation of flood and drainage control districts to control the waters of the rivers of the State of Mississippi or their tributaries and their overflow waters is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 7-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-9
Status: in_force

A petition for creation of a master water management district shall set forth the proposed name of the district, the necessity for the district, and a general description of the region intended to be embraced therein; and it shall pray for the organization of the district by the name proposed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-15 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 4-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-15
Status: in_force

(1) The department shall administer this chapter and may promulgate regulations for the specific powers granted under this chapter. In the process of administering the Scenic Streams Stewardship Program, the department shall consider, protect and ensure protection of the rights of private ownership and of the voluntary participants in the Scenic Streams Stewardship Programs.

(2) The department may enter into agreements with local, state and federal agencies, and private landowners, for the mutual management of a scenic stream. An agency which has administrative jurisdiction over lands or interests in land along a state scenic stream must assist the department to implement the policies and practices of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-93 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 31-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-93
Status: in_force

If, in the organization of any drainage district under this chapter, it shall appear that any railroad company will be benefited by the construction of the proposed work, the drainage commissioners shall have the right to assess the said railroad such amount as they may deem said railroad or railroad company benefited. Said assessment shall be made at the time of assessing the lands of said district, and said railroads shall have the right to appear and make objections as land owners in said district at the time of hearing objections to such assessments.

In determining the amount of such benefits, the court or chancellor in vacation may take into consideration the improvements that might be made by said railroad of a permanent character, and the increased revenue to be gained by the improvement of the lands in said district for agriculture and sanitation, if any can be shown by the construction of such proposed work.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-7 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 15-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-7
Status: in_force

No reimbursement on the additional tax levies herein provided shall be made under the Homestead Exemption Law of 1946, being Sections 27-33-1 through 27-33-61 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 13-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-9
Status: in_force

This article shall be considered supplemental and additional to any and all other laws and confers sufficient authority in and of itself for the purposes set forth herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-65 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 8-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-65
Status: in_force

(1) From and after July 1, 1995, no joint water management district shall be created without the approval of the Commission on Environmental Quality. The commission may establish criteria for the approval of a request to create a joint water management district, but may not finally approve a request and grant joint water management district status until a water management plan for the proposed district has been approved by the commission. Any amendments to the district's water management plan must also be approved by the commission.

(2) After the granting of joint water management district status to a district by the commission, neither the department, the permit board nor any other agency in the State of Mississippi shall issue any permit, grant or loan for any water related facility or project that is not consistent with a district's water management plan.

(3) In its consideration of the consistency of a project, grant or loan with a district's water management plan, the department, permit board or other agency shall notify the affected water management district of the request for a permit, grant or loan and give the district a reasonable time, but not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days, to respond to the request.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-219 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-219
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-219
Status: in_force

All bonds issued under the provisions of this act shall be legal investments for trustees, other fiduciaries, savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi; and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities and other political subdivisions thereof for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-27 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 31-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-27
Status: in_force

The chancery court in which such petition shall be filed may hear the petition at any term thereof, or the chancellor of said court may fix a time to hear such petition at any time in vacation, may determine all matters pertaining thereto and all subsequent proceedings of the district when organized under this chapter, may adjourn the hearing from time to time, and may continue the case for want of sufficient notice or other good cause. If said petition shall prove defective in any manner, the petitioners, upon motion, shall be permitted to amend the same.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-5 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-5
Status: in_force

When one-fourth ( 1 / 4 ) or more of the owners of real property within a proposed drainage district shall file a petition in the chancery court of the county to establish a drainage district to embrace their property, describing generally the region which it is intended shall be embraced within the district, it shall be the duty of the chancery clerk to immediately publish a notice in a newspaper having a circulation in the proposed district for two (2) successive insertions, directed to the owners of the land to be embraced in the proposed district, giving notice of the said petition and designating a date, not less than ten (10) days after the last publication of notice, at which a hearing may be had on said petition. Upon the date designated in the notice, or upon a subsequent day to which the matter may be continued, the chancery court or the chancellor in vacation shall hear all objections, if any are offered, to the organization of said district, and unless at the hearing a majority of the landowners owning half or more of the land proposed to be included in the proposed district shall object to the organization, further proceedings shall be had as hereinafter provided; but if such a majority shall protest, the court or chancellor shall not proceed with the organization of said district. If in either event it be determined by the court or chancellor to proceed with the organization of the proposed district, the court or chancellor shall enter an order appointing as temporary commissioners three (3) landowners of the territory proposed to be drained, who shall take the oath required by Section 268 of Article 14 of the Constitution of the state and give bond in the penalty of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) payable to the county, and whose term of office shall expire upon the permanent organization of the district. Said temporary commissioners shall immediately organize and select a competent engineer, who shall give bond payable to the county in a sum of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), to be fixed by said commissioners for the faithful discharge of his duties, and who shall be liable upon such bond for negligence or incompetency causing loss to the county or district.

The engineer shall proceed forthwith to make a survey and ascertain the region which will be benefited by the proposed improvement, giving a general idea of its character and the cost of drainage, and making such suggestions as to the size of the drainage ditches and the location as he may deem advisable.

All expenses incident to the survey, legal expenses, and the cost of publication shall be paid by the county as the work progresses upon a proper showing; but all expenses incurred by the county shall be paid out of the proceeds of the first assessment levied under this chapter.

Said temporary commissioners may, by and with the consent of the court or chancellor, for the purpose of prosecuting the preliminary work, paying the expenses incident to the survey, attorney's fees, legal expenses, costs of publication, and other necessary expenses, borrow money at a rate of interest not exceeding that allowed in Section 75-17-105 , and issue negotiable notes, certificates or other evidences of indebtedness therefor signed by the said three (3) temporary commissioners and payable either within or without the state to the person or persons from whom such money is borrowed, or bearer, or bearer simply, as said commissioners may elect. The said temporary commissioners may also issue to the engineer, or other persons who do the said preliminary work, negotiable evidences of debt signed by the three (3) said temporary commissioners, bearing interest at a rate not to exceed that allowed in Section 75-17-105 . None of the said evidences of indebtedness so issued shall run for more than two (2) years, they shall be non-taxable, and said commissioners may pledge all assessments on the land proposed to be drained for the payment of said evidences of indebtedness. Said evidences of indebtedness may be paid off either out of any general fund of the drainage district if organized, or out of the proceeds of the first assessments levied under this chapter; but in the event the said district is not organized after said indebtedness has been incurred, then the board of supervisors may levy an acreage or an ad valorem tax against the lands embraced in said proposed drainage district in the manner hereinafter provided.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, bonds referred to hereinabove may be issued pursuant to the supplemental powers and authorizations conferred by the provisions of the Registered Bond Act, being Sections 31-21-1 through 31-21-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-31 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 31-31
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-31
Status: in_force

At the time of the hearing of the petition for the organization of any district, any landowner or landowners desiring so to do may sign said petition and ask that his lands be attached to and made part of said district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-95 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 29-95
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-95
Status: in_force

The commissioners of the district shall have the right and power to carry the ditches, either main or lateral, across any highway; and the board of supervisors shall construct suitable bridges across such ditches.

Such ditches may also be carried under or through any railroad track or tramway, and in such event the commissioners of the drainage district shall notify the railroad company or owner of said tramway or telegraph or telephone companies, operating lines of telegraph or telephone under or through which it is proposed to carry such ditches, of the probable time at which the contractor will be ready to enter upon the right of way of any of said companies and construct the work thereon. It shall thereupon be the duty of any said companies or owners of said lines of railway, telegraph, or telephone to send a representative to view the ground with the superintendent of construction, or other person appointed by the commissioners, and arrange the exact time at which the said work can be most conveniently done. At the time agreed upon, said railroads or owners thereof shall remove all rails, ties, stringers, and such other obstructions as may be necessary, and such owners of telegraph and telephone lines shall remove all wires, poles, and other obstructions as may be necessary, to permit the excavation of a channel or channels through its right of way. The work so done shall be planned and conducted so as to interfere in the least possible manner with the business of said railroad, telegraph, and telephone companies. In case any of such persons or corporations refuse and fail to remove any of said obstructions and to allow the construction of the work through its right of way, it shall be held as delaying the construction of a public work and improvement, and shall be liable to a penalty not to exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) per day for each day of delay thereof and all damages sustained by the district or contractor, to be recovered in any court having jurisdiction. Such penalty shall inure to the drainage district, and such damages shall inure to the person, firm, or district damaged. An itemized bill of the expenses of the railroad company for opening its track shall be made and presented to the commissioners of the district at some day previous to the day set for passing through said right of way, and a like itemized bill of expense attending the removal of wires and poles of telegraph and telephone companies shall be so presented, including all damages that will be sustained by any of said companies by the construction of said work. Thereupon the board of commissioners shall allow and pay such part thereof as it sees fit and proper, from which allowance either of said companies shall have the right of appeal to the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation; but such appeal shall not operate so as to prevent the drainage commissioners from constructing the proposed work through the rights of way of any of said companies.

This section shall not, however, conflict in any way with the right of eminent domain or the laws relating thereto, but is meant to be operative under and in connection with other provisions of this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-101 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-101
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the waterways and surface waters of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved to realize their full beneficial use, that the utilization, development, conservation, and regulation of such waters are necessary to insure an adequate flood control program, sanitary water supply at all times, to promote the balanced economic development of the state, and to aid in conservation and development of state forests, irrigation of lands needing irrigation, navigation, and pollution abatement. It is further determined and declared that the preservation, conservation, storage, and regulation of the waters of the Tombigbee River, its tributaries, and its overflow waters for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes, for recreational uses, flood control, timber development, irrigation, navigation, and pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the state.

The creation of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes, and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-57 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-57
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-57
Status: in_force

If the tax first levied shall prove insufficient to complete the improvement, the commissioners shall report the amount of the deficiency to the board of supervisors, and the board of supervisors shall thereupon make another levy on the property previously assessed for a sum sufficient to complete the improvement, which shall be collected in the same manner as the first levy. When any work has been begun under the provisions of this chapter, which shall not be completed and paid for out of the first or other levy, it shall be the duty of the board of supervisors to make such levy for its completion, and from year to year until it is completed, provided that the total levy shall in no case exceed the value of the benefits assessed on said property. The performance of such duty may be enforced by mandamus at the instance of any person or board interested.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-133 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 13-133
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-133
Status: in_force

All bonds issued pursuant to this article shall be validated as now provided by law of Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-11, Mississippi Code of 1972 . The services of the state's bond attorney may be employed in the preparation of such bond resolutions, forms or proceedings as may be necessary, for which he shall be paid a reasonable fee. Such validation proceedings shall be instituted in the chancery court of the county in which the principal office of the district is located, but notice of such validation proceedings shall be published at least two times in a newspaper of general circulation and published in each of the counties comprising the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District, the first publication of which in each case shall be made at least ten days preceding the date set for the validation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-177 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-177
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-177
Status: in_force

A person arrested by a reservoir police officer shall be handled or processed in the jurisdiction in which the offense was committed, in the same manner as if the arrest had been made by a sheriff or constable. If the reservoir police officer detains any person arrested by him, he shall forthwith deliver the arrested person to the sheriff of the county in which the offense was committed, and the reservoir police officer shall have no further authority as to the custody of such arrested person.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-27 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 8-27
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-27
Status: in_force

The board of commissioners shall have the power to adopt, promulgate, modify and repeal, and to make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances from, and to enforce, rules and regulations to effectuate the purposes of the creation of the district, provided that such regulations shall conform to and not conflict with regulations promulgated by state regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the activities which the district was created to perform.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-101 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-101
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared, as a matter of legislative determination, that the waterways and surface waters of the state are among its basic resources, that the overflow and surface waters of the state have not heretofore been conserved to realize their full beneficial use, that the utilization, development, conservation, and regulation of such waters are necessary to insure an adequate flood control program, sanitary water supply at all times, to promote the balanced economic development of the state, and to aid in conservation and development of state forests, irrigation of lands needing irrigation, navigation, and pollution abatement. It is further determined and declared that the preservation, conservation, storage, and regulation of the waters of the Tombigbee River, its tributaries, and its overflow waters for domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and manufacturing purposes, for recreational uses, flood control, timber development, irrigation, navigation, and pollution abatement are, as a matter of public policy, for the general welfare of the entire people of the state.

The creation of the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District is determined to be necessary and essential to the accomplishment of the aforesaid purposes, and this article operates on a subject in which the state at large is interested. All the terms and provisions of this article are to be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes herein set forth, this being a remedial law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-35 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 29-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-35
Status: in_force

Any property owner may accept the assessment of damages in his favor made by the commissioners, or acquiesce in their failure to assess damages in his favor, and shall be construed to have done so unless he gives to said commissioners, within thirty days after the assessment is filed, notice in writing that he demands assessment of his damages by jury. In such event the commissioners shall institute in the proper court in the proper county an action to condemn the lands that must be taken or damaged in making such improvements, which action shall be in accordance with the proceeding for the condemnation of property for public use provided in the chapter on eminent domain. Where condemnation proceedings are had as herein provided and an appeal is taken to the circuit court, the drainage commissioners may pay the amount awarded by the jury into the hands of the clerk of the circuit court, who shall hold the same to abide the decision of said appeal, and the drainage commissioners may proceed with the work of constructing the drain as laid out by them.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-21.1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 4-21.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-4-21.1
Status: in_force

In accordance with Section 51-4-7 , Tangipahoa River in Pike County beginning at U.S. Highway 51 and extending to the Mississippi-Louisiana state line is designated as eligible for nomination to the State Scenic Streams Stewardship Program.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-109 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-109
Status: in_force

Any eligible county may become a member of the district, subsequent to its creation, in the manner as the original counties became members and new counties shall have the same power and authority and be entitled to equal consideration of the district's board of directors, not inconsistent with the purposes of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-29 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 37 / Section 39-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-29
Status: in_force

The governing body of a member may exercise the power of eminent domain, upon written request of the board of commissioners, for the particular purpose of the acquisition of property for the district's storm water management system. The power of eminent domain shall be exercised as provided in Chapter 27, Title 11, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-9
Status: in_force

This article shall be considered supplemental and additional to any and all other laws and confers sufficient authority in and of itself for the purposes set forth herein.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-61 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-61
Status: in_force

Upon the organization of said districts as herein provided, and as soon as said drainage commissioners have proceeded to procure the rights-of-way, either by agreement or condemnation, for ditches or canals, both main and lateral, or for the erection of levees, and the right-of-way to enter upon, alter, deepen, or improve natural drains or watercourses, they shall make an estimate of the cost, including commissioner's fees and expenses of said proposed work, or if said estimate has been made it shall be revised and approved. Said commissioners shall file a levy certifying the amount required by them for the construction of such proposed work, and may in said levy order that so much of the benefits or betterments assessed against the lands in such district as will be necessary to defray the costs of said work, to be paid in cash; or said commissioners may in said levy order that the same be paid in not exceeding forty (40) installments, with interest on each installment at a rate of interest not to exceed six percent (6%) per annum. Or, the said commissioners may order in said levy that bonds of said district shall be issued and sold for any amount not exceeding eighty percent (80%) of the assessed value of the benefits or betterments. Said bonds shall be payable in from one (1) to forty (40) years from the date issued, with interest from the date issued at an overall maximum interest rate to maturity not greater than that allowed in Section 75-17-101 , payable annually or semiannually, as the court or chancellor in vacation may direct; and it shall be lawful to attach coupons for any part of a year to the bonds maturing the first year. If bonds are thus issued and sold for an amount not exceeding eighty percent (80%) of the value of said betterments, the said commissioners may order the remaining twenty percent (20%), or any part thereof, to be paid in cash at its discretion. If the amounts levied be not sufficient to complete the work done or hereafter to be done, or if bonds are issued and sold for an amount less than eighty percent (80%) of the value of the assessed benefits and additional funds are required to complete the work or pay for work theretofore done, an additional levy may be made or an additional issue of bonds may be made, provided the additional levy, when added to the original levy, shall not exceed the amount of betterments assessed, or that the additional bond issue shall not be for an amount which, added to the original bond issue, shall exceed eighty percent (80%) of the assessed value of the betterment. Such additional levy shall be made payable in cash or in not exceeding fifteen (15) installments, each installment bearing interest at a rate not exceeding six percent (6%) per annum.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, bonds referred to hereinabove may be issued pursuant to the supplemental powers and authorizations conferred by the provisions of the registered bond act, being Sections 31-21-1 through 31-21-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-103 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-103
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-103
Status: in_force

Any district which has heretofore been organized, including swamp land districts, or which may hereafter be organized under other statutes, may become a district under the terms of this chapter as follows:

If a third of the landowners owning a majority of the acreage or a majority of the landowners owning a third of the acreage of real property within any such district shall petition the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, to constitute them a drainage district under the terms hereof, the clerk of the chancery court shall give notice of the application by two weeks' publication in some newspaper published and having a bona fide circulation in the county or counties in which the lands of said district lie, stating the time when said petition will be heard and the object of said petition. All owners of real property within the district shall have the right to appear and contest the said petition, or support the same. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, shall hear the evidence and shall either grant the petition or deny the same, as he may deem it most advantageous to the property owners of the district and to the public benefit. If he grants the petition, the said district shall have all the rights and powers and be subject to all the obligations and provisions provided by the terms of this chapter. If the majority of the landowners or the majority of the owners of the acreage therein petition for the adoption of this chapter, the court or chancellor must make an order declaring that such district shall henceforth be governed by the terms of this chapter, and shall appoint commissioners according to its terms, who shall carry into effect without delay the proposed drainage improvements.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-113 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 13-113
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-113
Status: in_force

All construction contracts by the district, where the amount of the contract shall exceed two thousand, five hundred dollars ($2,500.00), shall be made upon at least three weeks' public notice by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the district, which notice shall state the thing to be done and invite sealed proposals, to be filed with the secretary of the district, to do the work; and in all such cases, before the notice shall be published, the plans and specifications for the work shall be filed with the secretary of the district and there remain. The board of directors of the district shall award the contract to the lowest and best bidder, who will comply with the terms imposed by such board and enter into bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board, in such penalty as shall be fixed by such board but in no case to be less than the contract price, conditioned for the prompt, proper, and efficient performance of the contract.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 29-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-9
Status: in_force

As soon as the engineer has completed his survey of the proposed drainage district, he shall make a report thereof to the said temporary commissioners, who shall file the same with the clerk of the chancery court. Upon the filing of the report of said engineer, the chancery court, or the chancellor in vacation, shall enter an order directing the clerk of the chancery court to give notice by publication for two weeks by two insertions in some newspaper published and having a general circulation in the county or counties in which the lands of the proposed district lie, calling upon all persons owning property within said district to appear before the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, on the date and at the time and place fixed by said order, which date shall not be earlier than twenty days and not later than forty days after the first publication, to show cause in favor of or against the establishment of the district.

At the time named in said notice, the court or chancellor in vacation shall hear all property owners within the proposed drainage district who wish to appear and advocate or resist the establishment of the said district. Any petition of proponents or objectors, advocating or resisting the establishment of said district, shall be filed with the clerk of said court prior to the time designated for said hearing. If the court or chancellor in vacation deems it to the best interest of the owners of the real property within the said district that same shall become a drainage district under the terms of this chapter, he shall make an order establishing same as a drainage district, subject to all the terms and provisions of this chapter. Upon the organization of said drainage district, it shall, in its corporate name by its commissioners, henceforth have power to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, and to do and perform in the name of such district all such acts and things for the accomplishment of the purpose for which it was organized.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-51 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 31-51
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-51
Status: in_force

Any party in interest may appeal to the supreme court of the state within ten days after the assessments have been confirmed or passed upon as provided in Section 51-31-49 . The record of the proceedings or the bill of exceptions in every case shall be required to be filed within thirty days after the hearing, and the appeal bond shall be filed and approved within ten days after such approval of the assessment. Each party appealing shall execute a separate appeal bond in a sum of not less than $100.00, and a greater penalty shall be required, where in the judgment of the chancellor or court, the costs in the case are likely to exceed the sum of $100.00. After ten days from the approval of the assessments, the decree shall be final as to all persons in interest who have not executed appeal bonds as herein provided or as the court may fix as to the amounts thereof. No appeals shall be allowed in the proceeding until after the assessments are made final by order of the court or chancellor, whether the appeal relates to the assessment or to other features of the proceeding; and no appeal or appeals shall stop the proceedings with reference to the organization and doing the work of the district, but the work and proceedings shall proceed the same as if no appeal or appeals had been had. In case of a reversal in any feature of the proceedings, the errors shall be corrected according to the mandate of the court, so that no injustice shall result from any error of the court first making the error.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-105 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 26 / Section 29-105
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-105
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be liberally construed to promote the ditching, drainage, and reclamation of wet, swampy, and overflowed lands. The collection of assessments hereunder shall not be defeated by reason of any omission, imperfection, or defect in the organization of any district or in the proceedings occurring prior to the judgment of the court confirming assessment of benefits and damages; but said judgment shall be conclusive that all prior proceedings were regular and according to law. In case any assessment shall be held to be void for want of notice, the said commissioners may, upon motion, be permitted to give such owner due notice and ask for a time to be set by the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, for hearing any and all objections that said landowner may have to such proceedings and the assessment. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, at such time may make such orders in reference thereto as justice may require, and may assess such landowner his just proportion of the benefits received by him by such proposed work or the damages suffered by him by such proposed work; and thereupon such assessment as to such land shall be binding and conclusive.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-29 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 39 / Section 41-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-29
Status: in_force

(1) The proceeds derived from all of the bonds, other than refunding bonds, may be used only to pay the costs of acquiring, constructing, improving, enlarging and equipping the project with respect to which they were issued, as may be specified in the proceedings in which the bonds are authorized to be issued and all costs incidental thereto, including without limitation:

(a) The costs of any land forming a part of the project and all easements that may pertain to or be associated with any project;

(b) The costs of the labor, materials and supplies used in any construction, improvement and enlargement, including architect's and engineer's fees and the cost of preparing contract documents and advertising for bids along with all other reasonable and necessary project cost;

(c) The purchase price of and the cost of installing equipment for the project;

(d) Legal, fiscal, accounting and recording fees and expenses incurred in connection with the authorization, sale and issuance of the bonds issued in connection with the project;

(e) Interest, if any, on bonds for a reasonable period before, during and after the time required for completion of the project;

(f) The amount necessary to fund a debt service reserve in an amount deemed appropriate by the water authority;

(g) Cost associated with the obtaining of default insurance ratings and other credit enhancements of every nature; and

(h) Other operational expenses, reserves and other accounts of every nature.

(2) If any of the proceeds derived from the issuance of bonds remains undisbursed after completion of the project and the making of all such expenditures, the balance shall be used for the redemption of bonds of the same issue.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-5 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 37 / Section 41-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-5
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with its intent. All acts and activities of the water authority performed under the authority of this chapter are legislatively determined and declared to be essential governmental functions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-30 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 7-30
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-30
Status: in_force

If the commissioners at any time either before or after the organization of the district find that other land not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be benefited by the proposed improvement or improvements already made, they shall assess the estimated benefit to such lands and shall specially report to the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, the assessments which they have made on land beyond the boundaries of the district, as already established. It shall thereupon be the duty of the clerk of the chancery court to give notice by two (2) weekly insertions in a newspaper published in the county where such lands lie, describing the additional lands which have been assessed. The owners of real property so assessed shall be allowed not less than ten (10) days after the last required publication of such notice in which to file with the clerk of the chancery court in writing their protest against being so assessed, or included within the district. The chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, shall, within ninety (90) days, investigate the question whether the lands beyond the boundaries of the district so assessed by the commissioners will in fact be benefited by the making of the improvement, and from its finding in that regard, either the property owner or the commissioners may, within twenty (20) days, appeal to the supreme court. If the finding is in favor of the commissioners, the limits of the district shall be extended so as to embrace any lands that may be benefited by the making of the improvement.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-95 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-95
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-95
Status: in_force

The said chancery court, or the chancellor thereof in vacation, shall take jurisdiction of said cause and shall hear the same on the return day thereof in the same manner as other causes in chancery. If upon the hearing of said cause it appear that it is to the best interests of the landowners of said drainage district that said district be dissolved, the said court or chancellor shall thereupon enter an order dissolving the said drainage district, and requiring and decreeing that no further expenses or indebtedness be incurred or contracted by the commissioners of said drainage district. Said commissioners of said drainage district shall immediately and within ten days thereafter deposit with the clerk of the said court in which said proceedings are pending all papers, records, and documents of the said drainage district.

If it shall appear that it is not to the best interests of the landowners of the said district that the same be dissolved, the chancellor or chancery court shall so decree.

If it appear to the chancery court or chancellor that it is to the best interests of the said drainage district that same be dissolved and the decree is entered accordingly, the costs of the proceeding, including solicitors fees as might be allowed by the court, shall be assessed and taxed by the court to be collected on an acreage basis on the lands within said drainage district; and thereafter the said district shall be dissolved and shall have no further powers or authorities under the law whatsoever. In the event that the said district shall not be dissolved, such costs, attorneys fees, and expenses as may be involved shall be assessed against the petitioners; and the drainage district shall be absolved from any liability on account thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-61 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-61
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-61
Status: in_force

In any drainage district of the State of Mississippi which has an outstanding bonded indebtedness which has been refunded through the Reconstruction Finance Corporation of the United States, and in which all of said refunded indebtedness is owned by the Reconstruction Finance Corporation of the United States, any landowner may secure the release of his lands, or any part thereof, from the lien of the assessment of benefits thereon for drainage purposes by paying to the drainage commissioners, to be by them paid to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation, such an amount as may be agreed upon by the said drainage commissioners and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-49 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 31 / Section 31-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-49
Status: in_force

The commissioners and landowners shall appear at the time and place set for hearing objections to said assessment roll, and the court or chancellor in vacation shall hear all objections that may be made, by the commissioners, landowners, or other persons interested, to the amount of benefit assessed or damage allowed to any tract or tracts of land on said assessment roll or to the assessments as a whole. After hearing all evidence offered, the court or chancellor in vacation shall direct the commissioners to make such alterations as shall be deemed just and equitable, by raising or lowering all or any assessment as the court may deem proper for the accomplishment of the work; and any changes so made by the court or chancellor shall be final unless appeal be taken.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-189 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 8 / Section 9-189
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-189
Status: in_force

This act is for the purpose of authorizing the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District to construct, maintain and operate a water treatment plant and regional water distribution system to ensure an adequate and sanitary water supply for the Jackson metropolitan area. This act may be cited as the “Metropolitan Area Water Supply Act”.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 29-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-9
Status: in_force

As soon as the engineer has completed his survey of the proposed drainage district, he shall make a report thereof to the said temporary commissioners, who shall file the same with the clerk of the chancery court. Upon the filing of the report of said engineer, the chancery court, or the chancellor in vacation, shall enter an order directing the clerk of the chancery court to give notice by publication for two weeks by two insertions in some newspaper published and having a general circulation in the county or counties in which the lands of the proposed district lie, calling upon all persons owning property within said district to appear before the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, on the date and at the time and place fixed by said order, which date shall not be earlier than twenty days and not later than forty days after the first publication, to show cause in favor of or against the establishment of the district.

At the time named in said notice, the court or chancellor in vacation shall hear all property owners within the proposed drainage district who wish to appear and advocate or resist the establishment of the said district. Any petition of proponents or objectors, advocating or resisting the establishment of said district, shall be filed with the clerk of said court prior to the time designated for said hearing. If the court or chancellor in vacation deems it to the best interest of the owners of the real property within the said district that same shall become a drainage district under the terms of this chapter, he shall make an order establishing same as a drainage district, subject to all the terms and provisions of this chapter. Upon the organization of said drainage district, it shall, in its corporate name by its commissioners, henceforth have power to contract and be contracted with, to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded, and to do and perform in the name of such district all such acts and things for the accomplishment of the purpose for which it was organized.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 31-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-9
Status: in_force

In every county in this state in which there is now a drainage district and in which a drainage district may hereafter be created or be proposed to be created under this chapter, the board of supervisors of such county shall select three county drainage commissioners for such county. The term of office of each commissioner shall be six years and until his successor is selected and has qualified, with said terms expiring at two-year intervals to insure the selection of one new commissioner every two years. Any vacancy in office of a county drainage commissioner in any county may be filled by the board of supervisors at any regular meeting of such board, which board is given the authority to fill all unexpired terms of any commissioner in the county.

Every resident citizen of any county, being the owner of land in said county and over 25 years of age, of good reputation, and of sound mind and judgment shall be eligible to hold the office of county drainage commissioner in the county of his residence.

If any commissioner shall refuse or neglect to discharge the duties imposed upon him by virtue of this chapter, or shall neglect or refuse to qualify as such commissioner after being selected for such office, the other two commissioners shall proceed to exercise the duties of their office and the business of said drainage district until the next meeting of said board of supervisors, when the office of the party refusing to perform or qualify shall be filled by the selection of another party in his stead.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-7 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 8 / Section 13-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-7
Status: in_force

No reimbursement on the additional tax levies herein provided shall be made under the Homestead Exemption Law of 1946, being Sections 27-33-1 through 27-33-61 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-93 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 29-93
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-93
Status: in_force

No error in the names or residences of the owners of railroads, lands, or improvements, or in the description thereof, shall invalidate said assessment or levy of taxes or benefits, if sufficient description is given to ascertain where the lands, railroads, or improvements are situated.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-37-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 37 / Section 37-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-37-1
Status: in_force

The Legislature has previously stated its desire to improve the quality of water, prevent soil erosion and alleviate flood damage in Mississippi, and great strides have been made through the use of water impoundment structures constructed through federal watershed construction funding programs. Flood control structures have provided secondary benefits including improvement of water quality and increased recreational opportunities. Flaws have become apparent in the system of maintenance established to protect these flood control structures to the point that many of the structures are in dire need of repair and pose a serious threat to property as well as loss of secondary benefits.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-171 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 9-171
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-171
Status: in_force

This article shall be cited as “The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police Officer Law of 1978.”
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-49 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 31-49
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-49
Status: in_force

The commissioners and landowners shall appear at the time and place set for hearing objections to said assessment roll, and the court or chancellor in vacation shall hear all objections that may be made, by the commissioners, landowners, or other persons interested, to the amount of benefit assessed or damage allowed to any tract or tracts of land on said assessment roll or to the assessments as a whole. After hearing all evidence offered, the court or chancellor in vacation shall direct the commissioners to make such alterations as shall be deemed just and equitable, by raising or lowering all or any assessment as the court may deem proper for the accomplishment of the work; and any changes so made by the court or chancellor shall be final unless appeal be taken.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-149 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 9 / Section 13-149
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-149
Status: in_force

The accomplishment of the purposes stated in this article being for the benefit of the people of this state and for the improvement of their properties and industries, the district in carrying out the purposes of this article will be performing an essential public function and shall not be required to pay any tax or assessment on the projects and related facilities or any part thereof; and the interest on the bonds issued hereunder shall at all times be free from taxation within this state. The state hereby covenants with the holders of any bonds to be issued hereunder that the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments imposed by the state or any of its political subdivisions or taxing districts.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 35-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-1
Status: in_force

The commissioners of any drainage district heretofore or hereafter organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi, acting on behalf of the district or in cooperation with other drainage districts, are hereby authorized and empowered to give satisfactory assurances to the United States of America or any agency thereof that any and all flood control works, constructed either within or without the district by the United States of America or any agency thereof, shall be maintained without expense to the United States. The commissioners of any drainage district are hereby authorized and empowered on behalf of the district to enter into agreements with the commissioners of other drainage districts for carrying out the purposes of Sections 51-35-1 through 51-35-7 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-5 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 41-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-41-5
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be liberally construed in conformity with its intent. All acts and activities of the water authority performed under the authority of this chapter are legislatively determined and declared to be essential governmental functions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-43 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-43
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-43
Status: in_force

Whenever, after the expiration of the said period of three years, twenty-five landowners of any such district, or a majority of the landowners of any such district, excluding lands owned by the state, or any landowner or owners owning more than fifty percent (50%) of the total acreage of said district, excluding acreage owned by the state, shall sign and file with the clerk of the chancery court by which such district was organized a petition for the dissolution of such district, it shall be the duty of such clerk to give notice in the manner provided in Section 51-7-11 that a hearing will be held on such petition to dissolve such district. Such notice shall set the time and place in term time or vacation when the court shall consider said petition, and such notice shall command all interested persons to appear and show cause, if any they can, as to why such district should or should not be dissolved.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-39 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-39
Status: in_force

(1) Any person proposing to construct, enlarge, repair or alter a dam or reservoir in this state except as provided elsewhere in this section, before proceeding with the construction thereof, must obtain written authorization from the board. Applications shall be made on forms provided by the board, and detailed plans shall be required when deemed necessary by the board in order to determine whether the proposed construction will provide adequate safety for downstream lives and property, and will not adversely affect downstream water rights or plans for the proper utilization of the water resources of the state. Provided further, that:

(a) Written construction authorization shall not be required for any dam or barrier to impound water which (i) is a peripheral dam or barrier of eight (8) feet or less in height, measured from the point of lowest elevation of the toe of the dam or barrier, regardless of impounded storage volume, (ii) impounds twenty-five (25) acre-feet or less at maximum storage volume, or (iii) which does not impound a watercourse with a continuous flow of water.

(b) Any person who seeks to build and maintain a dam on any watercourse lying in whole or in part within a levee district duly constituted under the laws of this state shall first obtain permission from the levee board of such levee district.

(c) Any person intending to acquire the right to store or use water from a reservoir formed by a dam on a watercourse regardless of whether or not written construction authorization therefor was required under this section, may do so only by making an application for a permit as provided elsewhere in this chapter.

(2) The board may request other agencies, or contract with consultants, to recommend land treatment or facilities necessary to prevent pollution of the waters of this state, or to protect the safety and general welfare of the people, and in the board's discretion, may require that these recommendations be followed before authorization to construct or modify the dam is issued, or order the removal of the dam after it has been constructed or request the commission to order the removal of the dam after it has been constructed or modified when such recommendations are not followed.

(3) The board and commission shall be authorized to make inspections of dams and reservoirs, regardless of whether or not written construction authorization therefor was required under this section, for the purpose of determining their safety, and shall require owners to perform at their expense such work as may be necessary for maintenance and operation which will safeguard life and property. Provided, however, a dam or reservoir may be exempt from inspections when the commission determines that the location, size or condition is such that lives and property will not be endangered. In carrying out the provisions of this section, the board and commission are authorized to expend available state funds, to receive funds from federal agencies, to contract with consultants and/or other agencies, and the commission may issue orders to owners of dams or reservoirs found to be unsafe requiring them to take the prescribed remedial action to safeguard downstream lives and property.

(4) No dam or reservoir, regardless of whether or not written construction authorization therefor is required under this section, may be constructed in such a manner as to impair the common law or other lawful rights of water users below or plans for the proper utilization of the water resources of the state. The board is authorized to prescribe such minimum flow releases from any dam or reservoir as may be found necessary to protect downstream users or otherwise prudently manage available surface water.

(5) When the board or commission finds a dam or reservoir constructed or modified in violation of this chapter or that the owner of a dam or reservoir has allowed the structure to deteriorate and remain in an unsafe condition after having been ordered to make the necessary repairs, then the commission may cause the structure to be removed and/or the board may revoke or modify any other authorization pertaining thereto.

(6) The provisions of this section shall not be construed as creating any liability for damages against the state and/or against its officers, agents and employees.

(7) The provisions of this section shall apply also to a county board of supervisors when constructing dams or low-water control structures on lakes or bodies of water in accordance with the provisions of Section 19-5-92 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-351 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 35-351
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-351
Status: in_force

Nothing in this article shall be construed to violate any provision of the federal or state constitutions, and all acts done under this article shall be done in such manner as will conform thereto, whether herein expressly provided or not. Where any procedure hereunder may be held by any court to be violative of either of such constitutions, the district shall have the power by resolution to provide an alternative procedure conformable with such constitutions. If any provision of this article shall be invalid, such fact shall not affect the creation of the district or the validity of any other provision of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-127 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 31-127
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-127
Status: in_force

The drainage commissioners and the treasurer of the main drainage district shall keep a separate account of all funds and expenses and payments of a subdrainage district, so that at any time the account will show the exact financial condition of such subdrainage district, both as to receipts and disbursements.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-65 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 27 / Section 29-65
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-65
Status: in_force

Said bonds when issued shall be registered by the clerk of the board of supervisors in a book kept for that purpose, which shall be a public record and shall be a faithful and correct register showing the date, number, amount, and date due of said bonds, the place of payment, and to whom issued or paid, of all bonds issued, sold, or used; and the said clerk shall enter on said register an account of all the bonds paid, received, or taken up by said board of commissioners. It shall be the duty of the said commissioners to promptly furnish to the said clerk necessary data for the keeping of said registers, to cancel and destroy all bonds and coupons which have been paid, and to report the facts to the said clerk to be entered on said register; and no bond or coupons paid, received, or taken up by said board of commissioners shall again be used or reissued. The minutes of the said board of commissioners are furthermore required to show fully the date, number, amount, place of payment, to whom issued and paid of each of said bonds, and shall further show the coupons and bonds paid, taken up, and destroyed, as a check on the register required to be kept by said clerk.

And for the prompt payment of said bonds and coupons the board of commissioners may irrevocably pledge the full faith, credit and resources of the district, and all assessments of said district, as provided in this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-53 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 8-53
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-8-53
Status: in_force

Any area adjacent to any district created pursuant to this chapter may be annexed to and become a part of such district by the same procedure as prescribed for the original creation of the district. All costs incident to the publication of notice and all other costs incident to the hearings, election and proceedings shall be paid by the district.

The district shall have the exclusive right to provide any of the services for which it was created in the annexed territory; however, if any part of the annexed territory is then being served by another corporate agency with any such service, the district shall, at the option of the other corporate agency, either relinquish its prior right to serve the area occupied by the corporate agency or acquire by purchase the facilities of such corporate agency, together with its franchise rights to serve such area.

If the option is for the district to purchase, upon notification thereof, the district shall be obligated to buy and pay for, and the corporate agency shall be obligated to convey to the district, all its service facilities and franchise rights in the annexed area. Such property shall be acquired by the district in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon, and the district shall have the authority to assume the operation of such entire system or facility and to assume and become liable for the payment of any notes, bonds or other obligations that are outstanding against said system or facility and payable from the revenues therefrom.

If the district is notified to relinquish its prior right to serve the annexed area, the district shall grant the corporate agency a franchise to serve within the annexed territory; however, the corporate agency shall be entitled to serve only such customers or locations within the annexed area as it served on the date that such annexation became effective.

The annexed territory shall become liable for any existing indebtedness of the district and be subject to any taxes levied by a local governing body under Section 51-8-43 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-123 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-123
Status: in_force

Drainage districts heretofore organized under the provisions of any law and amendments thereto not brought forward in this code shall have the privilege of continuing to operate under such law, and the adoption of this code shall not be held to repeal any such law or laws and amendments thereto, in so far as such districts are concerned. However, all drainage districts hereafter created must be organized and shall operate under the provisions of Chapters 29, 31 and 33 of Title 51, Mississippi Code of 1972 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-1
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared that the general welfare of the people of the State of Mississippi requires that the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use to the fullest extent of which they are capable, that the waste or unreasonable use, or unreasonable method of use, of water be prevented, that the conservation of such water be exercised with the view to the reasonable and beneficial use thereof in the interest of the people, and that the public and private funds for the promotion and expansion of the beneficial use of water resources shall be invested to the end that the best interests and welfare of the people are served.

It is the policy of the Legislature that conjunctive use of groundwater and surface water shall be encouraged for the reasonable and beneficial use of all water resources of the state. The policies, regulations and public laws of the State of Mississippi shall be interpreted and administered so that, to the fullest extent possible, the ground and surface water resources within the state shall be integrated in their use, storage, allocation and management.

All water, whether occurring on the surface of the ground or underneath the surface of the ground, is hereby declared to be among the basic resources of this state to therefore belong to the people of this state and is subject to regulation in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The control and development and use of water for all beneficial purposes shall be in the state, which, in the exercise of its police powers, shall take such measures to effectively and efficiently manage, protect and utilize the water resources of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-99 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-99
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-99
Status: in_force

If, after the first assessment of benefits, which it is estimated will result from the proposed drainage scheme, has been made it develops that on account of additional work done or to be done the benefits to the whole or any part of the district is or will be greater than was originally assessed, the commissioners may proceed to reassess and apportion the benefits so as to correct the same to conform to the benefits to be received. However, the aggregate value of benefits so assessed shall in no event be less than the original assessment. Such additional assessment shall be made in the same manner, under the same requirements, and upon the same notice as is provided for making the original assessment.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-35 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 3-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-35
Status: in_force

(1) Upon approval of the application the board shall notify the applicant to that effect and issue a permit authorizing him to take all steps required to apply the water to the approved and proposed beneficial use. An application may be approved for a less amount of water than that requested if, in the opinion of the board, the approval of the full amount requested would interfere with a vested right or is against public interest. An applicant shall be entitled to proceed with construction and with the use of water in accordance with the approval and such limitations as may be prescribed by the board. No application shall be approved until the substance thereof shall have been published by the applicant in a newspaper having general circulation in the county wherein the point of diversion or withdrawal exists, at least ten (10) days before approval of such application, and a public hearing accorded any person whose rights may be adversely affected by such approval. At such hearing all persons concerned will be accorded the right of counsel and the right to introduce evidence in their behalf.

(2) If the application is refused the board shall so notify the applicant, and it shall be unlawful for such applicant to take any steps toward the use of any such water, so long as the refusal shall continue in force. Any person who proceeds to use water, without approval of the board being first obtained, may be enjoined in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-87 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 31-87
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-87
Status: in_force

After the organization of any drainage district under this chapter or after the filing of a petition to organize any such district, if any other or different drainage district lying adjacent to or above said proposed drainage district, or any district not heretofore organized shall be organized and drain the water from their ditches into the ditches or drains of the said lower drainage district from the lands lying above or adjacent and draining into the said drainage district so organized or petitioned for, the commissioners of such lower district shall ask, demand, and receive from said upper district or adjacent district just compensation for an outlet for the waters of said upper or adjacent district. In case said commissioners of the two districts cannot agree upon the amount to be paid by such district, then the same shall be submitted by petition to the chancery court or chancellor in vacation having jurisdiction of the lower district. Said court or chancellor shall hear the petition on proper notice and shall apportion the cost or amount to be paid, if any, by such upper or adjacent district. This section shall apply to all natural drains which may have been heretofore or which shall hereafter be improved, cleaned out, dredged, and used as a drainage canal or main outlet for any drainage district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 7-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-1
Status: in_force

The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the creation of master water management districts for the carrying out in an orderly manner of works of improvement for the purposes of drainage, prevention of floodwater damage, or the conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water, including the impoundment, diversion, flowage, and distribution of waters for recreation, beautification, welfare, and other beneficial use as defined in Sections 51-3-1 through 51-3-53 . The authority herein granted to master water management districts shall be limited to plans for works of improvement developed and carried out in cooperation with the secretary of agriculture under the provisions of Public Law 566, 83rd Congress, as amended, or projects for any of the purposes provided for by this chapter which may be developed and carried out by or in cooperation with any agency or agencies of the United States government under other laws of the United States.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-33 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 7-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-7-33
Status: in_force

The commissioners may, at any time after the organization of the district, acquire permanent easements and rights of way for constructing, clearing, improving, and maintaining channels, canals and ditches within the district, in accordance with the provisions of Section 51-29-39 , insofar as such provisions may be applicable. It shall not be necessary to personally summon the landowners affected, but in lieu thereof notice may be given by publication in the same manner as provided by Section 51-7-11 , on plans and specifications of the district filed with the chancery clerk. The findings of the court, or chancellor in vacation, shall be final and have the force and effect of a judgment, from which appeal may be taken within twenty (20) days to the supreme court of the state, either by the property owner or by the commissioners of the district.

In lieu of the method herein provided for acquiring land and making compensation for damages, the commissioners may at any time after the organization of the district acquire permanent easements and rights-of-way for constructing and maintaining works of improvement within or without the district boundaries, such works of improvement to include floodwater retarding structures, impoundment structures and construction and improvement of channels, canals and ditches, in accordance with the provisions of Section 51-29-39 , insofar as such provisions may be applicable.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-3 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 15-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-15-3
Status: in_force

The Pat Harrison Waterway Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to do any and all things necessary and desirable in making a survey or surveys of the Pascagoula, Leaf, and Chickasawhay Rivers, the Tallahala Creek, and their tributaries in co-operation with the federal government and other agencies of the State of Mississippi; to promote the establishment of barge canals linking the cities of Meridian, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and other cities and communities along the Pascagoula, Leaf, and Chickasawhay Rivers, the Tallahala Creek, and their tributaries with the Gulf of Mexico. Each county represented on said commission, or two or more such counties acting in concert, pursuant to a plan to be approved by said commission, are authorized to improve all or any part of such waterways within said county or counties for navigation or flood control purposes.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-122.1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 7 / Section 9-122.1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-122.1
Status: in_force

(1) Any holder of a lease that is not a residential lease subject to Section 51-9-122, Mississippi Code of 1972 , shall have the right, exclusive of all other persons, to renew the lease at fair market value at any time prior to expiration of the lease.

(2) Other than the right of a lessee to renew at fair market value, nothing in this section is intended to limit or restrict the right of the district to negotiate terms of any lease in furtherance of any of the purposes authorized by this section and in a manner deemed favorable to the district by the board of directors.

(3)(a) Prior to entering into any lease under this section, whether a new or renewal lease, the district shall obtain at least one (1) appraisal from a competent appraiser establishing the fair market rental value of the land, exclusive of improvements made by the leaseholder or any predecessor in title, and, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the land shall not be leased for an amount less than the fair market rental as determined by the appraiser and approved by the board. The district may require such other terms as it deems advisable. The cost of the appraisal shall be paid by the district and may be included in the costs of lease renewal to be reimbursed by the lessee.

(b) The lessee may obtain an appraisal from a certified real estate appraiser establishing the fair market rental value of the land. If the fair market rental value of the land established in such appraisal differs from the fair market rental value of the land established in the appraisal obtained by the district, the land shall not be leased for an amount less than the average of the fair market rental value established by the two (2) appraisals.

(4) For the purposes of this section, “ terms ” means rent, rent escalation clauses, rental adjustment periods and method of determination, term of years, permitted use, condition of improvements, removal of improvements, and compliance with district rules and regulations.

(5) In the event a lessee has not obtained a new lease pursuant to the provisions of this section, any preemptive right of the lessee to lease the property shall be extinguished upon expiration of the lease, and, at the direction of the district, the lessee shall remove all improvements and other structures on the property immediately upon termination of the lease.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-145 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 13-145
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-145
Status: in_force

The Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District shall have authority to act jointly with political subdivisions of the state and agencies, commissions, and instrumentalities thereof, and with the federal government and other agencies thereof in the performance of the purposes and services authorized in this article, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the directors.

The board of directors of the district shall have the authority to negotiate and contract with the Secretary of the Army under the provisions of public law 653, 85th Congress, or other applicable law or regulation written pursuant thereto.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-75 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 25 / Section 31-75
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-75
Status: in_force

After the construction of said system of main ditches for said drainage district, all landowners in said district may construct branch or lateral drains, either open or tile, leading into said ditches and thereby drain their respective lands into said main outlet. In case any two or more landowners desiring to construct a branch or lateral ditch or drain to drain their lands cannot agree upon the just proportion to be borne by each, any one of them may petition the commissioners to lay out a branch ditch leading to and draining their lands; and the commissioners may proceed to lay out the same by giving notice and making assessments on the land in said subdistrict in the same manner in which they are herein required to give for the organization of the main district and assessment of the property benefited thereby.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-101 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-101
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-101
Status: in_force

This article may be cited as the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Law.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-23 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 37 / Section 39-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-39-23
Status: in_force

The board may contract with any member to provide support services. Any member may contract with or as part of their service contract with the district to provide any staff support, administrative and operational services as it deems advisable and on any terms as may be mutually agreed.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-207 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 9-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-207
Status: in_force

The district may issue refunding bonds for the purpose of paying any of its bonds at or prior to maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. Refunding bonds may be issued at such time prior to the maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the district deems to be in the public interest, without notice and without an election on the question of the issuance thereof. The refunding bonds may be issued in sufficient amounts to pay or provide the principal of the bonds being refunded, together with any redemption premium thereon, any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of payment of such bonds, the expenses of issue of the refunding bonds, the expenses of redeeming the bonds being refunded and such reserves for debt service or other capital or current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be required by the resolution, trust indenture or other security instruments. The issue of refunding bonds, the maturities and other details thereof, the security therefor, the rights of the holders and the rights, duties and obligations of the district in respect of the same shall be governed by the provisions of this act relating to the issue of bonds other than refunding bonds insofar as the same may be applicable. Any such refunding may be effected, whether the obligations to be refunded shall have then matured or shall thereafter mature, either by the exchange of the refunding bonds for the obligations to be refunded thereby with the consent of the holders of the obligations so to be refunded, or by sale of the refunding bonds and the application of the proceeds thereof to the payment of the obligations proposed to be refunded thereby, and regardless of whether the obligations proposed to be refunded shall be payable on the same date or different dates or shall be due serially or otherwise.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-123 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 29-123
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-29-123
Status: in_force

Such district shall have the right to acquire and own in fee simple, within the confines of such district, all necessary rights of way for floodways, by-passes, ditches, canals, levees, and other necessary work or improvements, by purchase or condemnation as now provided by law within the district; and it may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of same, subject to drainage purposes and easements of the district, or it may rent or lease for cash, or part of crops, such parts of its right of way as are susceptible of growing and producing crops, the income therefrom to be used for the maintenance of the improvements of the district.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-1 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 29 / Section 31-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-1
Status: in_force

Each drainage district heretofore organized in this state and each drainage district hereafter organized therein shall be a body corporate, shall have authority to sue in its own corporate name and be sued therein, may contract and be contracted with, may plead and be impleaded, and where organized or operating under the provisions of this chapter in its name may do and perform any and all things necessary and authorized by this chapter. All such acts may be done by its commissioners in the name of the district.

As an alternative to any existing right, power, and authority given to any drainage district operated by a board of county drainage commissioners, or to such commissioners, by the laws of the State of Mississippi now or hereafter enacted, all the provisions of the statutes of the State of Mississippi now or hereafter enacted relative to drainage districts operated by local commissioners, and to such local commissioners, shall apply to any drainage district heretofore or hereafter organized and operated by a board of county drainage commissioners, and to such commissioners.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-37 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 17 / Section 31-37
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-31-37
Status: in_force

If upon the hearing of said report and of objections made thereto, the court or chancellor shall be of opinion that said drainage district should be organized, he shall order the confirmation of said report and declare said district duly organized. If it shall appear to the court or chancellor that additional ditches or drains for main outlets not named in the report are necessary, the court or chancellor shall modify the same to conform to the equities in the premises; or if not sufficiently informed, the court or chancellor may refer the said report back to the commissioners for correction, may order the commissioners to correct and reform their report, and may make directions how they shall reform their report. The court may make all necessary orders in the premises for the continuance of the hearing of said report and the confirmation thereof.

If the report be referred back to the commissioners for amendment, the court or chancellor may fix a day when the commissioners may again present their report, in which case the hearing shall stand adjourned to that date and no further notice shall be required thereof.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-9 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 2 / Section 3-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-9
Status: in_force

(1) No permit for water use shall be issued for a period longer than ten (10) years. The right to use of water granted by the permit shall automatically terminate upon the passage of the tenth anniversary date of the permit unless there is pending before the board an application for another water permit which includes the use of the same water permitted under the expiring permit. Six (6) months prior to the tenth anniversary date of such permit, the board shall give actual written notice by certified mail to the permit holder informing him that such permit shall be automatically terminated upon its expiration unless such permit holder has made an application for another water permit as described in this subsection. The permit shall be reissued to the permit holder unless his continued use is found to be contrary to the public interest.

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, the board may grant to a municipality, county or other governmental subdivision, a public utility or a publicly regulated utility, a permit to use water for a duration sufficient to amortize the initial capital investment of such permittee in water-related equipment.

(3) The board may modify, terminate or decline to reissue a permit upon a showing of good cause, after affording the permittee involved an opportunity for a hearing at which the permittee shall be entitled to be represented by legal counsel and call witnesses and present evidence on his behalf.

(4) The board shall issue to any person filing a notice of claim to previously existing rights as provided in Section 51-3-5 a permit which reflects such person's rights. However, such person, on or before the tenth anniversary date of the permit so issued by the board, shall file an application to renew such permit or the rights thereunder to the use of water shall automatically terminate upon the expiration of the permit. This decennial filing requirement shall also apply thereafter to each renewed permit.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-125 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 33 / Section 33-125
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-33-125
Status: in_force

The duties, powers and responsibilities of a drainage district with water impoundment structures constructed with financing from the United States under Public Law 534 or Public Law 566, 83rd Congress of the United States, or both, may be transferred to the county soil and water conservation district if it becomes apparent that such drainage district should be dissolved, but future oversight, maintenance and operation are required for the existing structures.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-5 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 13 / Section 13-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-13-5
Status: in_force

The authority shall be financed in all of its activities from funds made available by each of the associated counties, and each such county is authorized and empowered to contribute any amount or amounts which the board of supervisors thereof shall deem advisable, acting in their sole discretion, to be paid from the general county fund of the respective counties.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-137 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 8 / Section 9-137
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-137
Status: in_force

Bonds issued pursuant to this article shall not exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) in principal amount.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-209 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 1 / Section 9-209
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-209
Status: in_force

All bonds (other than refunding bonds, interim notes and certificate of indebtedness) issued pursuant to this act shall be validated as now provided by law in Sections 31-13-1 through 31-13-11, Mississippi Code of 1972; provided, however, that notice of such validation proceedings shall be addressed to the taxpayers of any public agency (i) which has contracted with the district pursuant to this act and whose contracts and the payments to be made by the public agency thereunder constitute security for the bonds of the district proposed to be issued, or (ii) which is a member of the district. Such notice shall be published at least once in a newspaper or newspapers having a general circulation within the geographical boundaries of each of the public agencies to whose taxpayers the notice is addressed. Such validation proceedings shall be instituted in the First Judicial District of the Chancery Court of Hinds County. The validity of the bonds so validated and of the contracts and payments to be made by the public agencies thereunder constituting security for the bonds shall be forever conclusive against the district and the public agencies which are parties to said contracts; and the validity of said bonds and said contracts and the payment to be made thereunder shall never be called in question in any court in this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-321 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 35 / Section 35-321
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-35-321
Status: in_force

The district is empowered to obtain through appropriate hearings an appropriation permit or permits from the Board of Water Commissioners of the State of Mississippi, as provided in Section 51-3-31 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-29 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 3 / Section 3-29
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-3-29
Status: in_force

The following are hereby declared to constitute unpermitted waters:

(a) All water which has not been permitted prior to April 1, 1985;

(b) All surface water for which a permit had been issued prior to April 1, 1985, but for which no notice of claim has been filed by the expiration of three (3) years from April 1, 1985;

(c) All groundwater which was not subjected to use for a beneficial purpose on April 1, 1985;

(d) All water which having been used flows or seeps back or otherwise returns to a natural watercourse or waterbody, whether on the surface or underground.
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-176 — MS Code / Title 51 / Chapter 4 / Section 9-176
Miss. Code Ann. § 51-9-176
Status: in_force

At the request of a Mississippi municipality, county, other legal political subdivision of the state or a Mississippi state agency, federal agency, or under a declaration of a state of emergency or disaster by the Governor or the President of the United States, the officers of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police may render law enforcement services including search and rescue using Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police equipment. Officers of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police may also participate in joint multijurisdictional training exercises, multijurisdictional law enforcement operations and multijurisdictional search and rescue operations. The officers may exercise the law enforcement authority granted under Section 51-9-175 in the jurisdiction of the training, operation or emergency. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police, with the approval of the governing board, may enter into agreements with jurisdictions regarding the circumstances in which emergency assistance may be provided and administered. Unless otherwise directed by an agreement, officers will remain under the authority of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police Chief or to whomever and to what level of authority is delegated by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police Chief or by assignment through the National Incident Management System or by the stated declaration of disaster or emergency. The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District Reservoir Police may seek reimbursement for services and related expenses if available.