reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 14-121-305 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-305. Powers and duties

 (a) The boards of commissioners mentioned in this chapter shall have control of the construction of the improvements in their districts.  (b)  (1) A board may advertise in local papers or papers published in other states for proposals for doing any work by contract.  (2) No work exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) shall be let without public advertisement.  (3) A board may accept or reject any proposals.    (c) A board may:  (1) Appoint all necessary agents for carrying on the work and fix their pay;  (2) Buy all necessary material and implements;  (3) Sell material or implements on hand which may not be necessary for the completion of the improvement; and  (4) Make all such contracts in the prosecution of the work as may best subserve the public interest.    (d) It shall be the duty of a board to have the amount of work done by any contractor estimated, from time to time as may be desirable, by the engineer selected by the board. The board shall draw its warrants in favor of the contractor for not more than ninety percent (90%) of the amount of work so reported, reserving the remainder until it has been ascertained that the work has been completed according to contract and is free from liens.
AR Code § 14-121-306 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-306. Authority to secure federal aid — Surveys

 All drainage districts in the State of Arkansas, whether created by special act or otherwise, are authorized, when considered practicable by the board of commissioners or directors of any such district, to make any necessary surveys for the securing of federal aid and assistance in the construction of dams and reservoirs for impounding of head waters which cause floods that overflow the ditches, wash away the levees and crops, and erode the lands in the district.
AR Code § 14-121-307 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-307. Cooperation with the United States

 (a) If improvements are undertaken in cooperation with the United States, the board may enter into an agreement providing for the construction of the works of improvement and awarding of contracts therefor, to be by, and under the control and supervision of, the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof.  (b) In that event, the advertisement, award, and carrying out of the contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of law applicable to the federal agency.
AR Code § 14-121-308 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-308. Authority to improve or extend districts, borrow money, and issue bonds

 (a) The commissioners of any drainage district organized under the provisions of §§ 14-121-101 — 14-121-104, 14-121-201 — 14-121-207, 14-121-301, 14-121-303 — 14-121-305, 14-121-307, 14-121-309 — 14-121-314, 14-121-401 — 14-121-406, 14-121-408, 14-121-411, 14-121-412, 14-121-420 — 14-121-424, 14-121-425 (a), (b), 14-121-426 — 14-121-433, 14-121-440 — 14-121-442, 14-121-501, 14-121-502, 14-121-802 — 14-121-808, and 14-121-810 shall have the power as hereinafter provided, either before or after the completion of the plans for the work therein, to deepen or widen the drains in the district and to build additional laterals for the better drainage of its lands, and to borrow money for that purpose.  (b) To that end, they shall have power to issue negotiable bonds bearing a rate or rates of interest as provided in the resolution of the commissioners authorizing their issuance for the purpose of securing funds with which to complete the work of improvement in the district, and of widening or deepening the ditches, adding laterals, and for maintenance of the ditches and levees.  (c) They may secure the payment of the bonds by a pledge and a mortgage of the assessment of the benefits in the district, and of all reassessments thereof.
AR Code § 14-121-309 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-309. Deposit of funds — Bond

 (a) If the commissioners deem best, they shall deposit the funds of the district in a solvent bank which will pay interest at not less than three percent (3%) nor exceeding four percent (4%) and shall give a good bond, conditioned that the funds shall be safely kept and paid out in accordance with the law.  (b) The order shall relieve the treasurer and his bondsmen from liability for loss of the funds through the insolvency of the bank and its bondsmen, and no commission shall be paid the treasurer on sums so deposited. The bank shall pay out the funds only on warrants drawn upon it as prescribed for funds in the hands of the treasurer.
AR Code § 14-121-310 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-310. Treasurer — Warrants

 (a) The treasurer shall:  (1) Pay out no money, save upon the order of the board and upon a warrant signed by the chairman of the board;  (2) Be allowed a commission not exceeding one percent (1%) upon all sums lawfully paid out, to be fixed by the board; and  (3) Give special bond in a sum to be fixed by the county court as treasurer of each drainage district.    (b)  (1) Every warrant shall state upon its face to whom, the amount, and the purpose for which it is issued.  (2) All warrants shall be dated and numbered consecutively. A record shall be kept by the board of the number and amount of each warrant.  (3) No warrant shall be paid unless there is in the treasury funds enough to pay all outstanding warrants bearing a lower number.  (4) No warrant shall be increased by reason of any depreciation in the market value thereof, nor shall any contract or warrant be made payable or paid in anything but currency.
AR Code § 14-121-311 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-311. Records and reports of financial transactions — Penalty

 (a) The commission shall also keep the original itemized bills and accounts of all financial transactions and all warrants which have been paid. Each warrant shall state on its face the service for which it was rendered, the person to whom paid, and the amount of the warrant.  (b)  (1) On or before January 1 of each year, the commission shall file with the county clerk a sworn statement of the financial condition of the district, to cover the year ending on November 1 preceding.  (2) The report shall contain, among other things:  (A) A statement of the cash on hand January 1 of the year for which the report is made, together with all other assets of the district;  (B) The total receipts for the preceding year; and  (C) The disbursements for administration, for construction, and for maintenance of bonds redeemed, of interest paid, and of interest due on outstanding bonds, together with all other indebtedness of the district.      (c)  (1) In districts with revenues, from whatever source derived, in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) per year, the books, records, and last annual report of the district shall be examined at least one (1) time a year by a certified public accountant.  (2) The accountant shall file a report of the examination with the county court within thirty (30) days after completing the examination.  (3) The accountant shall recommend the form and methods for keeping books and records and for making the reports of the district.  (4) The expense of the examination shall be paid as a part of the district's expenses.    (d) All accounts of this district shall be open for inspection by any person lawfully entitled to inspect them.  (e)  (1) The failure of any of the officials named in this section to perform the duties and acts required herein shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each offense.  (2) For the making of a false or fraudulent report, the person or persons so making shall be guilty of perjury and punished accordingly.
AR Code § 14-121-312 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-312. Attorneys

 The commissioners of drainage districts appointed under § 14-121-301 shall have power to employ attorneys as needed by the district and to fix their compensation.
AR Code § 14-121-313 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-313. Liability

 No member of any board of improvement shall be liable for any damages sustained by anyone in the prosecution of the work under his charge unless it shall be made to appear that he has acted with a corrupt and malicious intent.
AR Code § 14-121-314 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-121-314. Ratification of commissioners' acts

 The property owners in a drainage district may:   (1) Consent to waive the right to resort to courts and may absolutely ratify and confirm what has been done by the board of commissioners and all other officials with reference to the district; and  (2) Thereafter, be forever barred from testing or contesting in any way the validity of the proceedings up to that time, the assessments made or the tax levied for the payment of principal and interest of bonds, or for any other purpose.
AR Code § 14-121-401 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-401. Plans for improvements

 (a) As soon as the board shall have formed its plans for improvements and shall have ascertained the cost thereof, it shall file the plans with the county clerk.  (b) The plans shall be accompanied by:  (1) A map showing the location of all main and lateral ditches; and  (2) Specifications fully describing the character of the improvements to be made, the width and depth of the ditches, the probable quantity of earth to be removed, and all other work to be done.
AR Code § 14-121-402 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-402. Assessment of benefits and damages within district

 (a)  (1) The commissioners shall proceed to assess the lands within the district and shall inscribe in a book the description of each tract of land. They shall assess the value of the benefits to accrue to each tract by reason of the improvement and shall enter such assessment of benefits opposite the description, together with an estimate of what the landowner will probably have to pay on the assessment.  (2) These assessments shall embrace not merely the land but all public and corporate roads, railroads, tramroads, and other improvements on lands that shall be benefited by the drainage system.  (3) They shall place opposite each tract of land the name of the supposed owner, as shown by the last county assessment, but a mistake in the name shall not vitiate the assessment. They may correct evident errors which occur in the county assessment list.    (b) If any commissioner or any private corporation or other drainage district has dug ditches or made drainage works that can be profitably used as a part of the general system, the value of the ditches or drainage works to the district shall be assessed by the commissioners, shall separately appear upon their assessment, and shall be paid for by the district, either in cash or by reduction of assessment.  (c)  (1) The commissioners shall also assess all damages that will accrue to any landowner by reason of the proposed improvement, including all injury to lands taken or damaged.  (2) Where they return no such assessment of damages as to any tract of land, it shall be deemed a finding by them that no damage shall be sustained.  (3) Whenever the district embraces land in more than one (1) county, the secretary of the board of commissioners shall forward to the county clerk of each county in which the lands of the district lie a copy of the assessment of benefits insofar as relates to the lands in that county. The copy shall be preserved by the respective county clerks as permanent records of their offices.
AR Code § 14-121-403 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-403. Assessment of lands outside of district — Hearing — Extension of boundaries

 (a) If the commissioners find that other lands not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be affected by the proposed improvement, they shall assess the estimated benefits and damages to the land and shall specially report to the county court the assessment which they have made on the lands beyond the boundaries of the district as already established.  (b) It shall then be the duty of the county court to give notice in a newspaper published in the county where the lands lie, describing the additional lands which have been assessed.  (c) The owners of real property so assessed shall be allowed twenty (20) days after the publication of the notice to file with the county clerk their protest against being included within the district.  (d) The county court shall, at its next session, investigate the question of whether the lands beyond the boundaries of the district so assessed by the commissioners will in fact be benefited or damaged by the making of the improvement.  (e) From its finding in that regard, either the property owners affected by the assessment or the commissioners of the district may appeal to the circuit court within twenty (20) days.  (f) 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 affected by the making of the improvement.
AR Code § 14-121-404 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-404. Filing the assessment — Notice

 (a) When their assessment is completed, the commissioners shall subscribe the assessment and deposit it with the county clerk, where it shall be kept and preserved as a public record.  (b) Upon the filing of the assessment, the county clerk shall give notice of the fact by publication for two (2) weeks in some newspaper issued in each of the counties in which the lands of the district may lie.  (c) The notice shall give a description of the lands assessed for drainage purposes in the district, so that the owners of the lands, if they desire, may appear before the county court on a certain day, naming the day and present complaints, if they have any, against the assessment of any lands in the district.
AR Code § 14-121-405 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-405. Hearing on complaints — Appeal

 (a) Any owner of real property within the district who perceives himself to be aggrieved by the assessment of benefits or damages or deems that the assessment of any land in the district is inadequate shall present his complaint to the county court at the first regular, adjourned, or special session held more than ten (10) days after the publication of the notice.  (b) The court shall consider the complaint and enter its finding thereon, either confirming the assessment or increasing or diminishing the assessment.  (c) The court's finding shall have the force and effect of a judgment, from which an appeal may be taken within twenty (20) days, either by the property owners or by the commissioners of the district.
AR Code § 14-121-406 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-406. Acquiescence to assessment or failure to assess — Effect of demand for assessment

 (a) 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. He shall be construed to have done so unless he gives to the commissioners, within thirty (30) days after the assessment is filed, notice in writing that he demands an assessment of his damages by a jury.  (b) In that event, the commissioners shall institute in the circuit court of the proper county an action to condemn the lands that must be taken or damaged in the making of the improvement. This action shall be in accordance with the proceedings for condemnation of rights-of-way by railroad, telegraph, and telephone companies, with the same right of paying into court a sum to be fixed by the circuit court or judge, and proceeding with the work before assessment by the jury.  (c) If there is more than one (1) claimant to the lands, all claimants may be made parties defendant in the suit, and the fund paid into court, leaving the claimants to contest in that action their respective rights to the fund.
AR Code § 14-121-407 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-407. Reassessment of benefits — Appeals

 (a) The commissioners of the districts shall have the power to make a reassessment of the benefits not more often than once a year, and the reassessment shall be made, advertised, and equalized as is provided for the original assessment of benefits.  (b) All appeals of landowners objecting thereto must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days from the time of the county court's action thereon.
AR Code § 14-121-408 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-408. Alteration of plans — Reassessment

 (a) The commissioners may at any time alter the plans of the ditches and drains, but before constructing the work according to the changed plans, the changed plans with accompanying specifications showing the dimensions of the work as changed shall be filed with the county clerk. Notice of the filing shall be given by publication for one (1) insertion in some newspaper issued and having a bona fide circulation in each of the counties in which there are lands belonging to the district.  (b) If by reason of the change of plans either the board of commissioners or any property owners deem that the assessment on any property has become inequitable, they may petition the county court which shall thereupon refer the petition to the commissioners provided for in § 14-121-201, who shall reassess the property mentioned in the petition, increasing the assessment if greater benefits will be received and allowing damages if less benefits will be received or if damages will be sustained.  (c) In no event shall a reduction of assessments be made after the assessment of benefits has been confirmed, but any reduction in benefits shall be paid for as damages. That claim for damages shall be secondary and subordinate to the rights of the holders of bonds which have heretofore been issued.  (d) From the action of the commissioners in the matter, the property owners shall have the same right of appeal provided by § 14-121-405 for the original assessment.
AR Code § 14-121-410 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-410. Effect of reassessment

 (a) When any reassessment of benefits has been made and stands confirmed, it shall be the assessment of benefits until another reassessment has been made as provided in this chapter.  (b) Levies of the taxes on the reassessed benefits shall be made and collected in the same manner as levies on the original assessment of benefits and shall be a first lien on the lands of the district from the time they are made.
AR Code § 14-121-411 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-411. Benefits to lands in other districts — Assessments

 In case any land in any drainage or other improvement district is benefited, and for any reason it was not assessed in the original proceedings, or was not assessed to the extent of benefits received or in case any corporation, individual, or other drainage district organized under this or any other general or special act, outside the limits of any district organized or operating under the terms of this act, shall drain land into any ditch belonging to any district formed or operating under the terms of this act, the commissioners of the drainage district shall assess the benefits or the enhanced benefits received by the land, and the proceedings outlined in §§ 14-121-402 — 14-121-405 for assessing benefits to lands not included within the boundaries of the district shall in all matters be conformed with. However, this section and § 14-121-808 shall not operate to interfere with vested rights to natural drainage.
AR Code § 14-121-412 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 121 - Drainage Improvement Districts Generally|Subchapter 4 - District Operation Generally|§ 14-121-412. District continuance — Additional levy

 (a) The district shall not cease to exist upon the completion of its drainage system but shall continue to exist for the purpose of preserving the system, of keeping the ditches clear from obstruction, and of extending, widening, or deepening the ditches from time to time as may be found advantageous to the district.  (b)  (1)  (A) To this end, the commissioners may, from time to time, apply to the county court for the levying of additional taxes.  (B) The taxes may be levied as a flat tax per acre.    (2)  (A) Upon the filing of the petition, notice shall be published by the clerk for two (2) weeks in a newspaper published in each of the counties in which the district embraces land.  (B) Any property owner seeking to resist the additional levy may appear at the next regular, special, or adjourned term of the county court or adjourned day of the court and urge his objections thereto.  (C) Either the property owners or the commissioners may appeal from the finding of the county court.