MS Code § 69-27-209 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 69 - Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animals|Chapter 27 - Soil Conservation|Article 5 - County Aid in Certain Counties|§ 69-27-209. Machinery and equipment; how purchased; operation; election on question of purchase

 [With regard to any county which is required to operate on a countywide system of road administration as described in Section 19-2-3, this section shall read as follows:]   The board of supervisors of a county as designated in Section 69-27-201 may, on the recommendation of the soil erosion committee, or shall, if so required by the election hereinafter provided for, advertise for bids as in other cases and purchase the proper terracing and/or ditching machinery for the county and provide the necessary labor for the operation thereof, and the necessary supplies and maintenance to properly operate the same, subject, however, to the approval of the soil erosion committee herein otherwise provided. In event the board of supervisors shall fail or refuse to advertise for bids for the purchase of any machinery recommended by said soil erosion committee within sixty (60) days after receipt of such recommendation, it shall, on the filing with it of a petition signed by ten percent (10%) or more of the qualified electors of the county, call and hold as in other cases a special election in said county within sixty (60) days after the filing of the petition, in which election the question shall be, for or against the purchase of terracing and/or ditching machinery for the county; and if a majority of the votes cast in said election be in favor of the purchase of such machinery, then said board shall, at its next meeting, advertise for bids for the purchase thereof, and thereafter further perform the duties required of it hereunder with respect to soil erosion work. Such advertisement for bids shall constitute notice to the public of the intention of the board to make such purchase and the board may proceed accordingly unless on or before the first day of the meeting at which said bids are to be opened a petition, signed by twenty percent (20%) or more of the qualified electors of the county, shall be filed with the clerk of the board protesting against such purchase, in which event such purchase shall not be made unless approved in an election called and held for the purpose in the manner provided for the calling and holding of elections on the question of the issuance of tax anticipation note or notes. Said board shall have full supervision of all soil erosion work, the machinery, labor, supplies, contracts, and the funds arising from work performed, from taxation, if any, or otherwise, except to the extent herein otherwise specifically provided; and in administering the soil erosion fund the board shall take into consideration the repairs and replacements incident to the operation of the character of machinery in use in order that the work may continue without undue interruption as long as may be necessary. All acts and proceedings of the board with respect to soil erosion work and the funds thereof shall be by order upon its minutes, as in other cases. Contracts for terracing and/or ditching shall be performed as nearly as possible in the order of their dates, any deviation therefrom by reason of necessity, public convenience, causes beyond the control of the committee, or agreement with the landowners, to be under the direction of the soil erosion committee. Only one (1) committee shall be appointed in said county.