reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
FL Stat § 298.16 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.16 - Appointment of District Engineer; Engineer’s Duties.

298.16 Appointment of district engineer; engineer’s duties.—(1) Within 30 days after organizing, the board of supervisors shall appoint a district engineer, who may be an individual, copartnership, or corporation, and who shall engage such assistants as the board of supervisors may approve. Such district engineer shall faithfully and honestly perform all the duties required of him or her by said supervisors, and deliver to his or her successor all instruments, papers, maps, documents, and other things that may have come into the district engineer’s hands by virtue of his or her employment.(2) The district engineer shall have control of the engineering work in said district and may, whenever he or she deems it necessary, confer with the jurisdictional water management district, and he or she may, by and with the consent of the board of supervisors, consult any eminent engineer and obtain his or her opinion and advice concerning the reclamation of lands in said districts. The said engineer shall make all necessary surveys of the lands within the boundary lines of said district, as described in the petition, and of all lands adjacent thereto that will be improved or reclaimed in part or in whole by any system of drainage that may be outlined and adopted.(3) The engineer shall make a report in writing to the board of supervisors, with maps and profiles of said surveys, which report shall contain a full and complete water control plan for draining and reclaiming the lands described in the petition, or adjacent thereto, from overflow or damage by water, with the length, width, and depth of such canals, ditches, dikes or levees, or other works that may be necessary, in conjunction with any canals, drains, ditches, dikes, levees or other works heretofore constructed or built by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, or any other person, that may now be in process of construction, or which may be hereafter built by them, that may be necessary or which can be advantageously used in such water control plan; and also, an estimate of the costs of carrying out and completing the water control plan, including the cost of superintending the same and all incidental expenses in connection therewith. Maps and profiles shall also indicate so far as necessary the physical characteristics of the lands, and location of any public roads, railroads and other rights-of-way, roadways and other property or improvements located on such lands. A copy of the report required by this section shall be filed with the jurisdictional water management district.History.—s. 8, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1105; CGL 1458; ss. 25, 27, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 9, ch. 72-291; s. 24, ch. 79-65; s. 123, ch. 94-356; s. 887, ch. 95-148; s. 5, ch. 97-40; s. 4, ch. 98-329.
FL Stat § 298.18 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.18 - Supervisors to Employ Attorney for District; Duty of Attorney.

298.18 Supervisors to employ attorney for district; duty of attorney.—The board of supervisors within 30 days after organizing shall employ an attorney to act for the district and to advise said board. Such employment shall be evidenced by an agreement in writing, which, as far as possible, shall specify the exact amount to be paid to said attorney for all services and expenses. Such attorney shall conduct all legal proceedings and suits in court where the district is a party or interested, and shall in all legal matters advise the said board of supervisors, all officers, employees or agents of said district and board, and generally look after and attend to all matters of a legal nature for said board and district. When the said board may deem it necessary, it may, by and with the advice of said attorney, and under the like terms and conditions as above set forth, employ another attorney.History.—s. 27, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1124; CGL 1477.
FL Stat § 298.19 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.19 - Appointment and Duties of Superintendent of Plant and Operations and Overseers.

298.19 Appointment and duties of superintendent of plant and operations and overseers.—For the purpose of preserving any ditch, drain, dike, levee or other work constructed or erected under the provisions of this chapter and for the taking care and the operation of the equipment owned by said district and the maintenance of the canals and other works of said district, including the removal of obstructions from the same, and such other duties as may be prescribed by said board, the board of supervisors may employ a superintendent of plant and operations who shall have charge and supervision of the works of the district after the construction of the same, and said board also may employ or appoint an overseer or overseers who shall hold their positions at the will of the board, and who shall assist said superintendent in the performance of the work aforesaid.History.—s. 40, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1137; s. 1, ch. 9129, 1923; CGL 1492.
FL Stat § 298.20 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.20 - Supervisors to Fix Compensation for Work and Employees.

298.20 Supervisors to fix compensation for work and employees.—The board of supervisors, except where otherwise provided, shall, by resolution, at time of hiring or appointing, provide for the compensation for work done by any officer, engineer, attorney, or other employee and shall also pay the fees, and necessary expenses of all court and county officers who may, by virtue of this chapter, render service to said district. Reimbursement of travel expenses shall be made as provided by s. 112.061. It is understood that the ordinary fee statute does not apply to services rendered under this chapter by any county officer, but each such officer shall receive only a reasonable compensation for services actually rendered, the same to be fixed by the court in which the proceeding is pending, except where otherwise provided in this chapter, that said districts or petitioners for such corporations may prepare, write or print all copies of petitions, writs, orders, and decrees or other papers, and furnish same to the clerk or other officer for his or her use, and in such event said officer shall be entitled to receive as compensation for issuing the said writs and copies of petitions, decrees, orders, or other papers, only the reasonable value of the services actually rendered.History.—s. 37, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1134; CGL 1489; s. 19, ch. 63-400; s. 8, ch. 79-5; s. 264, ch. 95-148.
FL Stat § 298.21 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.21 - Supervisors May Remove Officers and Employees.

298.21 Supervisors may remove officers and employees.—The board of supervisors may at any time remove any officer, attorney, chief engineer or other employee appointed or employed by said board.History.—s. 47, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1144; CGL 1501.
FL Stat § 298.23 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.23 - Supervisors Authorized to Take Land for Rights-of-Way, etc.; Payment.

298.23 Supervisors authorized to take land for rights-of-way, etc.; payment.—The board of supervisors of a district organized under this chapter shall not have the right to enter upon, or appropriate, any land for rights-of-way, holding basins or other works of the district, until the prices awarded to the owners of such land shall have been paid to such owners, or into the hands of the clerks of the circuit courts of the county or counties within which the respective lands are located for the use of such owners; and if the sums awarded be not so paid within 5 years from the date of filing the engineer’s reports, all proceedings as to the taking of such property for rights-of-way, holding basins and other works, not so paid for, shall abate at the cost of said district. Whenever any land is acquired by any district under the provisions of this chapter and the price of such property has been paid the owner by the district, the title, use, possession and enjoyment of such property shall pass from the owner and be vested in the district, and subject to its use, profit, employment and final disposition. The price awarded for all lands acquired by any district for rights-of-way, holding basins, or other works, and the amount of damage assessed by the board of supervisors to any tract or parcel of land or other property in the district, shall be paid in cash to the owner thereof or to the clerk of the court for the use of such owner, and that portion of any tract or parcel of land not taken for use of the district shall be assessed for the benefits accruing in accordance with the provisions in this chapter.History.—s. 29, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1126; CGL 1479; s. 9, ch. 79-5; s. 8, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.24 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.24 - Bridge Construction.

298.24 Bridge construction.—All bridges contemplated by this chapter and all enlargements of bridges already in existence shall be built and enlarged according to and in compliance with the plans, specifications and orders made or approved by the chief engineer of the district. If any such bridge shall belong to any corporation, or be needed over a public highway or right-of-way of any corporation, the secretary of said board of supervisors shall give such corporation notice by delivering to its agent or officer, in any county wherein said district is situate, a copy of the order of the board of supervisors of said district declaring the necessity for the construction or enlargement of said bridge. A failure to construct or enlarge such bridge, within the time specified in such order, shall be taken as a refusal to do said work by said corporation, and thereupon the said board of supervisors shall proceed to let the work of constructing or enlarging the same at the expense of the corporation for the cost thereof, which costs shall be collected by said board of supervisors from said corporation, by suit therefor, if necessary. But before said board of supervisors shall let such work, it shall give some agent or officer of said corporation, authorized by the laws of this state to accept service of summons, or upon whom service of summons for said corporation might be made, at least 20 days’ actual notice of the time and place of letting such work. Any owner of land, within or without the district, may, at the owner’s expense, and in compliance with the terms and provisions of this chapter, construct a bridge across any drain, ditch, canal, or excavation in or out of said district. Each district shall have full authority to construct and maintain any ditch or lateral provided in its water control plan, across any of the public highways of this state, without proceedings for the condemnation of the same, or being liable for damages therefor. Within 10 days after a dredge boat or any other excavating machine shall have completed a ditch across any public highway, a bridge shall be constructed and maintained over such drainage ditch where the same crosses such highway; provided, however, the word corporation as used in this section shall not apply to counties.History.—s. 30, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1127; CGL 1480; s. 10, ch. 79-5; s. 265, ch. 95-148; s. 9, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.25 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.25 - Type of Bridges Over Drains in Large Counties.

298.25 Type of bridges over drains in large counties.—Whenever any district cuts or digs a drain, canal or ditch across any public highway, in counties having a population of not less than 130,000, according to the last preceding state census, the style, type and character of such bridge shall be determined by the engineer of the county and the chief engineer of the district, and approved by a majority of the board of county commissioners of the county or counties in which the lands within the district are located; and the cost of the same, as estimated by the chief engineer of the district, shall be included by the district board of supervisors in the assessment for the construction of the water control plan.History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 11344, 1925; CGL 1481, 1482; s. 11, ch. 79-5; s. 10, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.26 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.26 - District Engineer to Make Annual Reports to Supervisors; Approval of Reports; Water Control Plan.

298.26 District engineer to make annual reports to supervisors; approval of reports; water control plan.—The district engineer shall make a report in writing to the board of supervisors once every 12 months or as directed by the board. The report shall describe the progress made and activities undertaken in furtherance of the water control plan, and may include suggestions and recommendations to the board as the district engineer deems appropriate. Upon receipt of the final report of said engineer concerning the surveys made of the lands contained in the district organized and the lands adjacent thereto and for reclaiming the same, the board of supervisors shall adopt such report, or any modification thereof approved by the district engineer, after consulting with him or her or someone representing the district engineer.History.—s. 9, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1106; CGL 1459; s. 12, ch. 72-291; s. 25, ch. 79-65; s. 125, ch. 94-356; s. 888, ch. 95-148; s. 11, ch. 97-40; s. 7, ch. 98-329.
FL Stat § 298.28 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.28 - Watercourses to Be Connected With Drainage of District; Connecting Drains After Completion of Plan of Drainage.

298.28 Watercourses to be connected with drainage of district; connecting drains after completion of plan of drainage.—At the time of the construction, in any district incorporated under this chapter, of the water control plan, all canals, ditches or systems of drainage already constructed in said district and all watercourses shall, if necessary to the drainage of any lands in said district, be connected with and made a part of the works and improvements of the plan of drainage of said district, but no canals, ditches, drains, or systems of drainage constructed in said district, after the completion of the aforesaid plan of drainage of said district, shall be connected therewith, unless the consent of the board of supervisors shall be first had and obtained; which consent shall be in writing and shall particularly describe the method, terms and conditions of such connection, and shall be approved by the chief engineer. Said connection, if made, shall be in strict accord with the method, terms, and conditions laid down in said consent. If the landowners wishing to make such connection are refused by the board of supervisors, or decline to accept the consent granted, the said landowners may file a petition for such connection in the circuit court having jurisdiction in said district, and the matter in dispute shall in a summary manner be decided by said court, which decision shall be final and binding on the district and landowners. No connection with the works or improvements of said plan of drainage of said district, or with any canal, ditch, drain or artificial drainage, wholly within said district, shall be made, caused or affected by any landowners, company or corporation, municipal or private, by means of, or with, any ditch, drain, cut, fill, roadbed, levee, embankment or artificial drainage, wholly without the limits of said district, unless such connection is consented to by the board of supervisors, or in the manner provided for in this chapter.History.—s. 48, ch. 6458, 1913; RGS 1145; CGL 1502; s. 12, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.305 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.305 - Assessing Land for Development; Apportionment of Assessment.

298.305 Assessing land for development; apportionment of assessment.—(1) After the engineer’s report has been approved by the board of supervisors, the proposed water control plan or plan amendment has been finally adopted, and the lists of lands with the assessed benefits have been filed in the office of the secretary of the district, then the board of supervisors shall levy a non-ad valorem assessment as approved by the board on all lands in the district to which benefits have been assessed, to pay the costs of the completion of the proposed works and improvements, as shown in the adopted plan or plan amendment and in carrying out the objectives of the district; and, in addition thereto, 10 percent of the total amount for contingencies. The assessment must be apportioned to and levied on each assessable tract of land in the district. Under s. 298.54, the board of supervisors may also levy a maintenance assessment on all lands in the district to which benefits have been assessed as may be necessary to operate and maintain the district works and activities and to defray the current expenses of the district. A maintenance assessment recommendation for the operation and maintenance of the district works and activities must be included in each engineer’s report considered by the board.(2) The board of supervisors may issue bonds in accordance with s. 298.47 to pay the cost of the works and improvements described in the water control plan. Upon such determination, the board of supervisors shall levy a non-ad valorem assessment in a sum not less than an amount, 90 percent of which shall be equal to the principal of said bonds. In no event shall the total amount of all bonds to be issued by the district exceed 90 percent of the benefits assessed upon the lands of the district. Bonds issued under this section shall draw interest at a rate provided by general law and shall be made payable at such time and place as the board of supervisors may determine. The amount of the interest that will accrue on the bonds, as estimated by the board of supervisors, shall be included and added to the assessment, but the interest to accrue on the bonds shall not be included as part of the cost of construction in determining whether or not the expenses and costs of making the improvements shown in the water control plan are equal to, or in excess of, the benefits assessed.History.—s. 14, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.333 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.333 - Assessments and Costs; a Lien on Land Against Which Levied.

298.333 Assessments and costs; a lien on land against which levied.—All non-ad valorem assessments provided for in this chapter, together with all penalties for default in payment of the same and all costs in collecting the same, constitutes, from the date of assessment thereof until paid, a lien of equal dignity with the liens for county taxes and other taxes of equal dignity with county taxes upon all the lands against which such assessments have been levied and assessed, pursuant to s. 197.3632.History.—s. 16, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.341 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.341 - When Unpaid Assessments Delinquent; Penalty.

298.341 When unpaid assessments delinquent; penalty.—All non-ad valorem assessments provided for in this chapter become delinquent and bear penalties on the amount of the assessments in the same manner as county taxes. The assessments shall, from January 1 of each year assessable property is liable for district assessments, constitute a lien until paid on the property against which assessed and are enforceable in the same manner as county taxes.History.—s. 18, ch. 97-40; s. 4, ch. 2005-238.
FL Stat § 298.345 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.345 - Enforcement of Non-Ad Valorem Assessments.

298.345 Enforcement of non-ad valorem assessments.—The collection and enforcement of all non-ad valorem assessments levied by the district shall be at the same time and in like manner as county taxes, and the provisions of the Florida Statutes relating to the sale of lands for unpaid and delinquent county taxes, the issuance, sale, and delivery of tax certificates for such unpaid and delinquent county taxes, the redemption thereof, the issuance to individuals of tax deeds based thereon, and all other procedures in connection therewith, apply to the district and the delinquent and unpaid assessments and taxes of the district to the same extent as if the statutory provisions were expressly set forth in this chapter. All non-ad valorem assessments are subject to the same discounts as county taxes.History.—s. 19, ch. 97-40.
FL Stat § 298.349 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXI - Drainage|Chapter 298 - Drainage and Water Control|298.349 - Uniform Initial Acreage Assessment for Payment of Expenses.

298.349 Uniform initial acreage assessment for payment of expenses.—There is levied upon each acre of land within a water control district created on or after July 1, 1997, a uniform initial assessment of $50 per acre for the year in which the district is created, to be used by the district, through its board of supervisors, for the purpose of district administration, paying expenses incurred or to be incurred in making surveys of the lands in the district, assessing benefits and damages, and other expenses necessarily incurred, as estimated or determined by the board of supervisors, before the board collects or receives funds under the remaining provisions of this chapter. The assessment constitutes a lien upon the lands in the district from the effective date of the special act creating the district and must be collected by the district. If the board of supervisors determines that it is necessary to obtain funds to pay any expenses incurred or to be incurred in organizing the district, or any other expenses relating to the conduct and operation of the district, before a sufficient sum can be obtained by collecting the acreage assessment levied by this section, the board may borrow a sufficient sum of money for any of those purposes, may issue notes or bonds therefor, and may pledge any and all assessments of the initial acreage assessment levied under the provisions of this section for the repayment thereof. The board of supervisors may issue notes or bonds to any person or persons performing work or services or furnishing anything of value in the organization of the district or for any other expenses necessarily incurred before the receipt of funds arising from assessments or benefits.History.—s. 20, ch. 97-40.