reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AR Code § 14-117-204 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 2 - District Establishment|§ 14-117-204. Notice and hearing

 (a) The chancery or circuit clerk shall give notice by publication for two (2) weeks in some newspaper published and having a general circulation in the county calling upon all persons owning property within the proposed district to appear before the court on some day to be fixed by the court to show cause in favor of or against the establishment of the district. If the court deems it to the best interest of the owners of real property within the proposed district that the district shall become a district under the terms of this chapter, it shall make an order upon its records establishing the property as a district subject to all the terms and provisions of this chapter.  (b) Any owner of real property within the territory of the proposed district may petition the court to exclude his property.  (c) If the court finds that the real property would not be benefited by the improvements of the proposed district, the court, in its order, shall exclude the real property of the petitioner or petitioners from the district. However, lands shall be excluded for irrigation purposes by the order of the court upon a showing that the land is supplied by adequate irrigation from surface sources or other sources existing at time of order creating the district and, provided further, that lands so excluded shall be subordinate to all lands within the irrigation district should water from the irrigation works be desired at a later date.
AR Code § 14-117-205 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 2 - District Establishment|§ 14-117-205. Land in more than one county

 (a) If land in more than one (1) county is embraced in the proposed district, the petition shall be addressed to the chancery or circuit court in which the largest portion of the lands lie. All proceedings shall be had in that court, and the court shall apportion all costs incurred in the creation of the district between the county or counties in proportion to the benefits assessed to lands in each such county.  (b) Such expenses as are incurred prior to the time when the assessment is made shall be apportioned between the counties in the proportion which the court shall deem to be just and equitable.  (c) In the event district lands are in more than one (1) county, all notices shall be published in newspapers published and having a bona fide circulation in each such county in which the district will embrace land.  (d) All of the districts shall be appropriately identified by the court, that is, they shall be numbered consecutively or shall receive names selected by the court.
AR Code § 14-117-206 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 2 - District Establishment|§ 14-117-206. Prompt payment of expenses required

 If the expenses incurred in the creation of a district are not promptly paid by the county or counties pursuant to the order of the court, a proceeding in mandamus shall lie to compel the payment of the expenses.
AR Code § 14-117-207 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 2 - District Establishment|§ 14-117-207. Effect of establishment order — Appeal

 (a) The order of the chancery or circuit court establishing the district shall have all the force of a judgment.  (b) Any owner of real property within the district may appeal from the judgment within thirty (30) days after the judgment has been made, but if no appeal is taken within that time, the judgment shall be deemed conclusive and binding upon all the real property within the bounds of the district, and upon the owners thereof.  (c) Any owner of property in the proposed district may within a like time appeal from any order refusing to establish the district.
AR Code § 14-117-209 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 2 - District Establishment|§ 14-117-209. Assessment of lands outside district — Boundary extension

 (a) If the board, upon petition of a majority in number as provided in §§ 14-117-202 and 14-117-204 — 14-117-206 for the establishment of districts, finds that other lands not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be affected by the proposed improvement, it shall assess the estimated benefits and damages to the lands and shall specially report to the chancery or circuit court the assessment which it has made on the lands beyond the boundaries of the district as already established.  (b) It shall then be the duty of the court to give notice by publication for two (2) weeks in a newspaper or newspapers published in the county or counties where the lands lie, describing the additional lands which have been assessed. The owners of real property so assessed shall be allowed thirty (30) days after the last publication of the notice to file with the clerk their protest against being included within the district.  (c) The court shall at its next session investigate the question whether the lands beyond the boundaries of the district so assessed by the board will in fact be benefited or damaged by the making of the improvement. From its finding in that regard and its order based thereon, either the property owners affected by the assessment or the board may within thirty (30) days file an appeal to the Supreme Court. If the finding and order is in favor of the inclusion of the lands, the limits of the district shall by order of the court be extended so as to embrace the lands.
AR Code § 14-117-301 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-301. Members

 (a) When the circuit court has established any improvement district, the court shall appoint five (5) owners of real property within the district to act as a board of commissioners for that district, which shall be its governing body.  (b)  (1) Each of these commissioners shall take the oath of office required by Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, § 20, and shall also swear that he or she will well and truly assess all benefits resulting from the improvement and all damages caused thereby.  (2) Any commissioner failing to take the oath within thirty (30) days after his or her appointment shall be deemed to have declined, and his or her place shall be filled by the court.    (c)  (1) All vacancies on the board shall be filled by the court.  (2) However, if the owners of a majority in assessed value of the real property in the district shall petition for the appointment of a particular person or persons as commissioner or commissioners, it shall be the duty of the court to appoint the person or persons so designated.    (d) The court shall remove any member of the board on the petition of owners of a majority in assessed value of the real property in the district.  (e) The commissioners provided for in this section shall receive as compensation the sum of no more than fifty dollars ($50.00) each day for attending meetings of the board, together with their necessary expenses.
AR Code § 14-117-302 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-302. Organization

 The board shall select one (1) of their number as chairman, and a majority shall constitute a quorum.
AR Code § 14-117-303 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-303. Agents and employees generally

 The board shall have the authority to hire all necessary agents and employees.
AR Code § 14-117-304 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-304. Powers and duties

 (a) The board of commissioners shall have and may exercise any functions, powers, authority, rights, and duties that permit the accomplishments of the purposes for which such districts may be created, including the investigation and in case a plan for improvements is adopted, then the construction, maintenance, and operation of all necessary improvements, plants, works, and facilities; the acquisition by purchase, lease, gift, or condemnation of water rights and all other properties, lands, tenements, easements; and all other rights helpful in carrying out the purposes of the organization of the district.  (b) The board, its agents, and its employees shall have the right to enter upon any land within the district to make surveys and for other purposes.  (c) The board also may accept appropriations from the state and from the United States Government upon such terms and conditions as may be imposed by law, rule, or regulation to be used in the furtherance of the purposes for which the district was authorized.  (d) The board also may construct the necessary improvements and do any lawful act necessary to accomplish the purposes of the organization of the district.  (e) In order to protect the improvements of the district from damage, the board may make and prescribe necessary regulations. The board may make regulations to define and set the rate and location of any withdrawal of waters owned, acquired, or developed by the district and transferred by natural or man-made channels. The board may also make regulations governing the operation of the works of the district and the delivery of water owned or acquired by it to users and the performance of any of its other functions. The willful violation of these regulations shall constitute a misdemeanor under the laws of this state punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000).
AR Code § 14-117-305 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-305. Eminent domain

 (a) The right and power of eminent domain heretofore conferred shall, as to watershed improvement districts organized under this chapter for the purpose of cooperation under Public Law 83-566, as amended, include the power to enter upon, take, and condemn private property, located either within or without the boundaries of the district, for the construction or erection of works or improvements necessary to conserve soil and water resources; prevent erosion, floodwater, and sediment damage; construct diversion systems, floodwater retarding structures, floodways, levees, desilting basins, channels, rights-of-way, including rights-of-way for improvements in upland areas upstream from district lands when such upstream areas are sources of floodwater or sediment which causes damage to district lands; or other lawful purposes. The term “or other lawful purposes,” as used in this section, shall include a watershed improvement plan in its entirety, or any integral part thereof, necessary to carrying out the plans of the district.  (b) Condemnation proceedings instituted under this section shall be conducted in the manner as is now provided by §§ 18-15-1001 — 18-15-1010.  (c) Legal title to all property so acquired shall vest in the district for the uses and purposes of the district.
AR Code § 14-117-306 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-306. Control of construction — Advertisement for bids

 (a) The board shall have control of the construction of the improvements in their districts.  (b) It may advertise in local or state papers or papers published in other states for proposals for doing any work by contract. No work exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) shall be let without public advertisement. The board may accept or reject any proposals.
AR Code § 14-117-307 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-307. Construction — Cooperation with federal government

 (a) If the 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 § 14-117-308 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-308. Contractors and agents

 (a) All contractors shall be required to give bond for the faithful performance of the contracts awarded them, with good and sufficient securities, in an amount to be fixed by the board. The board shall not remit or excuse the penalty or forfeiture of the bond or the breaches thereof.  (b) The board may:  (1) Appoint all necessary agents for carrying on the work and fix their pay;  (2) Buy and sell all necessary material and implements as may be on hand, which may not be necessary for the completion of the improvement under way, or which may have been completed;  (3) Make all such contracts in the prosecution of the work as may best subserve the public interest.    (c) It shall be the duty of the 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 § 14-117-309 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 3 - Board of Commissioners|§ 14-117-309. Disposal of unneeded land

 The board may determine, by resolution, that any real or personal property is no longer needed for the uses and purposes of the district and may thereafter sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the property upon such terms and in such manner as appear to the board to be for the best interest of the district.
AR Code § 14-117-403 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 4 - District Operation|§ 14-117-403. Assessment of benefits and damages

 (a)  (1) As soon as plans for the improvement work have been completed or a contract has been entered into with the United States, the board shall proceed to assess the lands within the district on the basis of benefits accruing from works of improvement for irrigation, drainage, flood control, prevention of seepage of irrigated lands, prevention of erosion, floodwater, and sediment damages, and the conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water.  (2) A separate book shall be maintained with respect to assessments of benefits on the basis of benefits derived from works of improvement for irrigation, drainage, flood control, prevention of seepage of irrigated lands, prevention of erosion, floodwater, and sediment damages, and the conservation, development, utilization, and disposal of water.  (3) The board shall cause to be inscribed in the book the description of each tract of land and shall assess the value of the benefits to accrue to each tract by reason of the improvements and enter the assessment of benefits opposite the description, together with an estimate of what the landowner will probably have to pay on the assessment.  (4) Their assessment shall embrace not merely the land but all public and corporate roads, railroads, tramroads, and other improvements on lands that will be benefited by the district.  (5) They shall place opposite each tract of land the name of the 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 landowner, any private corporation, or any other drainage district has made any improvements or works that can be profitably used as a part of the general system, the value of those improvements or works shall be assessed by the board, shall separately appear upon their assessment, and shall be paid for by the district, either in cash or by reduction of assessments.  (c) The board 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. 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 will be sustained.
AR Code § 14-117-404 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 4 - District Operation|§ 14-117-404. Filing of assessment

 (a) When their assessment is completed, the board shall subscribe an original and one (1) copy of the assessment and deposit the original with the circuit or chancery clerk, where it shall be kept and preserved as a public record.  (b) The copy shall be certified by the clerk and returned to the board to be preserved with the records of the district.
AR Code § 14-117-405 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 4 - District Operation|§ 14-117-405. Notice and hearing on assessment — Appeal

 (a) Upon the filing of the assessment, the clerk shall give notice of that fact by publication for two (2) weeks in some weekly newspaper issued in each of the counties in which the lands of the district may lie.  (b) The notice shall give a description of the lands assessed and shall state that the owners of the lands, if they desire, may appear before the court on a certain day, naming the day, and present complaints, if they have any, against the assessment of any lands in the district.  (c) The day so named shall be more than ten (10) days after the last publication of the notice.  (d) If no complaint is made as herein provided, the assessment as deposited with the clerk shall be conclusive.  (e) 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 court on the day named in the notice.  (f) The court shall consider the complaint and enter its finding thereon, either confirming the assessment or increasing or diminishing the assessment.  (g) Its findings shall have the force and effect of a judgment, from which an appeal may be taken within thirty (30) days, either by the property owners or by the board of the district.
AR Code § 14-117-406 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 4 - District Operation|§ 14-117-406. Acquiescence in assessment of damages — Demand for assessment — Condemnation

 Any property owner may accept the assessment of damages in his favor made by the board, or acquiesce in their failure to assess damages in his favor, and shall be construed to have done so unless he gives to the board, within thirty (30) days after the assessment is filed, notice in writing that he demands an assessment of his damages by a jury. In that event, the board shall institute an action to condemn the lands that must be taken or damaged in the making of the improvement, which action shall be in accordance with the proceedings provided in § 14-117-305.
AR Code § 14-117-407 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 4 - District Operation|§ 14-117-407. Alteration of plans

 The board may at any time alter the plans for improvement, but before constructing the work according to the changed plans, the changed plans shall be filed with the circuit or chancery clerk and 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 within the district.
AR Code § 14-117-408 (2020)
2020 Arkansas Code|Title 14 - Local Government|Subtitle 7 - Water and Soil Improvement Districts|Chapter 117 - Irrigation, Drainage, and Watershed Improvement District Act|Subchapter 4 - District Operation|§ 14-117-408. Reassessment of benefits — Appeals

 (a)  (1) If, by reason of a change of plans pursuant to § 14-117-407, either the board or any property owners deem that the assessment on any property has become inequitable, they may petition the court, which may thereupon refer the petition to the board. The board shall then 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.  (2) In no event shall a reduction of assessments be made after the assessment of benefits has been confirmed by the court as provided in § 14-117-405, but any reduction in benefits shall be paid for as damages. The claim for the damages shall be secondary and subordinate to the rights of the holders of bonds or other obligations or evidence of indebtedness which have heretofore been issued.  (3) From the action of the board in the matter, the property owners shall have the same right of appeal that is herein provided for in the case of the original assessment.    (b)  (1) The board shall have the power to make a reassessment of the benefits not more often than once a year. The reassessment shall be made, advertised, and equalized as is provided for the original assessment of benefits.  (2) All appeals of landowners objecting to the reassessment must be taken and perfected within thirty (30) days from the time of the action of the chancery or circuit court thereon.  (3) If any obligation of the district shall be outstanding at the time of the reassessment, the liability thereon of real property against which assessments of benefits have been confirmed shall be no less than the liability of the property by reason of the original assessment.