reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 51-31-79 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-79. Jurisdiction of drainage commissioners

 Where the lands of any drainage district lie in two or more counties of this state, the county drainage commissioners of the county in which the greatest or greater number of acres of land lies, and in which the suit is brought for the organization of the drainage district, shall have jurisdiction as county drainage commissioners under the chancellor or chancery court of the entire drainage district the same as if the entire drainage district lay in the county of their selection. In reporting to the board of supervisors levies of taxes to be made by the board for the payment of bonds and other obligations of the district, the county drainage commissioners having jurisdiction over such drainage district shall make report to the board of supervisors of each county in which any of the lands of the drainage district lie, showing all the lands and assessments thereon lying in such county. The board of supervisors of the county in which such lands lie shall make the required levies, and the tax collectors of the counties in which the lands lie shall collect the taxes thus levied and account to the treasurer of the drainage district therefor, as in other cases.
MS Code § 51-31-81 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-81. Annual reports

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-83 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-83. Commissioners may go on lands

 The commissioners, from the time such petitions to organize a district are referred to them by the court or chancellor in vacation, shall have the right and authority to go upon any and all of the lands lying within said district for the purpose of examining the same and making plans, surveys, profiles, and estimates of the kind, character, and cost of said proposed system of drains, and may go upon said lands at any time for the purpose of removing obstructions, cleaning out, and keeping in repair the said ditches. No landowner shall have any power or authority to prevent, hinder, or delay the commissioners in the discharge of their lawful duties in that behalf; and in case such landowner or any other person shall undertake to interfere with, hinder, obstruct, or delay the commissioners in the discharge of their duties, the said commissioners or either of them may file his or their complaint in the chancery court or before the chancellor in vacation. Thereupon said court or chancellor shall cite said party to appear and show cause, if any he has, why he should not be fined for said hindrance or obstruction, and the court or chancellor may fine such party not exceeding twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day for every day's hindrance caused by him to said commissioners, as for a contempt of the chancery court.
MS Code § 51-31-85 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-85. Ditches already constructed may be used

 In laying out such proposed work and drains and ditches, the commissioners shall have the right to take and use any ditches heretofore constructed in any part of said district by any landowner owning the same. If any such ditches existing prior to the organization of such district shall be of any value to the said district, the said commissioners shall have the power to allow the said landowner reasonable compensation for the value thereof, which shall be put down on the assessment roll as a credit for ditches already constructed.
MS Code § 51-31-87 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-87. Compensation for use of other district drains

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-89 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-89. Passing railroads with canal

 If in the organization of any drainage district and thereafter in the construction of ditches, drains, or other improvements, it shall be necessary to cross under or through any railroad or the right of way thereof, the same may be accomplished in the following manner: Upon filing of the report of the commissioners as to assessments and benefits and damages, they shall make a special report showing the proposed plans, manner, and character of the work as proposed in passing through such right of way, together with an estimate of the costs of same, including all damages that will be sustained by the railroad by virtue of the construction of the proposed work; and upon the hearing of such commissioner's report, it shall be the duty of said railroad company to appear and show cause why said report should not be confirmed, as other parties interested are required to appear and on the same notice. In such showing it shall be the duty of the railroad company to file with the court, on or before the time set for the hearing, its estimate of the costs of the proposed work, including all damage that will be sustained by it by doing the proposed work. The court or chancellor in vacation shall determine the amount of such costs and damages to the railroad, and said finding shall be final and conclusive adjudication of such matters, unless appealed from in the manner provided for appeals under this chapter. The prosecution of an appeal shall not prevent the drainage commissioners constructing the work as proposed through the railroad right of way, whenever in their discretion it is necessary to do said work. Before beginning the construction of such work through such right of way, the drainage commissioners shall pay to the railroad company, or the chancery clerk for it, the amount of damages adjudicated against the district in the decree appealed from.
MS Code § 51-31-91 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-91. Notice and damages

 When it shall become necessary, in the course of the construction of the work being done by the drainage commissioners, to pass through said right of way in the manner and according to plans theretofore filed as above provided, it shall be the duty of the drainage commissioners to give notice in writing to said railroad company of its desire to cross said right of way with its construction work on some approximate date, which shall not be less than sixty days from the date of such notice. Said notice shall be served upon any agent or employee of said railroad company upon whom, under the laws of the state, service of process may be had; and the commissioners shall at the same time pay or tender to said railroad company such costs and damages as may have been adjudged against the drainage district, as hereinbefore provided. It shall thereupon be the duty of the railroad company within a reasonable time to complete such construction work across its right of way, according to the aforesaid plans and specifications under the supervision of the engineer employed by said drainage commissioners, or to permit same to be done by the drainage commissioners. Should the railroad company fail, neglect, or refuse to do and perform in good faith said work within the time fixed by said drainage commissioners for the performance thereof, or to permit same to be done, it shall be liable to the drainage district and all persons for any damage it or they may sustain by reason of such failure, and said railroad company may be compelled to perform such work by mandatory injunction issued at the instance of the drainage commissioners. This section shall not be so construed as to prohibit the drainage commissioners from acquiring such right of way by the regular eminent domain proceeding if they so elect, or as otherwise provided in this chapter.
MS Code § 51-31-93 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-93. Railroad may be assessed for benefits

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-95 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-95. Drain may cross public road

 If in the construction of such ditches the same shall cross any public road, it shall be the duty of the drainage commissioners to notify the board of supervisors of such county in which such public road is located, at some regular meeting of said board held prior to a day which is thirty days next before the time fixed in such notice for the time at which the proposed work shall be constructed across said public road, stating in such notice the width and depth of such proposed work. It shall be the duty of the board of supervisors to cause to be removed and constructed, at the expense of the county, all bridges necessary to be removed or constructed, same to be done at such time as is reasonable, with a view to the convenience of the public and without unreasonable delay to the prosecution of such work.   Contracts may be made by the board of supervisors for such removal and construction of such bridge or bridges, without first advertising for bids where the cost of any one bridge does not exceed one hundred dollars.
MS Code § 51-31-97 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-97. Landowners outside of district may use drains

 If the owner or owners of any lands lying outside of a drainage district have made or shall hereafter make connection with the main ditch or drain or with any branch or lateral ditch or drain within the district, or if any such land is drained into the ditches and drains of a drainage district by ditches or drains constructed either before or after the organization of such drainage district, and if in either case the lands outside of such drainage district are benefited by the work done in such drainage district, the owner or owners shall be deemed to have made voluntary application to be included in such drainage district. Thereupon, the commissioners shall make a complaint in writing, stating the description of such land or lands benefited, the amount of benefits, the name of the owner or owners thereof, and the description of the drain or ditch making connection with the ditches as near as may be, and file said complaint in the chancery court where said district was organized. Said court or chancellor in vacation shall fix a day, not less than twenty-five days from the filing of the petition, when it shall hear such complaint; and thereupon the clerk of said court shall give each of the landowners notice of said proceedings by mailing each of them notice of said complaint to their post-office addresses not less than ten days prior to the date for said hearing, or personal service may be served on each of them as provided in ordinary suits not less than five days prior to the date of the hearing. On the hearing of the complaint and the issues joined, if any, if the court or chancellor finds the allegations in the complaint true, it shall decree that such lands, or such parts thereof as are benefited, be joined to said district petitioning. Such lands shall thereafter be a part of said petitioning district lands and shall be assessed and dealt with accordingly. Benefits, damages, and assessments may thereafter be made against such added lands on the same notice and under the same proceedings as against lands in the district originally, and said added lands shall be made to appear on the assessment rolls of the district as other lands of the district.
MS Code § 51-31-99 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-99. Reassessment if estimate deficient

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-101 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-101. Penalty for injuring drains

 Any person who shall wrongfully or purposely fill up, cut, injure, destroy, or in any manner injure or impair the usefulness of any drain, ditch, or other work constructed under drainage laws shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, may be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00), and shall be liable for double the expense occasioned by repairing the same or removing such obstruction, to be recovered at the suit of the proper drainage district.
MS Code § 51-31-103 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-103. Benefit to county farm

 Where a county farm owned by any county lies within any drainage district and would be benefited thereby, the board of supervisors are authorized in their discretion to pay out of the general county fund the pro rata of tax for which such county lands should be taxed if owned by individuals.
MS Code § 51-31-105 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-105. Jurisdiction of suits

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-107 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-107. Master may hear and determine causes; report of findings to chancellor

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-109 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-109. Expenses of chancellor and master taxed against district

 The chancellor or any master appointed by the chancellor shall be entitled to receive and shall tax against the drainage district, as a part of the costs, all expenses incurred by the chancellor or master on account of hearing, considering, and determining any and all matters connected with the organization of such drainage district. In addition to receiving his traveling and other expenses, the master shall receive such additional compensation as shall be allowed him by the chancellor.
MS Code § 51-31-111 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-111. Additional bond issue

 The drainage commissioners of any county in which a drainage district has been organized and who have sold bonds for 80% of the assessment on the lands in such district, and who have provided for the collection of the remaining twenty per cent of the assessment on the lands in such district in cash within not less than four months, are authorized to issue and sell the bonds, notes, or other objects of indebtedness of the drainage district for the twenty per cent, or any part thereof, which was provided to have been paid in cash and which has not yet been paid.
MS Code § 51-31-113 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-113. Interest rate of additional bonds

 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.
MS Code § 51-31-115 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-115. Notice of issue to be published

 Before the sale of any such bonds, notes, or other objects of indebtedness provided for in Sections 51-31-111 and 51-31-113, the drainage commissioners shall publish notice to all parties interested for at least ten days of their intention to issue said additional bonds. Any time after the expiration of the ten days from the action of the chancellor in approving the action of the commissioners in the issuance of such bonds, notes, or evidence of indebtedness, and after ten days from the entry of the order of the chancellor, made in term time or vacation, approving the action of the commissioners in issuing such bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, any bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued and sold by the commissioners shall be a lien on the lands assessed in the drainage district and shall be non-contestable.
MS Code § 51-31-117 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-117. Proceedings in rem

 All proceedings under this chapter are declared to be proceedings in rem. The notices for the organization of a drainage district hereunder and all subsequent notices herein provided for shall be sufficient as notices for the purposes stated, the organization of a district, and the issuance of district bonds as herein provided. The failure of the clerk to send a copy of any notice by registered mail to any nonresident, whose residence is known or unknown, shall not invalidate the proceedings for the organization of any drainage district hereunder or of bonds of the district issued under same; but the court or chancellor in vacation may adjourn the hearing of any case in order to cause other notice to be made, if in his discretion he thinks proper, in order to comply with the requirements of this chapter.