reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MS Code § 51-29-133 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-133. Notice and hearing of proposed extension

 When such reports are filed, the clerk of the chancery court shall thereupon give notice for two weeks by two insertions in some newspaper published in the county or counties in which the land proposed to be included in and added to the existing drainage district is located, calling upon all persons owning the land within the said territory to appear before the chancery court, or chancellor in vacation, not less than ten days after the last publication of said notice to show cause in favor of or against the extension of the boundaries of said district so as to include and embrace their lands therein. If it shall appear to the court or chancellor that the extension of the boundaries of said drainage district, so as to include the additional territory and the construction of the proposed improvements, will be conducive to the public health, to the public benefit, and to the interest of the land and the owners thereof, he shall enter an order extending the boundaries of said drainage district so as to embrace and include said territory, and establishing the same as a part of said existing drainage district.
MS Code § 51-29-135 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-135. Extension of district on majority petition

 If the majority of the landowners owning one third of the acreage of the lands or one third of the landowners owning a majority in acreage of the lands proposed to be added to the existing drainage district shall petition the chancery court of any county in which any part of the land lies to extend the boundaries of the existing drainage district so as to embrace and include their lands, proceedings shall be held in all respects in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
MS Code § 51-29-137 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-137. Rights and powers of extended district

 When the boundaries of the existing drainage district are extended so as to embrace and include additional territory and land, said district shall have all the rights, powers, and privileges so far as said land is concerned as said district had of the lands originally embraced and included therein, and shall have full power to make and levy assessments thereon and to issue additional bonds, as is now provided by law for the formation and organization of drainage districts under the provisions of this chapter. When the boundaries of any existing drainage district are extended and additional lands and territory added thereto to be drained and improved, the several parcels of land of such drainage districts as were included within the limits of the district as originally organized and formed shall be liable to the district as already organized for assessments of benefits to be thereafter levied, if any benefits are received by them; and in like manner shall receive credit for any work done or improvements made or constructed by the district as already organized, which will benefit the land and territory added thereto in the manner herein provided.
MS Code § 51-29-139 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-139. Extension may include lands of other drainage districts

 Nothing contained in Sections 51-29-131 through 51-29-143 shall be construed as preventing the inclusion, in the boundaries of the drainage district to be extended, of any lands embraced in any other existing drainage district. Any such lands shall be and remain liable to the drainage district in which such land is located for assessments for benefits thereafter levied, by the new district as extended, if any benefits are received by them; and in like manner shall receive credit for any work done, or improvements made, which will benefit the land added to the drainage district as extended.
MS Code § 51-29-141 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-141. Separate accounts kept for extended districts

 Separate accounts shall be kept by the treasurer and depositories for such extended districts, so as to show receipts and disbursements from and on account of the land embraced in the district as originally formed, and also from the land embraced in the territory added to such districts.
MS Code § 51-29-143 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-143. Provisions applicable to extended districts

 All the provisions of this chapter shall apply to the organization and operation of extended existing drainage districts, as authorized by the provisions of Sections 51-29-131 through 51-29-143, in so far as the same are or can be made applicable.
MS Code § 51-29-145 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-145. Consolidation of districts

 The board of commissioners of any drainage district of the State of Mississippi organized and existing under and by virtue of this chapter, which embraces lands in three or more counties in the State of Mississippi and which supplies an outlet for the water of three or more drainage districts draining tributary streams, in its discretion may, by resolution adopted at any meeting of said board and spread upon its official minutes, declare its proposal and intent to combine the territory of all of the drainage districts for which it supplies a drainage outlet, hereinafter referred to as tributary drainage districts, with the territory of the district supplying said outlet so as to form a single consolidated drainage district embracing the territory of all of the said drainage districts to be under the governing authority of a single board.   The same discretionary authority shall also be vested in the board of commissioners of a drainage district of the State of Mississippi meeting the following qualifications:   That it was organized and is existing under and by virtue of this chapter;   That it is located in two counties in the State of Mississippi, one of which has a population in accordance with the last previous federal census of less than 20,000 and an assessed value on the basis of the 1930-1954 assessment rolls placing it in class 5, and the other of which has a population of less than 20,000 and an assessed value on the basis of the 1930-1954 assessment rolls placing it in class 6, where the combined area of all the drainage districts proposed to be consolidated is less than 24,000 acres; and   That it supplies an outlet for the water of one or more drainage districts through which there runs a continuous drainage canal shared by said districts and providing a combined drainage system for said districts.   Also, the same discretionary authority is vested in the board of drainage commissioners of any drainage district of the State of Mississippi located in one or more counties meeting only the qualifications of subsection (a) of this section whose drainage canal supplies an outlet for the water of one or more tributary drainage districts.
MS Code § 51-29-149 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-149. Consolidation hearing and decree

 At said hearing, the court or chancellor in vacation, as the case may be, shall hear the written protests and objections against the proposed consolidation of said districts, if any be filed prior to the date set for said hearing; and unless, prior to said date of hearing, a majority of the landowners of said districts proposed to be consolidated, owning half or more of the combined land of said districts, shall have filed their written protests or objections against said proposed consolidation, shall enter a final decree, which shall have the force and effect of a judgment, consolidating said districts into a single drainage district embracing the combined territory of all of said several districts. The consolidated drainage district so formed shall have all of the power and authority of a drainage district organized under the provisions of this chapter, and shall have full, complete, and exclusive jurisdiction over such combined territory and of the complete and integrated systems of drainage of the said districts so consolidated. Any person aggrieved by said decree may appeal to the supreme court within twenty days after the date thereof.
MS Code § 51-29-151 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-151. Commissioners of consolidated district

 In the event of such consolidation as provided in Sections 51-29-145 through 51-29-157, the court or chancellor in vacation immediately shall proceed to name said consolidated district, and to appoint to govern the same a board of commissioners to consist of five members, three of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and who shall possess the same qualifications now required by law for drainage commissioners. Two of such commissioners shall be appointed for a term of two years, two for terms of four years, and one for a term of six years, and all shall serve until their successors are appointed. Upon the expiration of the initial term of any commissioner, his successor shall serve for a term of six years and until his successor is appointed. The commissioners so appointed shall take and subscribe the oath required by law, and enter into bond for the faithful performance of their duties in a penalty to be fixed by the court or chancellor, to be approved by the clerk of said court.
MS Code § 51-29-153 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-153. Transfer of powers of former commissioners

 When said board of commissioners of said consolidated district have been appointed and have qualified as required by law, the several boards of commissioners of the said separate drainage districts shall cease to exist, and their power and authority shall terminate. They shall be divested of all of the power and authority theretofore vested in said several boards of commissioners, and all of their said power and authority and jurisdiction in respect to the territory and drainage improvements of their said respective separate districts shall vest in, and thereafter be exercised by, said board of commissioners of said consolidated district.
MS Code § 51-29-155 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-155. Lien of outstanding obligations not impaired by consolidation

 Nothing in Sections 51-29-145 through 51-29-157, nor in any proceedings had under the provisions thereof, shall have the effect of impairing, releasing, or abrogating the lien of the principal of, or interest on, any outstanding bonds, notes, or other obligations of any of the said several drainage districts referred to herein. Such liens are hereby expressly retained and preserved, and the property of any of said drainage districts having any such bonds, notes, or other obligations outstanding at the time of said consolidation shall continue and remain liable for taxation as theretofore for the payment thereof as the same mature and become due. It shall be the duty of said board of commissioners of said consolidated district annually to cause to be levied taxes against said property in any such district, sufficient to pay and discharge any such bonds, notes, or other obligations of such district as they mature and become due.
MS Code § 51-29-157 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-157. Powers and authority of consolidated district

 Said consolidated drainage district shall have the same authority, power and jurisdiction over the combined territory of said separate districts, and over the integrated system of drainage thereof, as if it were a district organized and existing under and by virtue of this chapter. Such district shall have the further and additional power, authority, and jurisdiction to assess said combined territory, or any part thereof, with additional benefits and to levy taxes thereon for the purpose of raising money to preserve the said integrated system of drainage thereof, to clean out, widen, maintain, extend, deepen, and maintain the main and lateral canals thereof, and to construct such other and new canals as the board of commissioners of said consolidated drainage district may find advantageous to the efficient drainage of the said combined territory. In the exercise of said authority, power, and jurisdiction, said consolidated drainage district shall not be bound by any assessment previously made in any of said separate drainage districts, and may assess the said combined lands with benefits without regard to any former assessment of benefits in any separate district. In making said assessments, levying taxes, and in exercising its authority, jurisdiction, and control, said consolidated drainage district shall, insofar as the same is not inconsistent with Sections 51-29-145 through 51-29-157, follow the procedures which shall have the effect provided by this chapter.
MS Code § 51-29-159 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-159. Mineral leases

 The board of commissioners of any drainage district heretofore and hereafter organized under the provision of this chapter are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to lease lands owned by the drainage district for oil, gas, and mineral exploration and development upon such terms and conditions and for such consideration as the board of commissioners of said district, in their discretion, shall deem proper and advisable.   Every such lease shall empower the lessee to enter upon the premises leased and to explore and develop such premises for oil, gas, or either of them, or such other minerals as may be included in the terms of said lease, and do all things necessary or expedient for the production and preservation of any such products.   All rentals, royalties, or other revenue payable under any leases executed pursuant to this section shall be paid to and collected by the treasurer of such drainage district, deposited in the drainage district fund, and used and expended in the same manner and subject to the same restrictions as provided by law in the case of other money belonging to such drainage district.   Any lease executed pursuant to this section shall inure to the benefit of the lessee named therein, his heirs and assigns, and in case the lessee be a corporation, to such lessee and its assigns.
MS Code § 51-29-161 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-161. Reforestation procedure

 The owner or owners of any tract or tracts of land situated within the boundaries of any drainage district that embraces land in more than one county of the state and was organized under this chapter may, in event the United States government, any agency or instrumentality thereof, or any corporation organized under an Act of the Congress of the United States for the purpose of engaging in any reforestation activity accepts a proposal of said owner or owners for the sale thereof, file a petition in the chancery court of the county in which the drainage district was organized, describing therein the tract or tracts of land in said district on which the proposal of said owner or owners for sale as aforesaid has been accepted as said tract or tracts are described in the assessment roll of the district, stating the total amount of assessments of benefits against each said tract and also the total amount thereof remaining unpaid at the time of the filing of such petition, and praying an acquittance of said tract or tracts from all outstanding indebtedness and assessments of benefits of said district whatever and a release thereof from the boundaries of said district on payment of the total amount of assessment of benefits of said district against said tract or tracts remaining unpaid on the filing of such petition. Thereupon the clerk of such chancery court shall issue notices, addressed to all the landowners of said district and to all holders of the outstanding indebtedness of said district, of a hearing on such petition at the next succeeding term of said court or in vacation at a time and place to be fixed by the chancellor, which notice shall be published in a weekly newspaper having a bona fide circulation in each county, any part of which is included within the boundaries of such district, for two successive issues.
MS Code § 51-29-163 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-163. Hearing on reforestation petition

 At said hearing, if said owner or owners shall have then paid over to the chancery clerk the amount set out in said petition and if all of the holders of not less than 95% in amount of the outstanding original indebtedness of the district and all of the holders of outstanding refunding bonds of said district shall have signified in writing, filed with the clerk of said court, their consent to receive the sum so paid as a credit on the said outstanding indebtedness held by them, the chancellor shall determine whether said amount is the true amount of the assessment of benefits of said district against said tract or tracts then remaining unpaid, whether or not the release of said tract or tracts as prayed for will interfere with the continued functioning of the improvements of said district, and whether or not the proposal of sale as set out in said petition is submitted in good faith and accepted as aforesaid. In event it is found that the sum tendered was the true amount of the assessments of benefits of said district against said tract or tracts remaining unpaid, that a release of said tract or tracts will not interfere with the continued functioning of the improvements made by said district, and that the proposal of sale as set out in said petition was submitted in good faith and accepted as aforesaid, the chancellor shall order an acquittance of said tract or tracts from liability for all the outstanding indebtedness of said district and release said tract or tracts from the boundaries of said district, on condition that the sale so proposed and accepted be consummated and a deed to said tract or tracts be delivered to the United States government, to any agency or instrumentality thereof, or to any corporation organized under an Act of the Congress of the United States for the purpose of engaging in reforestation activities. The effect of such order shall be to render said tract or tracts of land, on delivery of said deed, as fully free of any obligation, lien, or incumbrance arising from its inclusion in said district as if said tract or tracts had never been within said district.
MS Code § 51-29-165 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners|§ 51-29-165. Disposition of proceeds of reforestation release

 On the rendition of said order the chancery clerk shall pay over to the board of commissioners of said district the amount so paid in to him, which amount shall be held in a special fund to be deposited with the depository of said district under all protections now provided by law for the deposit of funds of drainage districts. Said special fund shall only be withdrawn thereafter in annual installments of the exact amount of the tax which would have been raised by the levy for the year in question from said tract or tracts, had same not been released from the district, and used by the commissioners only in payment of outstanding indebtedness of the district. However, if the holder or holders of the outstanding indebtedness of the district chargeable against the assessed benefits thereof consent to the release of said land or lands from the district, the sum so paid by the landowners shall be paid to such consenting holders of said indebtedness and immediately credited thereon.
MS Code § 51-31-1 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-1. Powers of drainage districts

 Each drainage district heretofore organized in this state and each drainage district hereafter organized therein shall be a body corporate, shall have authority to sue in its own corporate name and be sued therein, may contract and be contracted with, may plead and be impleaded, and where organized or operating under the provisions of this chapter in its name may do and perform any and all things necessary and authorized by this chapter. All such acts may be done by its commissioners in the name of the district.   As an alternative to any existing right, power, and authority given to any drainage district operated by a board of county drainage commissioners, or to such commissioners, by the laws of the State of Mississippi now or hereafter enacted, all the provisions of the statutes of the State of Mississippi now or hereafter enacted relative to drainage districts operated by local commissioners, and to such local commissioners, shall apply to any drainage district heretofore or hereafter organized and operated by a board of county drainage commissioners, and to such commissioners.
MS Code § 51-31-3 (2020)
2020 Mississippi Code|Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control|Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners|§ 51-31-3. Definitions

 The terms "benefits" and "betterments," as used in this chapter are interchangeable and shall be construed as synonymous. The terms "ditches" and "drains" shall be construed to also include levees and closed drains, such as tiling, as well as open ditches.