reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AL Code § 9-9-5 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-5 - Establishment of District - Jurisdiction Generally; Purposes.

Section 9-9-5Establishment of district - Jurisdiction generally; purposes. (a) The court of probate of any county of the State of Alabama shall have jurisdiction, power and authority to establish water management districts, as provided in this article for the following purposes: (1) To locate and establish levees, drains or canals and to cause to be constructed, straightened, widened or deepened any ditch, drain or watercourse; (2) To construct for the purposes of flood prevention or the conservation, development, utilization or disposal of water works of improvement, including levees, embankments, floodwater retarding structures, water storage structures, outlets and tide gates, flood gates and pumping plants for preventing floods, providing drainage, reducing sediment and reclaiming wet, swamp or overflowed lands and other related works of improvement that will carry out the purposes of this article; and (3) To provide maintenance for such installations. (b) It is hereby declared that the drainage of surface water and the reclamation of wetlands, swamplands, overflowed lands and tidal marshes and flood prevention and the conservation, development, utilization and disposal of water shall be considered a public benefit and conducive to the public health, safety, convenience, utility and welfare. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §3.)
AL Code § 9-9-6 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-6 - Establishment of District - Maintenance of Record of Proceedings in Probate Court; District Record Book.

Section 9-9-6Establishment of district - Maintenance of record of proceedings in probate court; district record book. The court of probate shall keep a complete record of all its proceedings under this article in a book to be used for the purpose only. The book shall be designated as the "Water Management District Record of _____ County, Alabama" and shall also have recorded therein all bond orders, papers, proofs of publications and auditors' and water management commissioner's (hereinafter referred to as water management commissioners) reports, bonds and plats filed in any district proceedings in the probate court of that county, except the district tax record and the district tax books. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §4.)
AL Code § 9-9-8 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-8 - Establishment of District - Jurisdiction of Probate Court in Which Petition Filed.

Section 9-9-8Establishment of district - Jurisdiction of probate court in which petition filed. The court of probate of the county in which said petition is filed shall thereafter maintain and have original and exclusive jurisdiction coextensive with the boundaries and limits of said district without regard to county lines for all purposes of this article; subject, however, to the right of appeal to the circuit court of the county in which the petition is filed. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §7.)
AL Code § 9-9-9 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-9 - Establishment of District - Notice of Filing of Petition and of Hearing.

Section 9-9-9Establishment of district - Notice of filing of petition and of hearing. Immediately upon the filing of the report of the engineer or other plans submitted by petitioner, it shall be the duty of the court of probate to forthwith give notice thereof by personal service or by causing publication to be made as hereinafter defined; and, in the event notice is given by publication, the following form shall suffice: "Notice of Petition for the Organization of a Water Management District. Notice is hereby given to all persons interested in the following described lands in _____ County, State of Alabama (here describe the lands as set out in the preliminary survey or other plans on file with this court) that a petition has been filed with this court signed by a majority of the persons owning at least one third of the land or by at least one third of the persons owning more than one half of the aforementioned land, asking that the aforementioned and described lands be organized into a water management district under the provisions of the Alabama Water Management Law and that some of the lands above described will be affected by the formation of said district and may be rendered liable to taxation for the purpose of procuring land rights constructing, operating and maintaining the works of improvements that may be found necessary in said district, and you and each of you are hereby notified to appear at a term of the court of probate to be held on the _____ day of _____, 2__, at __ o'clock in _____ County, and to show cause, if any there be, why the aforementioned and described lands should not be organized as a water management district _____ Probate Judge of _____ County." A copy of such notice shall be mailed to the commissioners by the probate judge. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §6.)
AL Code § 9-9-10 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-10 - Establishment of District - Presentation of Opinion by Representative of State Committee.

Section 9-9-10Establishment of district - Presentation of opinion by representative of state committee. On the day appointed for the hearing, a representative of the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee may appear and by verbal or written statement advise the court of his opinion of the need of establishing the proposed water management district. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §8.)
AL Code § 9-9-12 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-12 - Establishment of District - Appeal as to Inclusion in or Exclusion From District of Property.

Section 9-9-12Establishment of district - Appeal as to inclusion in or exclusion from district of property. If the court finds that any property set out in the report of the engineer or other plans submitted by petitioners should not be incorporated in the district, the board of commissioners or any owner of realty in the district may, within 20 days after the refusal of the court of probate to include said property in the district, appeal from the order of the court to the circuit court upon giving bond in a sum to be fixed by the court, conditioned for the payment of costs if the appeal should be decided against said appellant. Any person owning lands within the district that, in his opinion, should not be included in the district may, within 20 days, appeal from the decision of the court to the circuit court by filing an appeal accompanied by a bond approved by the court, conditioned for the payment of the cost if the appeal should be decided against him. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §13.)
AL Code § 9-9-13 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-13 - Establishment of District - Effect of Order Establishing District.

Section 9-9-13Establishment of district - Effect of order establishing district. The order of the court of probate establishing said district shall have all the force of a judgment, and the court shall forthwith levy a uniform tax of not more than $1.00 per acre upon each acre of land owned by the landowners within such district to be used for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred in establishing said district or to be incurred in organizing said district, making surveys of the same and assessing benefits and damages and to pay other expenses necessary to be incurred before the board of commissioners provided for in this article shall be empowered by the subsequent provisions of this article to provide funds to pay the total cost in connection with the works of improvement of the district. In case the boundaries of the district shall be extended under subsequent sections of this article so as to include land and other property not contained within the district as organized by order of the court of probate in the first instance, the same uniform tax shall be made on such lands as soon as the same shall have been annexed and included in the district. Such tax shall be due and payable as soon as levied and, if not paid by December 31 of the year in which it is levied shall become delinquent and shall be turned over to the tax collector of the county in which the lands are located for collection, and the collection of such taxes shall be proceeded with in the same manner as delinquent general state and county taxes. This tax shall be a lien, equal in dignity with the lien for general state and county taxes on the land against which it is levied from the time the levy is made. In case the sum raised from such levy exceeds the total cost of items for which the same has been levied, the surplus shall be placed in the general funds of the district and used to pay the cost of construction, rights-of-way and operations and maintenance of works of improvements.  (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §10; Acts 1969, No. 442, p. 883, §10.)
AL Code § 9-9-15 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-15 - Board of Water Management Commissioners - Powers and Duties Generally.

Section 9-9-15Board of water management commissioners - Powers and duties generally. The board of water management commissioners shall have the right and authority to enter into contracts or other agreements with the United States government or any department thereof, with persons, with railroads or other corporations, with public corporations, with the state government of this or other states and with drainage, conservation or other improvement districts in this or other states for cooperating or assisting in constructing, maintaining, using or operating the works of the district or for making surveys and investigations or reports thereon and may purchase, lease or acquire land or other property in adjoining states in order to secure outlets or for other purposes of this article, and may let contracts for securing such outlets or other works in adjoining states as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this article. The board shall have the authority to borrow funds from governmental agencies or other lending institutions in lieu of or as a supplement to issuing bonds. Such loan shall not exceed 40 years. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §48.)
AL Code § 9-9-16 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-16 - Board of Water Management Commissioners - Election of District Treasurer.

Section 9-9-16Board of water management commissioners - Election of district treasurer. The board of water management commissioners shall elect some competent person, corporation or partnership as district treasurer, whose duty it shall be to receive all moneys derived from tax collections, the sale of bonds or from any other source and to disburse the same in accordance with the provisions of this article. The secretary shall also be eligible for the office of treasurer. The said treasurer shall be required before entering upon the discharge of his duties to give bond in such manner as shall be fixed by the board of water management commissioners, payable to the water management district conditioned that he will well and truly account for and pay out as provided by law all moneys received by him from whatever source, which bond shall be signed by at least two sureties approved and accepted by said board of water management commissioners. Said treasurer shall keep all funds received by him from any source whatever deposited at all times in some banking institution to be designated by the board of water management commissioners; provided, that if it shall be deemed more expedient to the board of water management commissioners as to money derived from the sale of bonds issued, said board may by resolution select some suitable bank or banks or other depository as temporary treasurer or treasurers to hold and disburse said moneys on the orders of the board of water management commissioners as the work progresses until such fund is exhausted or transferred to the district treasurer by order of the said board of water management commissioners. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §54.)
AL Code § 9-9-17 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-17 - Board of Water Management Commissioners - Appointment, etc., of Fiscal Agent.

Section 9-9-17Board of water management commissioners - Appointment, etc., of fiscal agent. For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this article, to assist in the keeping of the tax books, the collection of taxes, the remitting of funds to pay maturing bonds and coupons and to be of such other service in the general management of the affairs of the district as may be determined, the board of water management commissioners shall have authority to appoint a fiscal agent and to define the duties and fix the compensation of said fiscal agent. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §55.)
AL Code § 9-9-18 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-18 - Board of Water Management Commissioners - Auditing of District Accounts; Annual Report; Notice of Reports and Annual Meeting.

Section 9-9-18Board of water management commissioners - Auditing of district accounts; annual report; notice of reports and annual meeting. On or before August 1 of each year, the board of water management commissioners of any district organized under this article shall have the accounts of the district audited, and it shall file with the court of probate having jurisdiction thereof the auditor's report showing the receipts and disbursements of the district for the preceding calendar year ending June 30 as well as its statement of the character of the work accomplished during such year and a general statement of the plans and purposes of the board of water management commissioners for the succeeding year. The commissioners shall give notice by publication as provided in this article that the auditor's report and the annual report of the board of water management commissioners is on file with the court and that the board of water management commissioners will hold its annual meeting in the office of the court of probate on the second Monday in September to consider any business which may come before the board in behalf of the district or any questions which any landowner may desire to present to the board of water management commissioners. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §49.)
AL Code § 9-9-19 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-19 - Compensation of District Officers and Employees.

Section 9-9-19Compensation of district officers and employees. Each member of the board of viewers shall receive as compensation for his services $25.00 per diem when actually employed. The secretary of the board of water management commissioners shall be entitled to such compensation for his secretarial work as may be agreed upon by the board of water management commissioners. Any attorney, engineer or assistant engineer or assistants employed under the provisions of this article shall receive such compensation for his or their services as shall be fixed and determined upon by the court of probate, together with reimbursement for all necessary expenses, until the board of water management commissioners is appointed, which shall then assume jurisdiction of these matters. The compensation of the treasurer of the district and of all other assistants and employees shall be determined by the board of water management commissioners. Such expenses shall be paid by order of the board of water management commissioners out of the fund provided for that purpose, and the board of water management commissioners shall issue warrants therefor in payment thereof. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §52.)
AL Code § 9-9-20 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-20 - Removal of Commissioners, Viewers or Other District Officers.

Section 9-9-20Removal of commissioners, viewers or other district officers. Any commissioner, viewer or other officer of any district organized under this article may, after due hearing, be removed for cause upon a motion filed in the court of probate where said district was organized. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §12.)
AL Code § 9-9-21 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-21 - Right of Condemnation.

Section 9-9-21Right of condemnation. The power of eminent domain is hereby conferred, and such land, easements or rights-of-way within or outside the district which are necessary to carry out the purposes of the district may be condemned. Nothing in this article shall be construed to authorize the acquisition by eminent domain of any real property or rights owned or controlled by railroads or utilities, both public and private. The right of condemnation hereby conferred shall be exercised by application to the court of probate of the county in which the lands over which such right-of-way or outlet is desired or a material portion thereof are situated, and the same proceedings shall be had as in cases of condemnation of lands under the right of eminent domain, and such damages as may be awarded as compensation shall be paid by the board of water management commissioners out of the first funds which shall be available from the proceeds of the sale of bonds or otherwise. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §14.)
AL Code § 9-9-22 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-22 - Right of Commissioners, etc., to Enter Lands to Make Surveys, etc.; Liability for Damages; Obstruction of Entrance.

Section 9-9-22Right of commissioners, etc., to enter lands to make surveys, etc.; liability for damages; obstruction of entrance. The board of water management commissioners of any district organized under this article or its employees or agents or cooperating state and federal agencies, including contractors and their employees, and the engineer and members of the board of viewers and their assistants may enter upon the lands within or without the district in order to make surveys and examinations to accomplish the necessary preliminary purposes of the district or to have access to the work, being liable, however, for actual damage done. Any person or corporation preventing such entrance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §15.)
AL Code § 9-9-24 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-24 - Procedure as to Proposed Improvement Crossing Railroad Right-of-Way.

Section 9-9-24Procedure as to proposed improvement crossing railroad right-of-way. Whenever the proposed improvement crosses the right-of-way of any railroad company, it shall be the duty of the board of water management commissioners, before adopting the plan of water management, to promptly notify such railroad company by serving written notice on any agent of such company or its lessee or receiver, such notice fixing the time of such meeting, which shall be not less than 10 days after the service of the same, that the board of water management commissioners will meet the company at the place where the proposed works of improvement will cross the right-of-way of such company for the purpose of conferring with said railroad company with relation to the place and the manner in which said improvement shall cross such right-of-way. It shall be the duty of the board of water management commissioners and the railroad company to agree, if possible, upon the place where and the manner and method in which such improvement shall cross such right-of-way. If the board of water management commissioners and the railroad company cannot agree or if the railroad company shall fail, neglect or refuse to confer with the board of water management commissioners, said board of water management commissioners shall determine the place and manner of crossing the right-of-way of said railroad company and shall specify the number and sizes of openings required and so specify in the plan of water management, and it shall further specify that it could not agree with the railroad company or that the latter failed, neglected or refused to confer with said board. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §17.)
AL Code § 9-9-25 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 9 - Conservation and Natural Resources.|Chapter 9 - Water Management and Drainage.|Article 1 - Water Management Districts.|Section 9-9-25 - Correction of Errors in or Amendments to Water Management Plan.

Section 9-9-25Correction of errors in or amendments to water management plan. The board of water management commissioners may correct errors in or amend the plan of water management at any time upon the recommendation or concurrence of competent technicians when it appears that the purpose for which the district is organized may thereby be more effectively and economically accomplished; provided, that after assessments of benefits have been confirmed by the court, no such amendment to plans shall be effective until approved by the court having jurisdiction of the district after a hearing, for which notice shall be given as in the case of the assessments of benefits, at which hearing all parties whose property has been assessed for benefits or may be damaged or taken by reason of such amendment shall have opportunity to be heard. When any amendment to the plan is approved by the court, the benefits and damages resulting from such amendment shall be determined at the same hearing. (Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §18.)