Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 14 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-387-706) › Subtitle 11 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS, FACILITIES, AND AUTHORITIES (§§ 14-184-101 — 14-188-122) › Chapter 185 - METROPOLITAN PORT AUTHORITIES (§§ 14-185-101 — 14-185-137) › Section 14-185-109 - Powers of authority generally

In order to enable authorities to carry out the purposes of this chapter, the authorities shall:
(1)
Have the powers of a body corporate including the power to sue and be sued, to make contracts, and to adopt and use a seal;
(2)
Have the power to rent, acquire, improve, develop, operate, maintain, lease, buy, own, mortgage, otherwise encumber, sell, dispose of, and otherwise deal with such real, personal, or mixed property as the authorities may deem proper, necessary, or desirable to carry out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, all or any of them;
(3)
Have the power to acquire, purchase, install, lease, rent, own, hold, use, control, develop, sell, improve, construct, maintain, equip and operate, and otherwise deal with and dispose of any buildings, wharves, docks, piers, quays, elevators, tipples, bulk loading and unloading facilities, water terminals, air terminals, rail terminals, roadways and approaches, compresses, refrigeration storage plants, landing places, basins, belt line roads, highways, bridges, causeways, shipyards, shipping facilities, transportation facilities, boats, barges, machinery, equipment, dredging of approaches, warehouses, and other structures, and any and all facilities and work in connection with them, of every nature whatever incidental to and useful or convenient for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter and needful for the convenient use of them in aid of commerce, whether by water, air, roadway, highway, or other, and industrial and commercial operations;
(4)
Have the power consistent with this chapter to acquire, own, construct, reconstruct, extend, equip, improve, operate, maintain, sell, lease, lease with or without options to purchase, lease with or without options to extend or renew, contract concerning, or otherwise deal in, with, or dispose of any lands, buildings, improvements, machinery, equipment, or facilities of any and every nature for the securing and developing of industry and commerce and parks for industrial and commercial operations;
(5)
Have the power to appoint and employ and dismiss at pleasure, such agents and employees as may be selected by the authorities and to fix and pay their compensation;
(6)
Have the power to establish an office for the transaction of business at such place as, in the opinion of the authorities, shall be advisable or necessary in carrying out the purposes of this chapter;
(7)
Have the power to create and operate such agencies, departments, and instrumentalities as the authorities may deem necessary, desirable, or useful for the accomplishment and furtherance of any of the purposes of this chapter;
(8)
Have the power to pay and expend funds for all necessary costs and expenses involved in and incident to the formation and organization of the authorities and the carrying out of the powers and purposes of this chapter;
(9)
Have the power to adopt, alter, or repeal from time to time its own bylaws, rules, and regulations consistent with this chapter governing the manner in which the business of the authorities may be transacted and in which the purposes and powers may be transacted and in which the purposes and powers of the authorities may be accomplished and carried out;
(10)
Have the power to fix and change, from time to time, rates and charges for the use of the facilities and services of the authorities;
(11)
Have the power to promulgate and to alter or repeal, from time to time, rules and regulations consistent with this chapter and to enforce the same governing and pertaining to the use of the facilities and services of the authorities;
(12)
Have the power to sell, contract concerning, or lease any of its docks, wharves, piers, quays, elevators, compresses, refrigeration storage plants, warehouses, industrial or commercial plants and facilities, and other improvements and facilities of whatever nature and to permit the use of any such facilities by any person engaging in any industrial or commercial activity;
(13)
Have the power to acquire, construct, equip, and operate any and all facilities in or about the ports, harbors, river-rail terminals, barge terminals, and parks for industrial and commercial operations for the purpose of securing and developing industrial and commercial operations.
(14)
Have the power to do any and all other acts and things of whatever nature consistent with this chapter necessary or incidental to the carrying out of the powers specified in this section and the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter, whether or not specifically enumerated; and
(15)
Be authorized to carry out the powers of the authorities and to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
Acts 1961, No. 439, § 5; 1983, No. 623, § 2; A.S.A. 1947, § 21-1505.