reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-19 - Soil and water conservation districts; referendum; commission to pay expenses

(1)
After the committee has made and recorded a determination that there is need, in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare, for the organization of a district in a particular territory and has defined the boundaries thereof, it shall consider the question whether the operation of a district within such boundaries with the powers conferred upon soil and water conservation districts in this article is administratively practicable and feasible. To assist the committee in the determination of such administrative practicability and feasibility, it shall be the duty of the committee, within a reasonable time after entry of the finding that there is need for the organization of the proposed district and the determination of the boundaries thereof, to hold a referendum within the proposed district upon the proposition of the creation of the district, and to cause due notice of such referendum to be given. The question shall be submitted by ballots upon which the words "for creation of a soil and water conservation district of the lands below described and lying in the county(ies) of ____________________ and ____________________ ," and "against creation of a soil and water conservation district of the lands below described and lying in the county(ies) of ____________________ and ____________________ ," shall appear, with a square before each proposition and a direction to insert an X mark in the square before one or the other of said propositions as the voter may favor or oppose creation of such district. The ballot shall set forth the boundaries of such proposed district as determined by the committee. All owners of lands lying within the boundaries of the territory, as determined by the state soil and water conservation committee, shall be eligible to vote in such referendum. Only such landowners shall be eligible to vote.
(2)
The committee shall pay expenses for the issuance of such notices and the conduct of such hearings and referendums as hereinabove provided for and shall supervise the conduct of such hearings and referendums. It shall issue appropriate regulations governing the conduct of such hearings and referendums, and providing for the registration prior to the date of the referendum of all eligible voters, or prescribing some other appropriate procedure for the determination of those eligible as voters in such referendum. No informalities in the conduct of such referendum or in any matters relating thereto shall invalidate said referendum or the results thereof if notice thereof shall have been given substantially as herein provided and said referendum shall have been fairly conducted.
Codes, 1942, § 4944; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 5, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-21 - Results of referendum; determination of district's administrative feasibility

The committee shall publish the results of a referendum held pursuant to the provisions of this article and shall thereafter consider and determine whether the operation of the district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible. If the committee shall determine that the operation of such district is not administratively practicable and feasible, it shall record such determination and deny the petition. If the committee shall determine that the operation of such district is administratively practicable and feasible, it shall record such determination and shall proceed with the organization of the district in the manner hereinafter provided. In making such determination the committee shall give due regard and weight to the attitude of the owners and operators of lands lying within the defined boundaries, the number of landowners eligible to vote in such referendum in favor of the creation of the district to the total number of votes cast, the approximate wealth and income of the landowners of the proposed district, the probable expenses of carrying on erosion-control operations within such district, and such other economic and social factors as may be relevant to such determination, having due regard to the legislative determinations set forth in Section
69-27-3
, but the committee shall not have authority to determine that the operation of the proposed district within the defined boundaries is administratively practicable and feasible unless at least a majority of the votes cast in the referendum upon the proposition of creation of the district shall have been cast in favor of the creation of such district. In the event a majority of the votes cast in the referendum shall not have been cast in favor of the creation of such district, then in no event shall any of the expenses incident to the conduct of the referendum, investigation or other proceedings had in connection therewith be assessed against any party other than such parties as signed the original petition.
Codes, 1942, § 4944; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 5, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-24 - Authority of municipalities to contribute to soil conservation districts

(1)
The governing authorities of an incorporated municipality within this state are authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to make contributions to the various soil conservation districts either now or hereafter located entirely or partially within the county in which the municipality is situated.
(2)
This section is intended to be cumulative and not to repeal or limit or abridge any laws in this state which provide for assistance to soil conservation districts.
Laws, 1991, ch. 310, § 1, eff. 7/1/1991.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-25 - Subsequent petitions may be filed twelve months after the negative determination

After twelve (12) months shall have expired from the date of entry of a determination by the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee that operation of a proposed district is not administratively practicable and feasible, and denial of a petition pursuant to such determination, subsequent petitions may be filed as aforesaid, and action taken thereon in accordance with the provisions of this article.
Codes, 1942, § 4944; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 5, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-27 - Inclusion of additional territory within existing district

Petitions for including additional territory within an existing district may be filed with the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and the proceedings herein provided for in the case of petitions to organize a district shall be observed in the case of petitions for such inclusion. The committee shall prescribe the form for such petitions, which shall be as nearly as may be in the form prescribed in this article for petitions to organize a district. Where the total number of landowners in the area proposed for inclusion shall be less than twenty-five (25), the petition may be filed when signed by a majority of the owners of such area, and in such cases no referendum need be held. In referendums upon petitions for such inclusion, only owners of land lying within the proposed additional area shall be eligible to vote.
Codes, 1942, § 4944; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 5, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-29 - Cities and towns, etc., to be included within district

All cities, towns, villages or other urban or suburban areas lying within the boundaries of a soil and water conservation district established pursuant to the provisions of the state soil and water conservation district law, as amended, with the approval of the governing authorities of said cities, towns or villages, shall be included in and deemed a part of the district.
Codes, 1942, § 4944; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 5, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-31 - Election of three commissioners for each district

Within thirty (30) days after the date of issuance by the Secretary of State of a certificate of organization of a soil and water conservation district, nominating petitions may be filed with the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee to nominate candidates for commissioners of such district. The committee shall have authority to extend the time within which nominating petitions may be filed. No such nominating petition shall be accepted by the committee unless it shall be subscribed by twenty-five (25) or more owners of lands lying within the boundaries of such district. Landowners may sign more than one such nominating petition to nominate more than one candidate for commissioner but in no event shall a landowner sign more than three (3) such nominating petitions. The committee is hereby authorized to enact and implement rules to provide that not more than one commissioner shall be a resident of any one county or supervisors district, unless there is no person qualified and willing to serve in another county or supervisors district. The committee shall give due notice of an election to be held for the election of three (3) commissioners for the district. The names of all nominees, on behalf of whom such nominating petitions have been filed within the time herein designated, shall appear, arranged in alphabetical order of the surnames, upon ballots, with a square before each name and a direction to insert an X mark in the square before any three (3) names to indicate the voter's preference. All owners of lands lying within the district shall be eligible to vote in such election. Only such landowners shall be eligible to vote. The three (3) candidates who receive a majority of the votes cast in such an election shall be elected commissioners for such district. In the event any candidate fails to receive a majority, then the candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall run off in an election to be held two (2) weeks thereafter. The committee shall pay all the expenses of such elections, shall supervise conduct thereof, shall prescribe regulations governing the conduct of such election and the determination of the eligibility of voters therein, and shall publish the results of same.
Codes, 1942, § 4945; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 6, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-39 - Enforcement of land-use regulations

The commissioners shall have authority to go upon any lands within the district to determine whether land-use regulations adopted under the provisions of Section
69-27-37
are being observed. The commissioners are further authorized to provide by ordinance that any landowner or operator who shall sustain damages from any violation of such regulations by any other landowner or operator may recover damages at law from such other landowner or operator for such violation.
Codes, 1942, § 4949; Laws, 1938, ch. 253.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-43 - Board of adjustment; members; expenses

Where the commissioners of any district organized under the provisions of this article shall adopt an ordinance prescribing land-use regulations in accordance with the provisions of Section
69-27-37
, they shall further provide by ordinance for the establishment of a board of adjustment. Such board of adjustment shall consist of three (3) members, each to be appointed for a term of three (3) years, except that the members first appointed shall be appointed for terms of one (1), two (2), and three (3) years, respectively. The members of each such board of adjustment shall be appointed by the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee, and shall be removable, upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other reason, such hearing to be conducted jointly by the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the commissioners of the district. Vacancies in the board of adjustment shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments, and shall be for the unexpired term of the member whose term becomes vacant. Members of the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee and the commissioners of the district shall be ineligible to appointment as members of the board of adjustment during their tenure of such other office. The members of the board of adjustment shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be entitled to expenses, including travelling expenses, necessarily incurred in the discharge of their duties. The commissioners shall pay the necessary administrative and other expenses of operation incurred by the board, upon the certificate of the chairman of the board.
Codes, 1942, § 4951; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 10, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-45 - Board of adjustment; procedure; meetings; records

The board of adjustment shall adopt rules to govern its procedure, which rules shall be in accordance with the provisions of this article, and with the provisions of any ordinance adopted pursuant to Sections
69-27-43
through
69-27-49
. The board shall designate a chairman from among its members, and may, from time to time, change such designation. Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the board may determine. Any two (2) members of the board shall constitute a quorum. The chairman, or in his absence such other member of the board as he may designate to serve as acting chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public. The board shall keep a full and accurate record of all proceedings, of all documents filed with it, and of all orders entered, which shall be filed in the office of the board and shall be a public record.
Codes, 1942, § 4951; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 10, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-47 - Board of adjustment; hearing on land use regulations

Any landowner or operator may file a petition with the board of adjustment alleging that there are great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in the way of his carrying out upon his lands the strict letter of the land-use regulations prescribed by ordinance approved by the commissioners, and praying the board to authorize a variance from the terms of the land-use regulations in the application of such regulations to the lands owned or operated by the petitioner. Copies of such petition shall be served by the petitioner upon the chairman of the commissioners of the district within which his lands are located and upon the chairman of the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. The board of adjustment shall fix a time for the hearing of the petition and cause due notice of such hearing to be given. The commissioners of the district and the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee shall have the right to appear and be heard at such hearing. Any owner or operator of lands lying within the district who shall object to the authorizing of the variance prayed for may intervene and become a party to the proceedings. Any party to the hearing before the board may appear in person, by agent, or by attorney. If, upon the facts presented at such hearing, the board shall determine that there are great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship in the way of applying the strict letter of any of the land-use regulations upon the lands of the petitioner, it shall make and record such determination and shall make and record findings of fact as to the specific conditions which establish such great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship. Upon the basis of such findings and determination, the board shall have power by order to authorize such variance from the terms of land-use regulations in their application to the lands of the petitioner, as will relieve such great practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship and will not be contrary to the public interest, and such that the spirit of the land-use regulations shall be observed, the public health, safety, and welfare secured, and substantial justice done.
Codes, 1942, § 4951; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 10, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-49 - Appeal from order of board of adjustment

Any petitioner aggrieved by an order of the board granting or denying, in whole or in part, the relief sought, the commissioners of the district, or any intervening party, may obtain a review of such order in the chancery court of the county in which the lands of the petitioner may lie, by filing in such court a petition praying that the order of the board be modified or set aside and may demand a jury qualified in all respects as the jurors in eminent domain proceedings in the chancery court. A copy of such petition shall forthwith be served upon the parties to the hearing before the board and thereupon the party seeking review shall file in the court a transcript of the entire record in the proceedings, certified by the board, including the documents and testimony upon which the order complained of was entered, and the findings, determination, and order of the board. Upon such filing, the court shall cause notice thereof to be served upon the parties and shall have jurisdiction of the proceedings and of the questions determined or to be determined therein, and shall have power to grant such temporary relief as it deems just and proper, and to make and enter a decree enforcing, modifying and enforcing as so modified, or setting aside in whole or in part, the order of the board. No contention that has not been urged before the board shall be considered by the court unless the failure or neglect to urge such contention shall be excused because of extraordinary circumstances. The findings of the board as to the facts, if supported by evidence, shall be conclusive. If any party shall apply to the court for leave to produce additional evidence and shall show to the satisfaction of the court that such evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to produce such evidence in the hearing before the board, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the board and to be made a part of the transcript. The board may modify the findings as to the facts or make new findings, taking into consideration the additional evidence so taken and filed, and it shall file such modified or new findings which, if supported by evidence, shall be conclusive, and shall file with the court its recommendations, if any, for the modification or setting aside of its original order. The jurisdiction of the court shall be exclusive and its judgment and decree shall be final, except that the same shall be subject to review in the same manner as are other judgments or decrees of the court.
Codes, 1942, § 4951; Laws, 1938, ch. 253; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 10, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-51 - Cooperation between districts

The commissioners of any two or more districts organized under the provisions of this article may cooperate with one another in the exercise of any or all powers conferred in this article.
Codes, 1942, § 4952; Laws, 1938, ch. 253.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-53 - State agencies to cooperate

Agencies of this state which shall have jurisdiction over, or be charged with the administration of, any state-owned lands, and of any county, or other governmental subdivision of the state, which shall have jurisdiction over, or be charged with the administration of, any county-owned or other publicly owned lands, lying within the boundaries of any district organized hereunder, shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the commissioners of such districts in the effectuation of programs and operations undertaken by the commissioners under the provisions of this article. The commissioners of such districts shall be given free access to enter and perform work upon such publicly owned lands. The provisions of land-use regulations adopted pursuant to Section
69-27-37
, shall have the force and effect of law over all such publicly owned lands, and shall be in all respects observed by the agencies administering such lands.
Codes, 1942, § 4953; Laws, 1938, ch. 253.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-55 - Adjustment of boundaries or withdrawal of lands from district; consolidation with another district; petition

Any twenty-five (25) owners of land lying within the limits of a portion of a soil and water conservation district organized under the provisions of this article may petition the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee asking that the described area be withdrawn from the present district, or that the district be dissolved, and consolidated with another district or segment of another district, and that the area withdraw or the composite area be designated as an individual soil and water conservation district, with all the powers and responsibilities designated to soil and water conservation districts by law. Such petition shall set forth:
(a)
The proposed name of such district.
(b)
That there is a need for adjustment of boundaries or reorganization of territory, to provide for a separate soil and water conservation district to function in the territory described in the petition, in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare.
(c)
A description of the territory proposed to be included in the adjusted boundaries, or the territory to be withdrawn from an existing district, and the total territory to be included in the new district.
(d)
A request that the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee duly define the boundaries for such district; that one or more public hearings be held to determine the feasibility and propriety of such changes; and that the committee determine that such adjustments be made or such district created.
Where more than one petition is filed covering parts of the same territory, the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee may consolidate all or any such petitions.
Codes, 1942, § 4954.5; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 12, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-59 - Adjustment or consolidation; applicability and interpretation of certain provisions

(1)
All statutory provisions pertaining to the qualifications, appointment, election, and tenure of commissioners, and the powers of districts and commissioners shall apply to districts whose boundaries are revised or which are reconstituted under Sections
69-27-55
through
69-27-61
.
(2)
The provisions of Sections
69-27-55
through
69-27-61
shall not be interpreted to remove from office commissioners previously appointed or elected to serve existing soil and water conservation districts. However, the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee is empowered to establish rules whereby these officers will continue to serve, either in the existing district, or in the newly constituted district, until the termination date of their present term of office.
Codes, 1942, § 4954.5; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 12, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-61 - Adjustment or consolidation; division of assets

The State Soil and Water Conservation Committee shall determine from each existing soil and water conservation district from which territory may be withdrawn in the adjustment of boundaries, or revision of a district, the value of cash or bonds on hand, and shall also make an appraisal of the cash value of the equipment, land, or other property of these affected districts, on hand as of the date of issuance of the certificate of organization by the Secretary of State to the revised district, and shall divide the liquid assets on the basis of the proportion of territory withdrawn from the existing district to the total territory in the existing district, make equitable distribution of the equipment, and partition any real property. The decision of the State Soil and Water Conservation Committee in this division of assets shall be final.
Codes, 1942, § 4954.5; Laws, 1968, ch. 246, § 12, eff. 1/1/1969.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-65 - Certain counties authorized to lease road machinery for soil conservation work

(1)
In order to assist in carrying out the objectives set forth in this article, the board of supervisors of Adams, Attala, Benton, Carroll, Chickasaw, Claiborne, Clarke, Clay, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Holmes, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Stone, Union, Walthall, Warren, Wayne, Webster, Winston, Yalobusha and Yazoo counties of the State of Mississippi are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to lease to any soil conservation district of said respective counties, as authorized in this article, any road machinery belonging to the respective counties upon reasonable terms to be agreed upon, by contract between such board and such district, entered on the minutes of the board of supervisors making the lease.
(2)
Be it further provided that if no soil conservation district exists within the county that the boards of supervisors of such counties may lease, as provided in subsection (1) of this section, road machinery belonging to the county to agricultural associations organized under the provisions of Sections
79-17-1
through
79-17-39
, Mississippi Code of 1972, under the same terms and conditions as specified hereinabove for lease to soil conservation districts.
Codes, 1942, § 4958; Laws, 1938, Ex. ch. 63.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-67 - Counties may contribute to soil conservation districts

(1)
The board of supervisors of any county is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to make contributions to the various soil conservation districts either now or hereafter located entirely or partially within such county, under the provisions of this article, or elsewhere in the laws of this state.
(2)
This section is intended to be cumulative and not to repeal or limit or abridge any laws in this state which provide for assistance to soil conservation districts.
Codes, 1942, § 4958.5; Laws, 1956, ch. 186, §§ 1, 2.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 1 - DISTRICTS (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-69) › Section 69-27-69 - Controlling effect of article

In so far as any of the provisions of this article are inconsistent with the provisions of any other law, the provisions of this article shall be controlling.
Codes, 1942, § 4956; Laws, 1938, ch. 253.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-101 - Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science to administer article

In order to carry out the purposes of the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act enacted by the Congress of the United States, the Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science (hereinafter referred to as the "university") is hereby designated as the agency of the State of Mississippi to administer any state plan authorized by this article which shall be approved by the secretary of agriculture of the United States (hereinafter referred to as the "secretary of agriculture") for the State of Mississippi pursuant to the provisions of said Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act.
Codes, 1942, § 4959; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-103 - Plan

The university is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to formulate and submit to the Secretary of Agriculture, in conformity with the provisions of said Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, a state plan for each calendar year. It shall be the purpose of each such plan to promote such utilization of land and such farming practices as the university finds will tend, in conjunction with the operation of such other plans as may be approved for other states by the Secretary of Agriculture, to preserve and improve soil fertility, promote the economic use of land, diminish the exploitation and wasteful and unscientific use of natural soil resources, and reestablish and maintain the ratio between the purchasing power of the net income per person on farms and that of the income per person not on farms as defined in subsection (a) of Section 7 of said Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act. Each such plan shall provide for adjustments in the utilization of land and in farming practices, through agreements with producers or through other voluntary methods, and for benefit payments in connection therewith, and also for such methods of administration not in conflict with any law of this state and such reports as the Secretary of Agriculture finds necessary for the effective administration of the plan and for ascertaining whether the plan is being carried out according to its terms.
Codes, 1942, § 4960; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-105 - Federal grants

Upon the acceptance by the Secretary of Agriculture of each such plan submitted pursuant to Section
69-27-103
, the university is authorized and empowered to accept and receive all grants of money made pursuant to said Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act for the purpose of enabling the state to carry out the provisions of such plan, and all such funds, together with any moneys which may be appropriated by the state for such purpose, shall be available to the university for expenditures necessary in carrying out the plan, including administrative expenses, expenditures in connection with educational programs in aid of the plan, and benefit payments.
Codes, 1942, § 4961; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-107 - Powers of university

In carrying out the provisions of each plan submitted pursuant to Section
69-27-103
, and accepted by the Secretary of Agriculture, the university shall have power: to employ such agents or agencies, and to establish such agencies, as it may find to be necessary; to cooperate with local and state agencies and with agencies of other states and of the federal government; to conduct research and educational activities in connection with the formulation and operation of such plan; to enter into agreements with producers, and to provide by other voluntary methods, for adjustments in the utilization of land and in farming practices, and for payments in connection therewith in amounts which the university determines to be fair and reasonable.
Codes, 1942, § 4962; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-109 - Agents

For the purpose of carrying out each such plan submitted pursuant to Section
69-27-103
, and accepted by the Secretary of Agriculture, according to its terms, the university, through its board of trustees, is hereby authorized to delegate any of the powers herein conferred to such agents or agencies as may be designated by the university and approved by the Secretary of Agriculture.
Codes, 1942, § 4963; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-111 - Reports

The university shall render for each year an annual report to the Governor, who shall transmit a copy thereof to each house of the Legislature, covering its administration of such plan, as referred to in this article, and all operations thereunder, including also the expenditure of funds, and each such report shall be printed as a public document promptly upon its transmittal to the Governor.
Codes, 1942, § 4964; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 3 - FEDERAL AID PROJECTS (§§ 69-27-101 — 69-27-113) › Section 69-27-113 - No liability on university

Nothing herein shall be construed or operate to impose any obligation or liability upon the university or other than as herein specified.
Codes, 1942, § 4965; Laws, 1936, ch. 291.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 5 - COUNTY AID IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (§§ 69-27-201 — 69-27-223) › Section 69-27-201 - Designated counties authorized to aid soil erosion work

For the purpose of preventing soil erosion and its accompanying evils in Attala, Carroll, Claiborne, Clay, Copiah, Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Holmes, Humphreys, Itawamba, Jackson, Kemper, Lamar, Leake, Lee, Madison, Monroe, Neshoba, Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Pike, Prentiss, Rankin, Scott, Stone, Tishomingo, Union, Warren and Webster Counties, Mississippi, so far as possible, said counties are hereby authorized to declare it to be the policy of the county to encourage and assist owners of land therein to properly terrace and ditch their agricultural lands, and cooperate with the federal government in soil erosion work.
Codes, 1942, § 4966; Laws, 1938, ch. 285.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 5 - COUNTY AID IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (§§ 69-27-201 — 69-27-223) › Section 69-27-203 - Soil erosion committee

The director of the state extension service, the director of the state agricultural and forestry experiment station, and the state forester of the State of Mississippi shall, on written application of any five or more landowners of said county, owning an aggregate of not less than seventy-five hundred acres of land therein, appoint a soil erosion committee for said county, to consist of three members, each to be over twenty-five years of age and the record owner of not less than one hundred and sixty acres of land within the county. The term of each member of said committee shall be five years from the date of his appointment, but any member may be removed from office as other public officers and the term of any member of said committee shall cease, if he fails to maintain his ownership of the requisite one hundred and sixty acres of land in the county. Vacancies on said committee shall be filled for a term of five years by appointment in the same manner as the original members were appointed. The members of said committee shall receive no pay for the services to be performed hereunder, but one member of said committee shall be designated by it as secretary of the committee, who shall be paid his reasonable expense out of the soil erosion funds herein provided for, by order of the board of supervisors, upon certificate of the committee.
Codes, 1942, § 4967; Laws, 1938, ch. 285.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 5 - COUNTY AID IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (§§ 69-27-201 — 69-27-223) › Section 69-27-205 - Soil erosion committees; duties, etc

It shall be the duty of said soil erosion committee to cooperate with the county agent in all matters pertaining to soil erosion work within the county, and with all agencies of the state or federal government engaged in the prevention of soil erosion; to assist the county agent, or any other agency, state or federal, in obtaining contracts from landowners for terracing and/or ditching of agricultural lands within the county; to recommend to the board of supervisors the purchase of proper machinery and supplies for ditching and terracing work, either or both; to approve in their discretion all contemplated purchases of such machinery by the board of supervisors, after bids have been received therefor and before contracts have been let by said board for the purchase thereof; to approve in their discretion all contracts or agreements made by the board of supervisors for the employment of labor to operate said machinery before the same shall become operative; to approve the rate which each landowner shall pay for the terracing and/or ditching of his land, to be included in the contract therefor, and to supervise the performance of all such contracts; to personally audit at least once each year the soil erosion fund or funds of the county; and to make recommendations to the board of supervisors pertaining to the administration of such fund, and the amount of taxes, if any, necessary to be levied to maintain the same. Nothing in this section contained shall apply to the purchase of machinery or the employment of labor except for soil erosion and ditching work hereunder.
Codes, 1942, § 4968; Laws, 1938, ch. 285.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 5 - COUNTY AID IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (§§ 69-27-201 — 69-27-223) › Section 69-27-211 - Machinery and equipment; contracts with owners must be first obtained; additional machinery

The soil erosion committee shall not, except as herein otherwise provided, make recommendation to the board for the purchase of the first machinery for said county, or part of the county, unless it has contracts in the form herein required, signed by the landowners, duly witnessed, and approved by the secretary of the committee, covering at least seventy-five hundred acres of land, which, however, shall justify the purchase of as many as three outfits of machinery; and thereafter the subsequent contracts made in said county, or part of the county, shall be allocated to the first machinery purchased therefor, until the whole amount reaches a total of not less than four thousand acres to each outfit. Should the committee thereafter obtain or have additional like contracts in said county, or part of the county, covering another four thousand acres or more, the same shall warrant the purchase of additional machinery by recommendation or election as herein provided; and this shall furnish the guide for all further purchases in said county or part of the county. In exceptional cases, where the board finds as a fact that the amount of work to be done upon the land is much greater than in ordinary cases, the board of supervisors may, with the unanimous consent of the soil erosion committee, reduce the amount of contract acreage necessary for the purchase of one outfit of machinery to not less than two thousand acres, and the amount of contract acreage to be allocated to one outfit of machinery to not less than three thousand acres, and the committee may then recommend purchases of machinery when those conditions are complied with, provided that not less than two outfits are owned or to be purchased by said county or part of the county under this article.
Codes, 1942, § 4971; Laws, 1938, ch. 285.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 5 - COUNTY AID IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (§§ 69-27-201 — 69-27-223) › Section 69-27-215 - Notice of completion of contracts; special improvement tax; lien; lump sum payment, etc

It shall be the duty of the soil erosion committee to notify the board of supervisors, the county assessor and the landowner within fifteen days after the performance of each contract by the county or separate soil erosion district, giving the assessor the name of the landowner, the legal description of the land, the amount to be paid to the county or district, and how payable, and to the landowner a notice that a special assessment will be made against his land by the assessor for the amount determined by the committee, and presented to the next meeting of the board of supervisors beginning more than ten days thereafter for approval. The assessor shall, at the next meeting of the board beginning more than ten days after such notice, file with the board of supervisors, in duplicate, on appropriate forms, keeping a copy thereof on file in his own office, an assessment of the land for a special improvement tax thereon equal to the amount fixed by the committee, and payable as provided by the contract. It shall be the duty of the board of supervisors at said meeting to hear any objections to such assessment, by the landowner or the holder of any lien thereon, and to determine the amount of the assessment, not to exceed the amount fixed by the committee, and to approve the assessment as finally determined. The clerk of the board shall forthwith certify such assessment to the tax collector of the county upon the duplicate of the assessment filed by the assessor. In event such assessment be not returned to or acted upon by the board at the first meeting for any reason, it may be returned, considered and acted upon at any subsequent meeting. When approved, such assessment shall be a lien upon the land subordinate only to the lien of other taxes, prior and subsequent, and no delay or irregularity in the giving of notices, the making of the assessment, the hearing and approval thereof, or the certification thereof to the tax collector, shall affect the validity of the assessment if the work was actually done upon the land and the amount of the assessment does not exceed the contract price. Appeals may be taken to the circuit court of the county as in other cases of assessments for taxation, by the landowner or the holder of any lien upon the land. Nothing herein contained shall prevent any landowner from making payment to the tax collector of the estimated amount to become due under his contract, or any part thereof, in advance of the time the same becomes due, and the tax collector shall receive any payment so tendered, and give the landowner credit therefor against the assessment when made.
Codes, 1942, § 4973; Laws, 1938, ch. 285.
Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 69 - AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE, AND ANIMALS (§§ 69-1-1 — 69-55-9) › Chapter 27 - SOIL CONSERVATION (§§ 69-27-1 — 69-27-401) › Article 5 - COUNTY AID IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (§§ 69-27-201 — 69-27-223) › Section 69-27-217 - Tax collector's role; collection of assessment; sale of land for non-payment; redemption

It shall be the duty of the tax collector to preserve all assessments so certified to him, to note upon the real property assessment roll of the county or county district upon which ad valorem taxes are to be collected for the year in which said work was done, the fact that said land is subject to a special soil erosion fund tax, and to collect with the other taxes payable on February first, giving a separate receipt therefor, the amount of the special soil erosion fund tax then due accordingly, and to so continue from year to year until such a special tax has been paid in full. If said special tax was to be paid in one payment within one year after completion of the work, the assessment shall be made accordingly, and the tax shall be then payable, and shall be collected at the time shown by the assessment. In event said tax or any part thereof is not paid when due, the tax collector shall advertise and sell the land liable therefor as in the case of lands sold for the non-payment of drainage district taxes, and all provisions of law applicable to such drainage district tax sales shall be applied in the case of soil erosion fund tax sales, except that if there are no other bidders the soil erosion committee shall become the purchaser on behalf of and in the name of the county, a sale or sales may be made on the first Monday of any month, and such sales shall be subordinate to all other sales of taxes, prior or subsequent, to the same extent as sales for other special improvements. For the protection of its rights hereunder, any of said counties may redeem from sale of any such lands to the state after any tax sale thereof by payment to the state of the state taxes with damages thereon and costs of sale.
Codes, 1942, § 4974; Laws, 1938, ch. 285.