Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 17 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT; PROVISIONS COMMON TO COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES (§§ 17-1-1 — 17-29-9) › Chapter 3 - PROMOTION OF TRADE, CONVENTIONS AND TOURISM (§§ 17-3-1 — 17-3-33) › IN GENERAL (§§ 17-3-1 — 17-3-19) › Section 17-3-11 - Acquisition and use of land and other property for convention centers

(1)
Every municipality is authorized to acquire by any available funds lands, either within or without municipal corporate limits, in fee or a lesser estate for the purpose of establishing thereon a convention center. Any lands previously acquired by a municipality and not needed for any other municipal purpose may also be used for establishing thereon a convention center. Lands may be acquired for the purpose herein authorized by purchase, lease, gift, devise, dedication or any other lawful manner.
(2)
A municipality, as it deems proper for the efficient and effective exercise of the powers and for the purposes defined under Sections
17-3-9
through
17-3-19
, may either acquire property, real or personal, and may use any municipal property, real or personal, not otherwise required for a municipal purpose, all as hereinafter provided.
(3)
The provisions of subsection (5) of this section notwithstanding, every municipality is authorized to plan, establish, develop, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip and operate through the use of land and personal property as herein provided coliseums, amphitheaters, arenas, stadiums, auditoriums, pavilions, galleries or similar facilities to accommodate public meetings, gatherings, assemblies, conventions, or any like public gathering in which persons may lawfully assemble for a common lawful purpose, including but not limited to purposes which are in the nature of social, economic, political, religious, educational, cultural or entertainment and as members of a local, state of national economic, social, political or religious organization, or as members of the general public.
(4)
Every municipality is authorized to do and perform all acts and things necessary to accomplish the purposes of Sections
17-3-9
through
17-3-19
, and, in addition to the power herein conferred with respect to the facilities authorized to be planned, established, developed, constructed, enlarged, improved, maintained, equipped or operated by the municipality, may convey, grant, bargain, sell, lease and deliver by contract or deed on such terms and conditions as it may deem proper such facilities to others and on such terms and conditions found and determined by the governing authority of the municipality to best promote conventions, tourism and trade the same as the powers herein authorized with respect to lands conveyed or leased to others upon which to operate hotels, motels, restaurants, clubs and other similar facilities and businesses, including, but not limited to, the granting of certain concessions therein or in the vicinity thereof such as advertising, car rental, and what is generally known as short order and/or souvenir concessions.
(5)
The power to use real or personal property authorized herein is hereby prohibited with respect to operation, maintenance, and engaging by a municipality in the business of hotels, motels, restaurants, clubs or any other business enterprises of similar nature and character, said uses being hereby expressly provided to be exercised only by private entrepreneurs on lease, grant or other conveyance of land and personal property by the municipality.
(6)
It is expressly provided that no municipality shall be authorized to operate a hotel, motel, restaurant, club or any other such facility for lodging, full-course meals, retail sales of goods, wares, merchandise or services, all of which are only authorized with respect to private entrepreneurs upon lands herein authorized to be either acquired or used by the municipality to be made available to such private entrepreneurs by the municipality as herein provided.
Codes, 1942, § 3374-193; Laws, 1970, ch. 464, § 2, eff. 4/6/1970.