Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 59 - PORTS, HARBORS, LANDINGS AND WATERCRAFT (§§ 59-1-1 — 59-25-17) › Chapter 7 - COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL HARBORS (§§ 59-7-1 — 59-7-519) › Article 3 - SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS (§§ 59-7-101 — 59-7-131) › Section 59-7-125 - Port commission; composition, dissolution, oath, bond, terms and quorum

(1)
All improvements constructed by the board of supervisors under the provisions of this article shall be operated and maintained by a port commission composed of five (5) residents of such county who shall be qualified electors therein. Such commission shall have jurisdiction over the port, terminals, harbors and passes leading thereto, and all vessels, boats and wharves, common carriers, and public utilities therein, using the same, within their respective counties. Such port commission shall be appointed as follows: one (1) member shall be appointed by the Governor, two (2) shall be appointed by the board of supervisors of the county, and two (2) shall be appointed by the governing body of the municipality which is the county seat of such county in such cases where the county seat of such county is situate on or adjacent to such port facilities, otherwise, four (4) members shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. A county and a municipality may by joint resolution dissolve a port commission created under this section which is governed by a commission with two (2) commissioners appointed by each. The joint resolution must provide that the municipality relinquishes its duties and obligations related to the port, and that the county assumes all duties and obligations related to the port. Any commission so dissolved shall be reconstituted to consist of five (5) members, one (1) member appointed from each supervisor district. The board of supervisors shall provide for staggered terms in its order providing for the appointment of the reconstituted port commission. Before entering upon the duties of the office, each of such commissioners shall take and subscribe to the oath of office required by Section 268 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi, and shall give bond, to be approved by the board of supervisors, in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), conditioned upon the faithful performance of their duties. Such bond shall be made payable to the county and in case of breach thereof, suit may be brought on the relation of the county for the benefit of such port commission. Such commissioners shall hold office for a term of four (4) years from the date of their appointment and qualification and until their successor or successors shall be appointed and qualified as set out herein. Three (3) members of the port commission shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the conducting of business.
(2)
The members of the board of supervisors shall be ex officio members of the port commission, but no bond shall be required of them in such capacity; provided, however, the members of the board of supervisors shall be nonvoting members of the port commission and shall not be included or counted for the determination of a quorum for conducting of business by the port commission unless and until the board of supervisors of a particular county, by order entered on its minutes, expressly provides that the members of the board of supervisors shall be voting members of the port commission and the number of members required for a quorum to conduct business of the port commission, but in no event shall the number required for a quorum to conduct business of the port commission be less than three (3).
(3)
All actions heretofore taken by the various port commissions at which at least three (3) members were present and which would otherwise have been legal actions except for the absence of a legal quorum being present and voting are hereby ratified, confirmed and approved.
Codes, 1942, § 7576-12; Laws, 1954, Ex. Sess. ch. 28, § 12; Laws, 1976, ch. 448; Laws, 1998, ch. 365, § 1, eff. 3/16/1998.