Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 29 - PUBLIC LANDS, BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY (§§ 29-1-1 — 29-18-19) › Chapter 3 - SIXTEENTH SECTION AND LIEU LANDS (§§ 29-3-1 — 29-3-183) › SIXTEENTH SECTION DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES (§§ 29-3-151 — 29-3-183) › Section 29-3-159 - General powers of authority

The authority, through its trustees, is hereby empowered:
(a)
To develop land or any interest in land or property under its jurisdiction.
(b)
To acquire, construct, improve, reconstruct, cause to be constructed, extend, expand, maintain, use and operate all facilities of any kind necessary or convenient for the purpose for which the authority was created, including, but not limited to, drainageways, ditches, storm sewers, sanitary sewers, streets, sidewalks, water mains, fire protection systems, gas, power and light systems, trash, waste and garbage disposal facilities, and such other utilities and services as required in the furtherance of the purposes of Sections
29-3-151
through
29-3-183
. Provided, however, the right to acquire, construct, improve, reconstruct, cause to be constructed, extend, expand, maintain, use and operate all facilities or utilities of all kinds shall not apply in any case where an existing utility is furnishing a similar service, unless and until the public service commission has determined, after hearing, that the service being furnished by such existing utility is not reasonably adequate.
(c)
To lease such property or interest in property and under such terms and conditions at such time as the benefit has been accomplished and/or the improvements completed; provided, however, that no property shall be leased for less than the fair rental value thereof as determined by a real estate board appraiser; provided further, that the authority may lease such property for recreational purposes to any of the governmental entities authorized by Section
29-3-173
, under such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the trustees.
(d)
To sue and be sued in its corporate name.
(e)
To adopt, use and alter a corporate seal.
(f)
To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs.
(g)
To make or cause to be made or to cooperate in making engineering surveys, feasibility studies and cost-benefit estimates relating to the providing of any services within the development.
(h)
To apply for, and accept, government grants and loans, whether federal, state or local, when such are available; to borrow from other federal, state and municipal agencies and from private persons or groups, including corporations; and to expend or utilize such funds so obtained in the furtherance of the objectives of Sections
29-3-151
through
29-3-183
.
(i)
To maintain, use and operate any and all property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, or any interest therein, within the boundaries of the development and necessary for the purposes of Sections
29-3-151
through
29-3-183
.
(j)
To make contracts and to execute instruments necessary to the exercise of the powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred upon the authority by Sections
29-3-151
through
29-3-183
.
(k)
To employ planners, engineers, attorneys, fiscal advisors, appraisers and all other agents and employees necessary to the exercising of the powers, rights, privileges or functions conferred upon the authority by Sections
29-3-151
through
29-3-183
, and to properly finance, construct, operate and maintain the project and the services it renders and to pay reasonable compensation for such services. The trustees shall have the right to employ a general manager who shall, at the discretion of the trustees, have the power to employ and discharge employees.
(l)
To make such contracts in the issuance of bonds as may be necessary to insure the marketability thereof.
(m)
To fix and collect charges and rates for any services, facilities or commodities furnished by it in connection with said project and to impose penalties for failure to pay such charges and rates when due.
(n)
Subject to the provisions of Sections
29-3-151
through
29-3-183
, from time to time, to lease any property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, or any interest therein, within the project area or acquired outside the project area as authorized by said sections for the purpose of furthering the business of the authority.
Laws, 1973, ch. 498, § 5; Laws, 1978, ch. 467, § 3, eff. 7/1/1978.