Mississippi Code
Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners
§ 51-29-19. Power and duties of commissioners

The said commissioners may adopt a common seal of the drainage district and alter the same at pleasure. They may, from time to time, make such bylaws, rules, and regulations, and alter and change the same as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with this chapter and the laws of this state, for the purpose of carrying into effect the object of their incorporation. They shall elect a president from their own number and appoint such other officers, agents, and attorneys, and employ such persons as they may think necessary for the efficient management of their business, and remove them at pleasure. They may do all acts and things not inconsistent with this chapter and with the laws of the state, and proper to effect the purpose and objects of this chapter.
Upon their qualification, the board of commissioners shall prepare plans for the improvement within the district, as prayed for in the petition, and shall procure estimates from a competent engineer or engineers as to the cost thereof. For that purpose, the board of commissioners may employ such engineers and other agents as may be needful, such engineer to give bond in the sum of at least one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), payable to the drainage district and conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties required of the engineer, which bond shall be approved by the board of commissioners, or the president. Said board of commissioners may employ the services of an attorney or a firm of attorneys as may be needed in the prosecution of the work for which the drainage district is organized, may employ such other agents as may be needed, may purchase such material and supplies, and pay for such publications and printing necessary or incidental in the prosecution of the work. Said board of commissioners shall provide for reasonable compensation to the engineer or engineers, attorneys, and other agents, and for the cost of such material, supplies, publications, and printing, and the same shall be taken as a part of the costs of the improvements; or said board of commissioners may borrow money necessary to pay for the services of the engineer or engineers, attorneys, and other agents, and for the cost of such material, supplies, publications, and printing, at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent, per annum, and may execute a note or notes or other evidences of indebtedness therefor and may renew the same as may be necessary, and the money borrowed for such purposes shall be taken as a part of the costs of the improvements.

Structure Mississippi Code

Mississippi Code

Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control

Chapter 29 - Drainage Districts with Local Commissioners

§ 51-29-1. Scope of chapter

§ 51-29-3. Definitions

§ 51-29-5. Creation of drainage districts

§ 51-29-7. Organization of district in two or more counties

§ 51-29-9. Hearing on engineer's report

§ 51-29-11. Presentation of petitions

§ 51-29-13. Order establishing district

§ 51-29-15. Commissioners appointed; vacancies; removal; quorum

§ 51-29-17. Terms of office and compensation

§ 51-29-19. Power and duties of commissioners

§ 51-29-21. Content of plans

§ 51-29-23. Payment of costs for abandoned improvements

§ 51-29-25. Costs for proceedings abandoned and afterwards resumed

§ 51-29-27. Plans and estimates of commissioners to be filed

§ 51-29-29. Preparation of assessment roll

§ 51-29-31. Notice of assessment to landowners

§ 51-29-33. Approved roll to be final assessment

§ 51-29-35. Condemnation proceedings

§ 51-29-37. Employment of counsel

§ 51-29-39. Appraisement by commissioners as alternate method to acquire land and damage compensation

§ 51-29-41. Hearing of appraisement and objections

§ 51-29-43. Right of use during appeal

§ 51-29-45. Court to make order for assessments to cover cost of improvement

§ 51-29-47. Board of supervisors to make a tax levy

§ 51-29-49. Copy of levy to tax collector

§ 51-29-51. Collection of assessments

§ 51-29-53. Duties of treasurer

§ 51-29-55. Duties of tax collector

§ 51-29-57. New tax levy in case of deficiency

§ 51-29-61. Contractors to give bond

§ 51-29-63. Commissioners may borrow money

§ 51-29-65. Bonds to be registered

§ 51-29-67. Negotiable evidences of debt to contractor

§ 51-29-69. Commissioners not liable for damages

§ 51-29-71. Procedure to alter plans

§ 51-29-73. Landowners may build ditches to connect with public ditch

§ 51-29-75. Compensation for connecting with district drainage system

§ 51-29-77. Ditches outside of district

§ 51-29-79. Maintenance of system

§ 51-29-81. Taxes collected; delinquent lands; settlements

§ 51-29-83. Drainage taxes erroneously collected

§ 51-29-85. Certificates received in lieu of cash

§ 51-29-87. Disposition of certificate

§ 51-29-89. Bonds to be a lien on land

§ 51-29-91. Entire district revenues and realty pledged to secure bonds

§ 51-29-93. Error in names not to invalidate assessments

§ 51-29-95. Ditches may cross highways and railroads

§ 51-29-97. Financial statement and audit

§ 51-29-99. Penalty for obstructing or damaging drains

§ 51-29-101. Contractors may pass over private lands

§ 51-29-103. Procedure for districts to come under this chapter

§ 51-29-105. Construction of chapter

§ 51-29-107. Special commissioner may hear and determine cases under this chapter

§ 51-29-109. Expenses of chancellor to be paid by district

§ 51-29-111. Method to apportion benefits when land is divided into smaller units of ownership

§ 51-29-113. Clerk of district to certify order to tax collector

§ 51-29-115. Formation of subdrainage districts

§ 51-29-117. Manner of appeal

§ 51-29-119. Additional powers given to certain drainage districts

§ 51-29-121. Assessments to be apportioned when land lies in certain districts

§ 51-29-123. Certain districts may own rights of way and dispose of same

§ 51-29-125. Certain districts may acquire rights of way through existing districts

§ 51-29-127. Districts acquiring certain lands to assume obligations

§ 51-29-129. Law with reference to disposition of waters

§ 51-29-131. Enlargement of boundaries of drainage districts

§ 51-29-133. Notice and hearing of proposed extension

§ 51-29-135. Extension of district on majority petition

§ 51-29-137. Rights and powers of extended district

§ 51-29-139. Extension may include lands of other drainage districts

§ 51-29-141. Separate accounts kept for extended districts

§ 51-29-143. Provisions applicable to extended districts

§ 51-29-145. Consolidation of districts

§ 51-29-147. Petition and notice of consolidation

§ 51-29-149. Consolidation hearing and decree

§ 51-29-151. Commissioners of consolidated district

§ 51-29-153. Transfer of powers of former commissioners

§ 51-29-155. Lien of outstanding obligations not impaired by consolidation

§ 51-29-157. Powers and authority of consolidated district

§ 51-29-159. Mineral leases

§ 51-29-161. Reforestation procedure

§ 51-29-163. Hearing on reforestation petition

§ 51-29-165. Disposition of proceeds of reforestation release