Mississippi Code
Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners
§ 51-31-55. Right of way agreements

The commissioners shall also, as soon as said petition to organize said district has been referred to them by the court, proceed to procure the right of way for the main ditch or ditches of said district, as well as the right of way for any laterals, drains, or levees that may be decided upon, by agreements with the landowners over or through whose lands the same is to be constructed. They shall take releases of rights of way for the construction of such ditch or ditches from the landowners and file same with the clerk, who shall record them. If the commissioners shall not be able to agree with any landowner as to the amount of damages such owner should receive for the right of way over which such ditch or other improvements or work shall be constructed, the commissioners shall appraise the said lands needed for said purposes and proceed as directed in Section 51-31-57.
Should it be necessary for the successful prosecution of the work for an outlet or outlets to be obtained outside of the boundaries of the district, then the commissioners are authorized to obtain the same by contract with the interested parties or by eminent domain proceedings, on the approval of the chancery court or chancellor.

Structure Mississippi Code

Mississippi Code

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

Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners

§ 51-31-1. Powers of drainage districts

§ 51-31-3. Definitions

§ 51-31-5. General authority of drainage districts

§ 51-31-7. Exercise of authority

§ 51-31-9. Selection of county drainage commissioners

§ 51-31-11. Oath and bond of drainage commissioners

§ 51-31-13. Compensation of commissioners

§ 51-31-15. Quorum

§ 51-31-17. Secretary and treasurer of drainage districts

§ 51-31-19. Employment of counsel

§ 51-31-21. Creation of drainage districts on petition

§ 51-31-23. Jurisdiction of organization

§ 51-31-25. Notice of petition

§ 51-31-27. Date of hearing

§ 51-31-29. Hearing of petitions

§ 51-31-31. Landowners may sign petition at hearing

§ 51-31-33. Commissioners to estimate cost

§ 51-31-35. Proceedings on report of commissioners

§ 51-31-37. Disposition of report

§ 51-31-39. Form of court's order

§ 51-31-41. District declared organized

§ 51-31-43. Preliminary expenses

§ 51-31-45. Assessment roll

§ 51-31-47. Notice of assessments

§ 51-31-49. Hearing objections

§ 51-31-51. Assessments confirmed

§ 51-31-53. Payment of assessments

§ 51-31-55. Right of way agreements

§ 51-31-57. Notice of appraisement by commissioners

§ 51-31-59. Appraisement hearing

§ 51-31-61. Levy to provide estimated funds

§ 51-31-63. Tax levied to meet assessment

§ 51-31-65. Levy each year to meet bond obligations

§ 51-31-67. Reassessments in case of underestimates

§ 51-31-69. Sale of district bonds

§ 51-31-71. Contracts let to lowest bidder

§ 51-31-73. Commissioners to construct and maintain drains

§ 51-31-75. Lateral ditches to be laid out

§ 51-31-77. Actual damages recoverable

§ 51-31-79. Jurisdiction of drainage commissioners

§ 51-31-81. Annual reports

§ 51-31-83. Commissioners may go on lands

§ 51-31-85. Ditches already constructed may be used

§ 51-31-87. Compensation for use of other district drains

§ 51-31-89. Passing railroads with canal

§ 51-31-91. Notice and damages

§ 51-31-93. Railroad may be assessed for benefits

§ 51-31-95. Drain may cross public road

§ 51-31-97. Landowners outside of district may use drains

§ 51-31-99. Reassessment if estimate deficient

§ 51-31-101. Penalty for injuring drains

§ 51-31-103. Benefit to county farm

§ 51-31-105. Jurisdiction of suits

§ 51-31-107. Master may hear and determine causes; report of findings to chancellor

§ 51-31-109. Expenses of chancellor and master taxed against district

§ 51-31-111. Additional bond issue

§ 51-31-113. Interest rate of additional bonds

§ 51-31-115. Notice of issue to be published

§ 51-31-117. Proceedings in rem

§ 51-31-119. Subdrainage districts authorized

§ 51-31-121. Notice of subdistrict proceedings

§ 51-31-123. Creation of subdistrict

§ 51-31-125. Subdistricts managed by drainage commissioners

§ 51-31-127. Separate financial account kept for subdrainage district

§ 51-31-129. Collection of taxes

§ 51-31-131. Delinquent lands

§ 51-31-133. Tax lists

§ 51-31-135. Record of tax sales

§ 51-31-137. Expiration of redemption period

§ 51-31-139. District placed under supervisors

§ 51-31-141. Procedure for districts to come under this chapter

§ 51-31-143. Drainage law construed