19-2855. Powers; issuance of bonds; tax levy, use of proceeds. The county board of park commissioners shall be vested with all the power, authority and control previously vested in the board of county commissioners relating to county parks, parkways and recreational areas, county lakes, roads and park drives, including all buildings, grounds and other structures located within such county parks, parkways and recreational areas. It shall have power to make bylaws, rules and regulations for the orderly transaction and management of its business. It is further empowered to enter into agreements with the secretary of wildlife, parks and tourism, by and with the consent of the board of county commissioners, for the building and construction of one or more reservoirs, lakes, dams or embankments for impounding water on lands in the park and recreational grounds of the county. Nothing in such agreements shall be construed to prohibit the secretary and the Kansas department of wildlife, parks and tourism from the right to exercise the same functions, rights and authority as though the lands for such park and recreational grounds had been acquired by the department, and any agreement between any such county board of park commissioners and the secretary shall expressly provide that, notwithstanding the title to such lands shall be vested in such county, all rights therein or thereon, waters and water rights, and for keeping, improving and maintaining them for the use and benefit of the department shall be unimpaired and shall likewise be public park and recreational grounds for the use and enjoyment of the public. All bonds required or authorized by law to be issued relating to parks, parkways and recreational areas, and all taxes levied for the maintenance or improvement thereof, shall be issued and levied by the board of county commissioners, and for the purpose of creating such county park and recreational fund, hereinafter referred to, and for the purpose of enlarging existing park areas or acquiring additional park and recreational grounds or sites and for the making of permanent improvements to and for maintaining such park, recreational grounds or sites now owned or hereafter acquired by such county and to pay a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and amendments thereto, by cities located in the county, the board of county commissioners is hereby authorized to levy an annual tax on all taxable tangible property in the county.

Such new or additional grounds or sites for park and recreational purposes may be acquired by the board of county commissioners of such county by purchase, donation, long term leases or easements or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, as provided for in chapter 26 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto. Following the acquisition of such grounds or sites, the county board of park commissioners shall improve, maintain and supervise all such park and recreational areas in the manner now provided by law. The board of county commissioners of any such county, with the consent of the board of park commissioners of any such county, may convey title to such portion or portions of the new park and recreational areas so acquired under the provisions of this act to any federal nonprofit corporation or foundation created under the laws of the United States, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining any national shrine, park or memorial upon any land in such county, which adjoins, abuts or is adjacent to the new park and recreational areas so acquired by any such county under the provisions of this act. The board of county commissioners shall have the power and duty, upon recommendation of the county board of park commissioners, to adopt resolutions from time to time for the regulation and orderly government of parks, parkways, recreational areas, county lakes, roads, park drives and public grounds, and to prescribe fines and penalties for the violation of the provisions of such resolutions.

History: L. 1945, ch. 177, § 3; L. 1947, ch. 200, § 1; L. 1957, ch. 184, § 1; L. 1959, ch. 142, § 1; L. 1967, ch. 155, § 1; L. 1970, ch. 100, § 24; L. 1975, ch. 162, § 23; L. 1979, ch. 52, § 120; L. 1989, ch. 118, § 171; L. 2012, ch. 47, § 13; July 1.