§2740.59. Southwest Ouachita Economic Development District

A. Creation. The Southwest Ouachita Economic Development District, referred to in this Section as the "district", is hereby created in the parish of Ouachita. The district shall be a political subdivision of the state created for the purpose of developing the area included within the district in order to provide for substantial economic activity and employment opportunities.

B. Boundaries. The district shall be comprised of all the territory outside the municipal limits of the city of West Monroe and included within the following boundaries: the northern boundary shall be Interstate 20, the eastern boundary shall be the Ouachita River, the western boundary shall be the Ouachita Parish line, the southern boundary shall be the Ouachita Parish line.

C. Governance. (1) In order to provide for the orderly planning, development, acquisition, construction, and effectuation of the services, improvements, and facilities to be furnished by the district and to provide for the representation in the affairs of the district of those persons and interests immediately concerned with and affected by the purposes and development of the district, the district shall be managed by a five-member board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board". The members of the board shall be appointed by the governor from a list nominations submitted as follows:

(a) One member shall be nominated by the state representative for House District No. 15.

(b) One member shall be nominated by the state representative for House District No. 13.

(c) One member shall be nominated by the state senator for Senate District No. 32.

(d) One member shall be nominated by the state senator for Senate District No. 35.

(e) One member shall be nominated by the Ouachita Economic Development Corporation.

(2)(a) Members of the board shall serve three-year terms after initial terms as provided by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph.

(b) Three members shall serve an initial term of two years and two members shall serve an initial term of three years, as determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.

(c) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which a member of the board has been appointed shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.

(3) The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary-treasurer, and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The duties of the officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.

(4) The minute books and archives of the district shall be maintained by the secretary of the board. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall be in the official custody of the board.

(5) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for conducting its business affairs. It shall hold regular meetings as shall be provided in the bylaws and may hold special meetings at such times and places within the district as may be prescribed in the bylaws.

(6) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make them available through the secretary of the board.

(7) The members of the board shall serve without compensation.

D. District plan. (1) The board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans, referred to in this Section as the "plan", specifying the public improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished, constructed, or acquired for the district and shall conduct public hearings, publish notice with respect thereto, and disseminate information as it, in the exercise of its sound discretion, may deem to be appropriate or advisable and in the public interest.

(2) Any plan may specify and encompass any public services, capital improvements, and facilities which the parish of Ouachita is authorized to undertake, furnish, or provide under the constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, and such specified public services, improvements, and facilities shall be special and in addition to all services, improvements, and facilities which the parish of Ouachita is then furnishing or providing or may then or in the future be obligated to furnish or provide within the district.

(3) Any plan shall include an estimate of the annual and total cost of acquiring, constructing, or providing the services, improvements, or facilities set forth therein.

(4) Any monies received by the district must be used exclusively for the development of the district plan.

(5) The board shall submit the plan to the governing authority of the parish of Ouachita. The governing authority of the parish shall review and consider the plan, but the board need not receive approval of the parish governing authority prior to implementing such plan.

E. Services and improvements. (1) All services to be furnished within the district pursuant to any plan finally and conclusively adopted may be furnished, supplied, and administered by the parish of Ouachita through its regularly constituted departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and instrumentalities. All capital improvements and facilities to be acquired, constructed, or provided within the district may likewise be so acquired, constructed, or provided by the parish of Ouachita through its regularly constituted departments, agencies, boards, commissions, and instrumentalities, it being the intention of this Paragraph to avoid the duplication of administrative and management efforts and expense in the implementation of any plan adopted for the benefit of the district.

(2) In order to provide services or provide, construct, or acquire capital improvements or facilities, the board may enter into intergovernmental local service contracts with the parish of Ouachita.

Acts 2003, No. 1129, §1, eff. July 2, 2003.