§3812. Waterworks commissioners; qualifications

A. All waterworks districts created under the provisions of this Chapter shall be governed by a board of five members, to be known as waterworks commissioners, except that where the district includes one or more municipalities, as hereafter provided, the board shall consist of either eight or nine members, depending upon whether the district includes one or more than one municipality.

B. The members of the board shall be known as waterworks commissioners. Each shall be a resident of and assessed with not less than five hundred dollars worth of real estate in the district. A commissioner may be the representative of a corporation domiciled in the district and owning lands in the district of an assessed value of not less than five thousand dollars. The representative of a corporation may be one of its officers and may be designated to represent the corporation by resolution of the board of directors to that effect. He shall also be a resident of the waterworks district.

C. Provided, however, that in Lafourche Parish, the Lafourche Water District shall be governed by a board consisting of a number of members, not to exceed eleven members or fall below seven members, required to effectively govern the district as determined by the Lafourche Parish Police Jury. The members of the board shall be known as waterwork commissioners. Each shall be a registered voter, resident of and assessed with not less than five hundred dollars worth of real estate in an apportioned population area of which he represents. Such apportioned population area shall be determined by the Lafourche Parish Police Jury as provided in R.S. 33:3813(C). A commissioner may be the representative of a corporation domiciled and owning lands in an apportioned population area of an assessed value of not less than five thousand dollars. The representative of a corporation may be one of its officers and may be designated to represent the corporation by resolution of the board of directors to that effect. He shall also be a registered voter and a resident of the apportioned population area of which he represents.

D. The membership of the St. Mary Parish Waterworks District No. 5 is increased from five to seven. The two additional members shall be appointed by the governing authority of St. Mary Parish to serve at its pleasure. Except to the extent of any conflict with this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the two additional members and their successors.

E. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership of the board of commissioners of each waterworks district in West Baton Rouge Parish shall be comprised of five members. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to the board of commissioners for West Baton Rouge Parish Water Works District No. 1.

F. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, the membership of the board of commissioners of Iberville Parish Waterworks District No. 3 is hereby increased from five to seven. The two additional members shall be appointed by the governing authority of Iberville Parish and shall serve at its pleasure. Except to the extent that they conflict with this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the two additional members and their successors.

G. The membership of the board of commissioners of Southeast Waterworks District No. 2 of Vermilion Parish is increased from five to six. The additional member shall be appointed by the governing authority of Vermilion Parish to serve at its pleasure. Except to the extent of any conflict with this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the additional member and his successors.

H. The membership of the boards of commissioners of any waterworks districts created by the consolidation of two or more existing waterworks districts within Calcasieu Parish may be increased from five to seven members. Each additional member shall be appointed by the governing authority of Calcasieu Parish and shall serve at the pleasure of such governing authority. Except to the extent of any conflict with this Subsection, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the additional members and their successors.

I.(1) The governing authority of Beauregard Parish may subdivide Waterworks District No. 3 into not fewer than five and not more than nine commissioner districts. These districts shall be created by parish ordinance and shall not be political subdivisions of the state. One commissioner for the waterworks district shall be appointed from each commissioner district.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, if the governing authority of the parish subdivides Waterworks District No. 3 into commissioner districts or modifies the number of commissioner districts within Waterworks District No. 3, the governing authority of the parish may increase or decrease the number of commissioners to equal the total number of commissioner districts.

(3) Upon the effective date of any ordinance creating commissioner districts or modifying the number of districts in Waterworks District No. 3, the term of all serving commissioners on the board shall terminate and the governing authority shall appoint new commissioners. Commissioners shall be eligible for reappointment. An ordinance creating commissioner districts or modifying the number of commissioner districts shall provide for the staggering of commissioners' terms.

(4) No funds of Waterworks District No. 3 may be expended in a commissioner district without the approval of the board.

Amended by Acts 1964, Ex.Sess., No. 26, §1; Acts 1974, No. 440, §1; Acts 1975, No. 108, §1; Acts 1979, No. 101, §1; Acts 1986, No. 40, §1, eff. June 13, 1986; Acts 1992, No. 593, §1; Acts 1993, No. 206, §1; Acts 1995, No. 11, §1; Acts 2005, No. 316, §1; Acts 2009, No. 350, §1; Acts 2010, No. 90, §1.