§1652.6. Additional powers; industrial development

A. The commission shall have authority to construct and/or acquire industrial parks and/or industrial plant buildings within the port area, including sites and other necessary property or appurtenances therefor, and to acquire, construct, improve, operate, maintain and provide improvements and services necessary therefor, including but not limited to roads, street lighting, bridges, rail facilities, drainage, sewers, sewerage disposal facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, waterworks and other utilities and related properties. The commission shall also have the authority to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of, by suitable and appropriate contract, to any enterprise locating or existing within the port area, all or any part of an industrial plant site, industrial plant building or other property owned by the commission. In determining the consideration for any contract to lease, sell or otherwise dispose of lands, buildings or other property of the commission, the board may take into consideration the value of the lands, buildings or other properties involved as well as the potential value of the economic impact of the industrial or business enterprise being induced to locate or expand within the port area. Such economic impact may include increased employment, increased use of local labor, wages and salaries to be paid, consumption of local materials, products and resources and special tax revenues to be generated by the industrial or business enterprise acquiring or leasing lands, buildings or other property from the commission.

The resolution or ordinance adopted by the board authorizing any lease, sale or other disposition of lands, buildings or other property of the commission shall set forth, in a general way, the terms of the authorized lease, sale or other disposition and such resolution or ordinance shall be published as soon as possible in one issue of the official journal of the commission or board. For a period of thirty days from the date of publication of any such resolution or ordinance, any interested person may contest the legality of such resolution or ordinance or the validity of the authorized lease, sale or other disposition of commission property, after which time, no one shall have any cause of action to contest the legality of said resolution or ordinance or to draw in question the legality of the authorized lease, sale or other disposition of commission property for any cause whatsoever, and it shall be conclusively presumed thereafter that every legal requirement has been complied with, and no court shall have authority to inquire into such matters after the lapse of said thirty days.

B. Said commission may provide access by public road to any and all entrances to the premises of each and every plant in the area employed for industrial purposes, for use by employees of such industry or for use by employees of independent contractors working on such premises, or for delivery of materials or supplies, other than by rail or water transportation, to such premises.

C. Notwithstanding any other laws to the contrary, and in addition to any other authority or powers granted said commission, the commission shall have full power and authority to levy on all taxable property within the port area an ad valorem tax not to exceed fifteen mills, provided said commission has received prior approval for the levy of said millage by a vote of the qualified electors within the port area at an election called by the governing authority of said port area for said purposes. Said election shall be conducted under the general election laws of the state of Louisiana applicable for such election.

Added by Acts 1976, No. 160, §3.