§1580.2. Powers of districts

A. Consolidated drainage districts and any subdrainage districts created under the provisions of this Part shall have and are hereby vested with full power and authority, acting through their governing authority, to:

(1) Drain and reclaim lands by the construction, maintenance, and operation of gravity and forced drainage facilities, including canals, ditches, pumps, levees, and other related works.

(2) Incur debt and issue bonds for the purpose of constructing drainage works and acquiring the necessary lands, equipment, and machinery therefor. Said bonds shall be secured by and payable from ad valorem taxation and may be issued to an amount not exceeding ten percent of the assessed valuation of the taxable property of such districts in the manner provided for the issuance of bonds by other political subdivisions under Subpart A of Part III of Chapter 4 of Subtitle II of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and other constitutional and statutory authority supplemental thereto. Such bonds shall be issued only after being approved at an election held in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and laws of this state.

(3) Expropriate property for the purpose of acquiring sites for pumping stations and land for any other necessary public purposes of the districts; however, they shall not have the right to expropriate minerals or mineral rights.

(4) Acquire machinery and maintain pumping plants or any machinery whatever that may be found necessary for the purpose of drainage or reclaiming any of the lands embraced within the districts.

(5) Cut and open any drains and canals and open, deepen, and enlarge natural drains within or without the districts and perform all work in connection therewith which may be deemed necessary to provide drainage for land in the districts, and perform all other acts necessary to drain the land in the districts and maintain the drainage when established.

(6) Cooperate with and enter into cooperative agreements and arrangements with agencies of the United States of America, the state of Louisiana, and its various departments and political subdivisions, on a matching fund or any other basis, in any drainage and reclamation projects, and purchase servitudes and rights of way for their own uses or for the use of any state or federal agency with which they may cooperate in connection with some work of improvement.

(7) Accept gifts and grants of money, property, or services.

B. The authority herein granted may be exercised and the works of improvement herein authorized may be constructed within or without the limits of the districts so long as they inure to the direct benefit of the districts and the inhabitants thereof.

C. The powers, rights, and authority granted by this section shall be in addition to any powers now or hereafter conferred on drainage districts and shall not be limited or restricted by any other provisions of Part I of Chapter 6 of Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and in particular the provisions of R.S. 38:1678(C).

Acts 1993, No. 77, §1, eff. May 26, 1993.