Since the continuing and growing economic and commercial development of navigation, harbor facilities, boat and related facilities along, in or near the navigable waters of the state is of general importance to the whole state and should be encouraged and assisted by legislative enactment, this chapter is hereby enacted.
The bridge and park commission shall have power to sue and be sued, contract and be contracted with, to adopt and alter a corporate seal, and to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire private property necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes for which such commission is created.
The bridge and park commission shall have the power, among others, in the case of the municipal agency, to acquire for park, recreational, harbor development and other similar purposes, by the exercise of eminent domain or otherwise, and by gift, grant or purchase, for any purpose of this chapter, an island or islands, in whole […]
The bridge and park commission which has acquired submerged lands, and before such lands have been reclaimed, shall bring its suit in the chancery court of the county in which such lands lie, against the state and all the world for confirmation of the commission’s title to such submerged lands, as provided by law for […]
The bridge and park commission shall have power to construct, build, maintain, operate, reconstruct and repair a bridge or bridges, a ferry or ferries, a causeway or causeways, or a tunnel or tunnels, or any combination thereof, connecting any island acquired, in whole or in part, by the commission, with the mainland. The point of […]
The bridge and park commission shall have power to establish, acquire, complete, enlarge, ornament, build, rebuild and improve in, or on, or about any island or part thereof, acquired by the commission, public parks, boulevards, bridges, viaducts and approaches thereto, wharves, piers, harbors, marinas, jetties, air landing fields, basins, short protection works, pleasure grounds and […]
The park and bridge commission shall have power to lease or sell to private persons or corporations, real estate or any interest therein, acquired by said commission, whether improved or unimproved, and including reclaimed or filled-in lands, whenever it shall find such real estate or interest therein is or has become unnecessary for park or […]
The bridge and park commission shall have the power to fix and collect rates, fees, charges, and tolls for the use of any bridge, tunnel or causeway constructed and operated by it and for the use of any other service or facility provided by it.
The bridge and park commission shall have power to appoint and employ such officers, agents, attorneys, engineers, architects, financial consultants, and employees as the commission may find to be necessary to perform the services required and authorized under this chapter, and to prescribe the duties and compensation of all such persons. The compensation of all […]
The bridge and park commission shall have the power and is authorized, in connection with its work of development and functions as provided in this chapter, to dredge, deepen and widen any adjacent or existing channels, when this may be done consistently with and in aid of normal navigation and harbor development in the area, […]
Notwithstanding any provision in this chapter to the contrary, the bridge and park commission shall have the power and is authorized, in connection with its work of development and functions as provided in this chapter, to accept contributions or loans from the United States, or a federal department, instrumentality, or agency for financing or aiding […]
The governing authorities of any municipality bordering on the Mississippi Sound or Gulf of Mexico in which there is situated and located, in whole or in part, a port or harbor through which commerce flows, and having in its corporate limits one or more industries engaged in the seafood industry, and the governing authorities of […]
All revenues, income and moneys received by the bridge and park commission shall be deposited in the depository or depositories which shall be selected by the governing authorities of the municipality or county, in the same manner as depositories are selected for said municipality or county, and shall at all times be secured in the […]
For the purpose of providing funds for the corporate purposes of the bridge and park commission, the commission shall have power to borrow money and to issue its bonds in evidence thereof, payable from the income and revenues derived and to be derived from the operation of any of the facilities acquired, owned and operated […]
If the bridge and park commission shall determine by order entered upon its minutes and the governing authorities of the municipality or county concerned concur in the findings of the commission by order entered upon its minutes that in order to render the bonds to be issued under Section 55-7-33 salable or to obtain a […]
Any ad valorem taxes levied each year by or for the benefit of any city, county, city and county, district, or other public corporation (hereinafter sometimes called “taxing agencies”), upon any real property which is acquired by the commission and leased or sold to private persons or corporations pursuant to Section 55-7-21, after the date […]
Any such bonds authorized by Section 55-7-33 shall be authorized by a resolution adopted by the bridge and park commission, shall bear interest at such rate or rates, not exceeding, however, six percent (6%) per annum, shall be in such denomination or denominations, shall be payable both as to principal and interest at such place […]
The bridge and park commission, in the issuance of any bonds or securities pursuant to its authority under this chapter, or any other statute, may, in its discretion, authorize and have inserted in such bonds or securities a provision to the effect that such bonds or securities shall constitute a lien upon all or any […]
Whenever bonds are issued by the bridge and park commission under this chapter, an amount of the income, revenues or grants from all sources received by the commission, after the deduction of the necessary expenses of operating and maintaining the facilities and properties of said commission, shall be pledged in an amount sufficient for the […]
No bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be secured by pledge of or be paid, either as to principal or interest, from, any revenue derived through Section 65-33-45.