§ 7-5-101. Short Title

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Metropolitan Governments’ Port Authority Act.”

§ 7-5-102. Declaration of Purpose and Necessity — Exemption From Taxation

It is hereby declared that a clear need exists in metropolitan areas of Tennessee for improved transportation and navigation for the movement and transportation of people, goods and merchandise, and for the creation of expanded employment opportunities through the promotion of commerce and industry, with minimal pollution, which requires that such metropolitan areas have the […]

§ 7-5-103. Chapter Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: “Authority” means a metropolitan port authority created pursuant to this chapter; “Board” means the board of commissioners of an authority; “Bonds” includes notes, interim certificates or other obligations of an authority; “Contracting party” or “other contracting party” means any party to a sale contract, lease, […]

§ 7-5-104. Creation of Metropolitan Port Authority

Any metropolitan government having a population of not less than one hundred thousand (100,000) may create a metropolitan port authority in the manner provided in this chapter. The governing body of the creating municipality, if it shall determine the public convenience and necessity requires the creation of a metropolitan port authority, shall adopt, and the […]

§ 7-5-105. Board of Commissioners

The governing power of the authority shall be vested in a board of commissioners of nine (9) persons, each of whom shall have no financial interest in the authority or its concessions, appointed by the executive officer of the creating municipality and confirmed by resolution of its governing body. All commissioners shall be of excellent […]

§ 7-5-106. Officers and Other Employees

The board shall appoint a port authority manager who shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the authority, and shall enter into a contract with the manager establishing such port authority manager’s salary and term of office. The manager shall appoint, subject to the approval of the board, all other officers and other […]

§ 7-5-107. General Powers

An authority has all powers necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, excluding the power to levy and collect taxes and special assessments, including but not limited to, the power to: Have perpetual succession, sue and be sued, and adopt a corporate seal; Acquire, construct, purchase, operate, maintain, replace, repair, rebuild, extend, and improve […]

§ 7-5-108. Real Property Interests

Any creating municipality, upon the written recommendation of the board, may acquire any interest in land within the boundaries of the creating municipality by gift, purchase, lease, or condemnation and may transfer such interest to an authority by sale, lease or gift. Such transfer may be authorized by ordinance of the governing body of the […]

§ 7-5-109. Bonds

The authority has the power to issue negotiable bonds from time to time in order to accomplish any of the purposes authorized by this chapter, and it also has the power to issue refunding bonds for the purposes, and in the amounts and manner provided in title 9, chapter 21. All the bonds shall be […]

§ 7-5-110. Employees

Employees other than independent contractors of the authority shall be considered employees of the creating municipality, and shall enjoy all rights and responsibilities as do other employees of the creating municipality, and shall be considered in classified or unclassified service as are all other employees of the creating municipality.

§ 7-5-111. Powers of Creating Municipalities

Any creating municipality has all of the necessary powers in order to further the purposes of this chapter, including, without limitation, the following, any or all of which powers may be exercised by resolution of its governing body: Advance, donate or lend money, raised from any source and by any means, or real or personal […]

§ 7-5-112. Dissolution — Disposition of Property

Whenever the governing body of the creating municipality by resolution determines that the purposes for which the authority was created have been substantially accomplished, that all of the bonds and other obligations of the authority have been fully paid, then the executive officer of the creating municipality shall execute and file for record with the […]

§ 7-5-113. Supplemental Nature of Chapter

The powers conferred by this chapter shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law, and are not in substitution for such powers, and the limitations imposed by this chapter shall not affect such powers. The powers granted in this chapter may be exercised without regard to requirements, restrictions or […]