§ 59-5-1. Short title; definition of “board”
This chapter may be cited as the “State Ports and Harbors Law.” As used in this chapter the word “board” shall mean the Mississippi Development Authority.
§ 59-5-11. General powers of board; lands subject to jurisdiction and control of board
The board shall have power to acquire, purchase, install, lease, construct, own, hold, maintain, equip, use, control, and operate ports, harbors, waterways, channels, wharves, piers, docks, quays, elevators, tipples, compresses, bulk loading and unloading facilities, warehouses, floating dry docks, graving docks, marine railways, tugboats, ships, vessels, shipyards, shipbuilding facilities, machinery and equipment, dredges and any […]
§ 59-5-13. Acceptance of grants and contributions
The board, in addition to the moneys which may be received by it from the sale of bonds and from the collection of revenues, rents, and earnings derived under the provisions of this chapter, shall have the authority to accept from any public or private agency, or from any individual, grants for or in aid […]
§ 59-5-15. Analysis and survey by city, county or other agency of port or harbor proposed to be conveyed to state
Any city or county or other authorized port or harbor agency for which a port or harbor commission or authority has been heretofore or may be hereafter created, and which desires state ownership of such port or harbor, or any part thereof, is hereby authorized to employ competent engineers to prepare an analysis and survey […]
§ 59-5-17. Negotiation of agreement with city, county or agency for state acquisition of port or harbor
On the receipt of an application from any city or county or other authorized port or harbor agency for state ownership of any port or harbor, or any part thereof, the board shall cause an independent determination and appraisal to be made of such analysis and survey, and the plan for the improvement, operation, development, […]
§ 59-5-19. Approval of agreement for conveyance of port or harbor to state; terms and conditions of conveyance
Any agreement as hereinabove provided for, reached between the board and the city or county, or other authorized port or harbor agency, shall be reduced to writing and shall set out the terms and conditions under which such port or harbor, or any part thereof, shall be conveyed to the state and shall specifically set […]
§ 59-5-21. Operation by state port authority of ports or harbors acquired by or conveyed to state
Any port or harbor, or any part thereof, and all facilities, structures, lands or other improvements, acquired by or conveyed to the state, shall be operated by the board acting through a state port authority for such port or harbor, except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter. Such state port authority shall be […]
§ 59-5-23. Authorization of contracts, etc., for improvement, operation, etc., of port or harbor
Any city, county, or city and county acting jointly, or authorized port or harbor agency may enter into contracts, leases or agreements with the board upon such terms or conditions and for such purposes relating to the improvement, operation, development, and expansion of any port, harbor, or inland waterway, or any part thereof as they […]
§ 59-5-25. Approval of agreement for improvement, operation, etc., of port or harbor; appropriation of excess funds or levy of tax
Any agreement reached between the board and the city or county, or city and county acting jointly, or authorized port or harbor agency shall be reduced to writing and set out the terms and conditions under which such planned development shall be completed, and shall specifically set out the maximum amount of bonds, if any, […]
§ 59-5-27. Bond of members of port or harbor agency
Each member of a port or harbor agency shall give a good and sufficient bond in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties of his office. This shall be effective only upon consummation of an agreement to issue bonds as hereinabove set forth.
§ 59-5-29. Increase in membership of county port authority upon issuance of bonds
Whenever any bonds of the State of Mississippi have been issued as provided in Sections 59-5-23 and 59-5-25, and where the authorized port or harbor agency is a county port authority organized as provided by Sections 59-9-1 through 59-9-85, the membership of such county port authority shall be increased by two members, to be appointed […]
§ 59-5-3. Declaration of public policy
It is hereby declared to be the public policy of the state to aid and encourage the promotion, development, improvement, and expansion of the state’s ports, harbors and inland waterways.
§ 59-5-31. Additional powers and authority for certain port commissions and authorities; revenue bonds; tax exemptions
Any port commission existing under the provisions of Article 3 of Chapter 7 of this title, and any other port commission or port authority now or hereafter constituted by law which has not expressly been granted such powers, may, in addition to all powers now or hereafter vested in it by law, exercise all powers […]
§ 59-5-33. State ports fund; joint activities or employment of personnel
The agreement between the board and the city, county or other authorized port or harbor agency shall provide that a fair and proportionate part of the expense of the board administering this chapter, shall be considered a part of the cost of the development or operation of the planned development and such costs shall be […]
§ 59-5-35. Setting aside or leasing of lands, docks, warehouses, etc.; exemption from certain ad valorem taxes
The board, acting jointly with the state port authority, is authorized to set aside, or lease all or portions of any lands, roads, docks, sheds, warehouses, elevators, compresses, floating dry docks, graving docks, marine railways, tugboats, or any other necessary or useful improvements constructed or acquired by it to individuals, firms, or corporations, public or […]
§ 59-5-37. Employment of personnel, execution of contracts, etc., for development, promotion, maintenance, etc., of ports, harbors, rivers, etc.; suits by and against state port authority; advertising and bidding requirements for contracts or purchases; use of design-build method of contracting
The board or State Port Authority, in the performance of its duties, may employ such personnel and make all contracts and purchases incidental to or necessary for the advancement, promotion, development, establishment, insurance, maintenance, repair, improvement and operation of any ports, harbors, rivers, channels and waterways including, if required for its protection, retirement benefits, workers’ […]
§ 59-5-39. Acquisition of rights of way, land, etc.
For the acquiring of rights-of-way, land and property including existing easements, restrictive covenants and reversionary estates necessary for the purposes herein authorized, the board shall have the right and power to acquire the same by purchase, negotiation or condemnation, and should it elect to exercise the right of eminent domain, it may proceed in the […]
§ 59-5-41. State bonds; issuance, terms, and conditions; interim financing of construction projects
The board is hereby authorized, at one time or from time to time, to petition by resolution to the State Bond Commission for the issuance of negotiable bonds of the State of Mississippi by the State Bond Commission to provide funds for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of the […]
§ 59-5-43. Negotiability of bonds; exemption from taxation
All bonds and interest coupons issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Mississippi Uniform Commercial Code and in exercising the powers granted by this chapter, the board and/or state bond commission shall not be […]
§ 59-5-45. Manner and price of sale of bonds; interest; maturity and redemption
The State Bond Commission shall sell such bonds at public sale or private sale, and for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no sale shall be made at a price of less than ninety-eight percent (98%) of par, plus accrued interest. However, the […]