§ 11-88-132 — Acquisition, Etc., of Water System of Water and Fire Protection Authority by City Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners - Conveyance of Funds in Trust for Authority’s Fire Protection System; Governing Board of Authority as Trustees; Trustees’ Powers and Liabilities

(a) In the event that the board of water and sewer commissioners of any city (“commissioners”) should acquire, operate, or control by virtue of assignment, conveyance, court order, operation of law, or otherwise the water system of a water and fire protection authority (“authority”), then the commissioners shall thereupon convey to the authority the principal sum of $2,000,000 in irrevocable trust for the support and maintenance of the authority’s fire protection system.
(b) The trustees of the trust so established shall be the members of the governing board of the authority, as it may be comprised from time to time, who shall have all powers necessary to effect the support and maintenance of the authority’s fire protection system, including, but not limited to, the following powers:
(1) To adopt, alter, and repeal bylaws, regulations, and rules for the regulation and conduct of its affairs and business;
(2) To make, enter into, and execute contracts, agreements, and other instruments and to take such other actions as may be necessary or convenient to accomplish any purpose for which the trust was created or to exercise any power expressly or impliedly needed for the accomplishment of such purpose;
(3) To appoint, employ, and contract with such employees, agents, advisors, and consultants, including, but not limited to, attorneys, accountants, financial experts, and such other advisors, consultants, and agents as may in its judgment be necessary or desirable, and to fix their compensation;
(4) To borrow money for expenses or for any other purpose of the trust, and to pledge, mortgage, or otherwise encumber any property of the trust as security for any loans or bond issues of the authority;
(5) To deduct, retain, expend, and pay out of money belonging to the trust, any and all necessary and proper expenses in connection with the operation and conduct of the trust, and to pay all taxes, insurance premiums, and other legal assessments, debts, claims, or charges which at any time may be due and owing by, or which may exist against, the trust;
(6) To invest or reinvest the trust property in the following eligible investments:
a. Demand deposits (interest bearing) in federally insured banks and interest bearing deposits (whether or not evidenced by certificates of deposit) in federally insured banks; provided, however, that said deposits plus interest shall be fully secured by obligations described in paragraphs b. and c. hereinbelow, to the extent that said deposits plus interest exceed insurance available from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or from any agency of the United States of America that may succeed to the functions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
b. Bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness that are direct obligations of the United States of America or that are unconditionally guaranteed as to both principal and interest by the United States of America;
c. Bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by any federal agencies or government-sponsored enterprises authorized to issue their own debt instruments, including, without limitations to the following: Federal Farm Credit Bank, Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Federal Land Banks, the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Governmental National Mortgage Association, the Federal Financing Bank, Federal Banks for Cooperatives, Federal Home Loan Banks, Federal Home and Loan Mortgage Association, or the Farmers Home Administration;
d. Repurchase agreements with federally insured banks or with government bond dealers reporting to and trading with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, provided that such repurchase agreements are secured by obligations described in paragraphs b. and c. hereinabove;
e. Interest bearing time deposits (whether or not evidenced by certificates of deposit) in savings and loan associations (i) the deposits of which are insured to the maximum extent possible by the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation or any agency of the United States of America that may succeed to its functions and (ii) the principal office of which is located in the state; provided, however, that said deposits plus interest shall be secured by obligations described in paragraphs b. and c. hereinabove, to the extent that said deposits plus interest exceed insurance available from the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation or from any agency of the United States of America that may succeed to the functions of the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation; and
f. Any and all investments authorized under Section 19-3-120.
(7) To apply the net income of the trust property, or such additional sum or sums from or out of the principal of such trust, to expenses for the support and maintenance of the authority’s fire protection system as the trustees in their discretion shall deem necessary or appropriate for such purposes.
(8) To do all of the things hereinabove set out and to exercise any other powers and authorities which such trustees generally have, without first obtaining any order of court therefor.
(c) An individual trustee shall not in any way be personally liable for any liability, loss, or expense suffered by the trust fund unless such liability, loss, or expense arises out of or results from the willful misconduct or wrongdoing of such trustee.

Legislative History

(Acts 1989, No. 89-790, p. 1578, §3.)