§ 9-9-14 — Board of Water Management Commissioners - Composition; Qualifications, Appointment, Terms of Office, Oath and Bond of Commissioners; Seal; Officers and Employees Generally; Meetings; Vacancies; Quorum

Upon the organization of the district, the court of probate shall appoint three water management commissioners to be designated “Board of Water Management Commissioners,” who shall have control of the affairs of the district, and each commissioner shall be an owner of real property within the district and shall be over 19 years of age, and at least one of them shall be a resident of the county in which the proceedings are held. Whenever the owners of a majority in acres of the land comprising a district petition the court for appointment of a person qualified under this article to act as a water management commissioner, it shall be the duty of the court to appoint such person or persons, but in the absence of such petition it shall be the duty of the court to appoint such competent person or persons. Each of these water management commissioners shall take the oath of office as declared by the constitution of the state and shall also swear that he will not directly or indirectly be interested in any contract made by the board of water management commissioners, save and except so far as he may be benefited as a landowner in common with other landowners by the works constructed. Any water management commissioner failing to take the oath within 30 days after his appointment or failing to give bond in the sum of not less than $1,000.00, to be fixed by the court, shall be deemed to have declined to act as water management commissioner, and his place shall be filled by the court. The said board of water management commissioners shall adopt a seal for the district, and they may from time to time make such bylaws, rules, regulations and orders and change the same as they may deem proper and not inconsistent with this article and the laws of the state for the purpose of carrying into effect the object of their incorporation. They shall elect from their own number a president and secretary and appoint and employ such other officers, engineers, attorneys and agents and employ such persons as they may deem necessary for the efficient management of their business and may remove them at pleasure. The water management commissioners appointed as aforesaid shall hold their offices, one for two years, one for four years and one for six years, from the date of their appointments and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The court shall indicate the term of office of each water management commissioner; and, on the expiration of their terms of office, their successors shall be appointed in like manner for the term of six years thereafter. Said board of water management commissioners shall hold their meetings at any time and place in the county or counties in which any part of the district is situated upon the call of the president, or the president shall call a meeting when petitioned by a majority of the members of said board; provided, that an annual meeting of said board of water management commissioners shall be held at the office of the judge of probate having jurisdiction over the district on the second Monday of September each year to consider any business which may come before them in behalf of the district or any questions which any landowner may desire to present. All vacancies on the board of water management commissioners shall be filled by the court, but if the owners of a majority in acres of the land comprising the district shall petition for the appointment of a particular person for water management commissioner, it shall be the duty of the court to appoint the person so designated. A majority of the board of water management commissioners shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of a majority of the members at any regular or legally called meeting shall be conclusive as to any matters within the jurisdiction of said board.

Legislative History

(Acts 1965, No. 685, p. 1246, §11.)