§ 40 — Powers and duties

(a) The Authority constitutes a municipal corporation and body politic separate from any other municipality, state, or other public or governmental agency. The Authority has the following express powers, subject to any restrictions or limitations contained in this Act, and all other powers incidental, necessary, convenient, or desirable to carry out and effectuate the express powers to: (1) Sue and be sued. (2) Locate, acquire, own, establish, operate, and maintain one or more metropolitan facilities upon any land or body of water within its corporate limits, and construct, develop, expand, extend, and improve any metropolitan facility. A new metropolitan facility, such as a sanitary landfill or infectious waste disposal facility, shall not be established without site approval of the city council or board of supervisors that governs the city or county in which the proposed site is to be located. (3) Acquire, within the corporate limits of the Authority, rights in fee simple in and over land or water, easements upon, over, or across land or water, leasehold interests in land or water, and tangible and intangible personal property, used or useful for the location, establishment, maintenance, development, expansion, extension, or improvement of one or more metropolitan facilities. The acquisition may be by dedication, purchase, gift, agreement, lease, or by condemnation if within the corporate limits of the Authority. The Authority may acquire land in fee simple subject to a mortgage and as part of the purchase price may assume the payment of the indebtedness secured by the mortgage. Land may be acquired, possessed, and used for its purposes by the Authority under a written contract for a deed conveying merchantable title, providing that the deed shall be placed in escrow and be delivered upon payment of the purchase price, and containing other terms reasonably incident to the contract. Personal property may be purchased under an installment contract or lease-purchase contract. (4) Operate, maintain, manage, lease (with or without a lease-purchase option), sublease, and make and enter into contracts for the use, operation, or management of a metropolitan facility and enact regulations for the operation, management, or use of a metropolitan facility. (5) Fix, charge, and collect reasonable rents, tolls, fees, and charges for the use of a metropolitan facility or any part of a metropolitan facility. Rents, tolls, fees, or charges fixed and collected for the use of a metropolitan facility shall be used for the construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, or operation of that metropolitan facility or the construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, or operation of similar metropolitan facilities. (6) Establish and maintain streets and approaches on property of the Authority. (7) Remove and relocate hazards or structures on property of the Authority. (8) Restrict and reduce the height of objects or buildings on property of the Authority. (9) Accept grants, contributions, or loans from, and enter into contracts, leases, or other transactions with, a city, county, state, or federal government. (10) Borrow money and issue bonds, notes, certificates, or other evidences of indebtedness for the purpose of accomplishing any of the corporate purposes (which obligations may be payable from other sources as provided in this Act) and refund or advance refund any of the evidences of indebtedness with bonds, notes, certificates, or other evidence of indebtedness (which refunding or advanced refunding obligations may be payable from taxes or from any other source), subject to compliance with any condition or limitation set forth in this Act. (11) Employ, or enter into contracts for the employment of, any person for professional services that are necessary or desirable for the accomplishment of the corporate objectives of the Authority or the proper administration, management, protection, or control of its property. (12) Regulate traffic, speed, movement, and mooring of vessels on property of the Authority. (13) Regulate traffic, speed, movement, and parking of motor vehicles upon property of the Authority and employ parking meters, signs, and other devices in the regulation of the motor vehicles. (14) Contract for police and fire protection. (15) Establish, by ordinance of the board, all regulations for the execution of the powers specified in this Act, for the government of the Authority, and for the protection of any metropolitan facility within the jurisdiction of the Authority or deemed necessary or desirable to effect its corporate objectives. An ordinance may provide for the revocation, cancellation, or suspension of an existing privilege or franchise as a penalty for a second or subsequent violation by the holder or franchisee of a regulation pertaining to the enjoyment, use, or exercise of the privilege or franchise. The use of a metropolitan facility of the Authority shall be subject to the reasonable regulation and control of the Authority and shall be upon reasonable terms and conditions established by the board. (16) Establish a general operating fund and other funds as necessary. (17) Do all acts and things necessary or convenient for the promotion of its business and the general welfare of the Authority in order to carry out the powers granted to it by this Act or any other laws. The Authority has no power to pledge the taxing power of this State or any political subdivision or agency of this State. (b) Bonds and notes issued by the Authority are payable solely and only out of the moneys, assets, or revenues of the Authority and as provided in the agreement with bondholders or noteholders pledging any particular moneys, assets, or revenues. Bonds or notes are not an obligation of this State or any political subdivision of this State other than the Authority within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitations, but are special obligations of the Authority payable solely and only from the sources provided in this Act, and the Authority shall not pledge the credit or taxing power of this State or any political subdivision of this State other than the Authority or make its debts payable out of any moneys except those of the Authority.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 87-622.)