§335.3. Authority, powers, and duties of board; officers; agents
A.The board of commissioners shall exercise the powers herein conferred upon it
within the port area, consisting of the entire parish of Rapides, excluding any private port
facility.
B.The board of commissioners may authorize a reasonable travel allowance for its
members in the performance of their official duties. The board of commissioners may
further reimburse to its members actual expenses incurred in the performance of their official
duties on behalf of the port. It may employ such officers, agents, and employees as it finds
necessary in the performance of its duties, and it may prescribe the duties, powers, and
compensation of the officers, agents, and employees. The board of commissioners, on terms
as it agrees upon,
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§335.3. Authority, powers, and duties of board; officers; agents
A. The board of commissioners shall exercise the powers herein conferred upon it
within the port area, consisting of the entire parish of Rapides, excluding any private port
facility.
B. The board of commissioners may authorize a reasonable travel allowance for its
members in the performance of their official duties. The board of commissioners may
further reimburse to its members actual expenses incurred in the performance of their official
duties on behalf of the port. It may employ such officers, agents, and employees as it finds
necessary in the performance of its duties, and it may prescribe the duties, powers, and
compensation of the officers, agents, and employees. The board of commissioners, on terms
as it agrees upon, may contract for legal, financial, engineering, and other professional
services necessary or expedient in the conduct of its affairs, and, on terms and conditions
mutually agreeable, may utilize the services of other executive departments of the state.
C.(1) The board of commissioners shall regulate the commerce and traffic within the
port area in a manner as may, in its judgment, be for the best interests of the state.
(2) The board shall have charge of and administer public wharves, docks, sheds, and
landings. It may:
(a) Construct or acquire and equip wharves, landings, and other structures useful for
the commerce of the port and provide mechanical facilities therefor.
(b) Erect sheds or other structures on the wharves and landings.
(c) Provide light, water, police protection, and other services for its facilities as it
deems advisable.
(d) Construct or acquire, maintain, and operate basins, locks, canals, warehouses, and
elevators.
(e) Charge for the use of all facilities administered by it and for all services rendered
by it.
(f) Establish fees, rates, tariffs, or other charges as it deems fit.
(g) Establish harbor lines within the port area by agreement with the United States
Army Corps of Engineers.
(h) Construct, own, operate, and maintain terminal rail facilities and other common
carrier rail facilities for the purpose of rendering rail transportation to and from the facilities
to be erected, owned, and operated by the port in both intrastate and interstate commerce.
(3) Title to all property and improvements acquired by the port shall rest in the port.
D. The board of commissioners may make and enter into contracts, leases, and other
agreements with railroads, trucking companies, and barge lines and with any and all
companies interested in the transportation, storage, and shipping of goods and other products,
whether by rail, truck line, barge line, or otherwise, for the use of facilities administered by
the board or any part or portion thereof for a period of time not exceeding forty years.
However, no exclusive franchise shall be granted to any carrier.
E. The board of commissioners may make and enter into contracts, leases, and other
agreements with political subdivisions for the management and operation of port and
ancillary facilities, including industrial park property adjacent to the port facility. This right
shall include the construction and operation of warehouses, storage facilities, and other
buildings used in connection with the port.
F. The board of commissioners is authorized to make and construct any of the works
of public improvements in the port and anything in connection therewith which may be
necessary or useful for the business of the board, to purchase machinery or materials and
equipment for performing the work and to supervise the making of the same or to make and
construct the works through contracts with others, and generally to do all other acts necessary
or proper to carry out the powers vested in it with regard to works of public improvement.