MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2022 Regular Session
To: Conservation and Water Resources
By: Representatives Creekmore IV, Reynolds, Deweese, Massengill, Steverson, Rosebud
AN ACT TO CREATE THE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER AUTHORITY TO BE COMPOSED OF THE GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF THE COUNTIES THAT THE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER OR LITTLE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER TRAVERSE OR BORDER IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, SUBJECT TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF A COUNTY VOTING AND SPREADING ON ITS MINUTES THE DECISION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE AUTHORITY; TO PROVIDE THAT EACH PARTICIPATING COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MAY SELECT ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN AUTHORITY TO THE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER AUTHORITY; TO AUTHORIZE EACH PARTICIPATING COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDS TO THE AUTHORITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Tallahatchie River Authority composed of the geographic boundaries of the following counties that the Tallahatchie River or Little Tallahatchie River traverse or border in the State of Mississippi, subject to the board of supervisors of a county voting and spreading on its minutes the decision to participate in the authority: Leflore, Tallahatchie, Quitman, Panola, Lafayette, Marshall, Union and Tippah. The authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of one (1) member appointed by the board of supervisors of each of the counties eligible and whose board of supervisors chooses to participate. Board members shall be appointed by the appointing authorities within sixty (60) days after passage of this act.
(2) The boards of supervisors of the counties of Leflore and Tallahatchie shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of one (1) year; the boards of supervisors of the counties of Quitman and Panola shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of two (2) years; the boards of supervisors of the counties of Lafayette and Marshall shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of three (3) years; and the boards of supervisors of the counties of Union and Tippah shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of four (4) years. All appointments made after the initial appointments shall be for terms of four (4) years each from the expiration of the previous term, or until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(3) Board members shall serve without pay. Upon appointment the members shall meet and organize at Charleston, Mississippi, set a regular time and place for the meetings of the authority, and secure offices and all necessary equipment therefor. A full-time executive director may be appointed by the board if the board deems the appointment advisable, and, if a director is appointed, he or she shall be full-time and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The salary of a director may be paid out of such funds as may be available to the authority or from any source.
SECTION 2. The Tallahatchie River Authority is specifically authorized and empowered to contract with and to be contracted with by the Tennessee Valley Authority and any other agency or agencies of the federal government or of any state or subdivision thereof which may be of assistance in carrying out the purposes set forth in this act. In addition, the authority is empowered to do any and all other things necessary or desirable in effectuating a plan for the comprehensive development of the resources of the authority's geographic region, including, but not limited to, such subjects as tourism, economic development, forestry, drainage and land reclamation and preservation, bank stabilization, electric power utilization, water conservation, recreation, public health and education, such program of development to be carried on in cooperation with the appropriate local, state and federal agencies. All agencies of the State of Mississippi are hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to extend their cooperation and assistance to the Tallahatchie River Authority in the formulation and implementation of the program of development.
SECTION 3. Each of the counties in which the Tallahatchie River Authority is located is authorized and empowered to contribute any amount or amounts which the board of supervisors thereof deems advisable, acting in their sole discretion, to be paid from the general county fund of the respective counties.
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.