(a)

(1) Whenever it becomes necessary for any levee or drainage district, or levee and drainage district organized under the laws of the State of Arkansas, to acquire flowage and storage rights and other servitudes upon, over, and across any lands in the construction, operation, and maintenance of any floodway, reservoir, emergency reservoir, spillway, or diversion, then the district shall have the full power and authority to acquire the rights by compromise, settlement, or other agreement with the owner.

(2) If the owner is a minor or an individual with mental illness or if the land belongs to the estate of a deceased person, then the curator, guardian, executor, or administrator with the approval of the probate division of circuit court shall have the right and power to make the compromise or settlement and to convey to the levee or drainage district the easements or other instruments or agreements covering the flowage and storage rights upon, over, and across any lands embraced in the floodway, reservoir, emergency reservoir, spillway, or diversion. The easements, contracts, or agreements, when so executed, shall vest in the districts the right to use the land for the purposes mentioned and set forth in the easement or contract.

(b)

(1) If it becomes necessary for any levee or drainage district, or levee and drainage district, to institute condemnation proceedings under Acts 1905, No. 53, and § 14-120-217, to acquire flowage and storage rights and other rights of servitudes over, upon, and across any lands embraced in any floodway, reservoir, emergency reservoir, spillway, or diversion, then all suits shall be prosecuted in the name of the district. If the district so elects, all lands sought to be condemned for these purposes may be embraced and included in one (1) suit.

(2) All of the several and respective owners thereof, or other person, firm, or corporation having an interest therein, shall be made parties defendant. It shall not be necessary or required that the district institute independent and separate suits against the several and respective owners of the land and rights sought to be condemned for these purposes.