Sec. 14. (a) The commission may proceed with the clearing and replanning of the area described in the resolution before the acquisition of all of that area. It may also proceed with any of the following:

(1) The repair and maintenance of buildings that have been acquired and are not to be cleared.

(2) Investigation of environmental contamination.

(3) Remediation of environmental contamination.

The commission may carry out the activities under this subsection by labor employed directly by the commission or by contract. Contracts for clearance may provide that the contractor is entitled to retain and dispose of salvaged material, as a part of the contract price or on the basis of stated prices for the amounts of the various materials actually salvaged.

(b) All contracts for material or labor under this section shall be let under IC 36-1.

(c) In the replanning and rezoning of the real property acquired, the opening, closing, relocation, and improvement of public ways, and the construction, relocation, or improvement of levees, sewers, and utility services, the commission shall proceed in the same manner as private owners of property. It may negotiate with the proper officers and agencies to secure the proper orders, approvals, and consents.

(d) The commission may pay any charges or assessments made on account of orders, approvals, consents, and construction work under this section, or may agree to pay these assessments in installments as provided by statute in the case of private owners. The commission may:

(1) by special waiver filed with the works board, waive the statutory procedure and notices required by law in order to create valid liens on private property; and

(2) cause any assessments to be spread on a different basis than that provided by statute.

(e) None of the real property acquired under this chapter may be set aside and dedicated for public ways, sewers, levees, parks, or other public purposes until the commission has obtained the consent and approval of the department or agency under whose jurisdiction the property will be placed.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.77, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.221-2007, SEC.43.