19-3552. Powers of governing body. For the purpose of providing a water supply or other services to the participating public agencies the governing body of the district shall have the following powers, authorities and privileges:

(1) To accept by gift or grant from any person, firm, corporation, trust or foundation, or from this state or any other state or any political subdivision or municipality thereof, or from the United States, any funds or property or any interest therein for the uses and purposes of the district and to hold title thereto in trust or otherwise and to bind the district to apply the same according to the terms of such gift or grant;

(2) to sue and be sued;

(3) to enter into franchises, contracts and agreements with this or any other state or the United States or any municipality, political subdivision or district thereof, or any of their agencies or instrumentalities, or any public or private person, partnership, association, or corporation of this state or of any other state or the United States, and this state and any such municipality, political subdivision, district, or any of their agencies or instrumentalities, and any such public or private person, partnership, association, or corporation is hereby authorized to enter into contracts and agreements with such district for any term not exceeding 40 years for the planning, development, construction, acquisition, or operation of any facility or for any service rendered to, for, or by the district;

(4) to borrow money and evidence the same by warrants, notes, or bonds as hereinafter provided in this act, and to refund the same by the issuance of refunding obligations;

(5) to acquire land and interests in land by gift, purchase, exchange or eminent domain, such power of eminent domain to be exercised within or without the boundaries of the district in accordance with provisions of K.S.A. 26-501, and amendments thereto;

(6) to acquire by purchase or lease, construct, install, and operate reservoirs, pipelines, wells, check dams, pumping stations, water purification plants, and other facilities for the production, wholesale distribution and utilization of water and to own and hold such real and personal property as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of its organization;

(7) to provide, by contract, to participating public agencies for the construction, installation and operation of pipelines, wells, pumping stations and other facilities and services relating to the distribution of water within the boundaries of the participating public agencies or retail distribution and utilization of water and to own and hold such real and personal property as may be necessary in relation thereto, except that, if the contract amount for such services is $10,000 or more, the district shall be authorized to provide such services only if the award of the contract is based on competitive bids;

(8) to provide, by contract, to participating public agencies for the operation and maintenance of state-permitted wastewater treatment works, systems and other facilities and services relating to the treatment of wastewater within the boundaries of the participating public agencies;

(9) to have the general management, control, and supervision of all the business, affairs, property, and facilities of the district, and of the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of district improvements, and to establish regulations relating thereto;

(10) to hire and retain agents, employees, engineers and attorneys and to determine their compensation. The governing body shall select and appoint a general manager of the district who shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body. The general manager shall have training and experience in the supervision and administration of water systems and shall manage and control the water system under the general supervision of the governing body. All employees, servants and agents of the district shall be under the immediate control and management of the general manager. The general manager shall perform all such other duties as may be prescribed by the governing body and shall give the governing body a good and sufficient surety company bond in a sum to be set and approved by the governing body conditioned upon the satisfactory performance of the general manager's duties. The governing body also may require that any other employees be bonded in such amount as it shall determine. The cost of such bonds shall be paid out of the funds of the district;

(11) to adopt and amend rules and regulations not in conflict with the constitution and laws of this state, necessary for the carrying on of the business, objects and affairs of the governing body and of the district; and

(12) to have and exercise all rights and powers necessary or incidental to or implied from the specific powers granted herein. Such specific powers shall not be considered as a limitation upon any power necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this act.

History: L. 1977, ch. 353, § 8; L. 2000, ch. 115, § 2; L. 2002, ch. 137, § 1; July 1.