§9039.20. Special powers; public improvements and community facilities

A. The district shall have, and the board may exercise, subject to the regulatory jurisdiction and permitting authority of all applicable governmental bodies and agencies, including soil and water conservation districts, having authority with respect to any area included therein, any or all of the special powers relating to public improvements and community facilities authorized by this Chapter. The district shall have the power to finance, fund, plan, establish, acquire, construct or reconstruct, enlarge or extend, equip, operate, and maintain systems, facilities, and basic infrastructures for the following:

(1) Water management and control for the lands within the district and to connect some or any of such facilities with roads and bridges.

(2) Water supply, sewer, and wastewater management, reclamation, and reuse or any combination thereof.

(3) Bridges or culverts that may be needed across any drain, ditch, canal, floodway, holding basin, excavation, public highway, tract, grade, fill, or cut and roadways over levees and embankments.

(4) District roads equal to or exceeding the specifications of the parish in which such district roads are located, and street lights.

B. After the board has obtained the consent of the affected local government, the district shall have the power to plan, establish, acquire, construct or reconstruct, enlarge or extend, equip, operate, and maintain additional systems and facilities for:

(1) Parks and facilities for indoor and outdoor recreational, cultural, and educational uses.

(2) Fire prevention and control, including fire stations, water mains and plugs, fire trucks, and other vehicles and equipment.

(3) School buildings and related structures, which may be leased, sold, or donated to the school district, for use in the educational system when authorized by the district school board having jurisdiction of the district.

(4) Security, except that the district may not exercise any police power, but may contract with the appropriate local government agencies for an increased level of such services within the district boundaries.

(5) Control and elimination of mosquitoes and other public health nuisances.

(6) Waste collection and disposal.

(7) Revenue producing utilities as defined in R.S. 33:4161 et seq., except electricity and gas services.

Acts 2001, No. 992, §1; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 42, §1.