(1) Upon creation of the Jackson County Utility Authority, all powers of the Jackson County Utility Authority shall be exercised by the board of directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority.

(2) Upon consolidation of the Jackson County Utility Authority and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Wastewater Authority, the county authority shall be governed by a board consisting of seven (7) directors.

(a) The members of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority shall serve as Directors of the Jackson County Utility Authority until the expiration of their existing terms. Upon expiration of a member’s term, the governing body making the appointment shall appoint a person residing within the corporate boundaries of the governing body to serve as a director.

(b) The City of Gautier shall appoint one (1) director who resides within the City of Gautier for an initial term of three (3) years.

(c) The Board of Supervisors of Jackson County shall appoint two (2) additional directors for an initial term of two (2) and four (4) years, respectively, who reside within the unincorporated area of Jackson County.

(3)

(a) After expiration of the initial terms, all appointed directors shall serve a term of six (6) years.

(b) No director shall hold an elected public office.

(4) In addition to any other powers and rights conferred upon such board of directors, the board is granted and may exercise all powers and rights granted pursuant to Sections 49-17-739 through 49-17-773 to promote the health, welfare and prosperity of the general public.