A lake facilities authority may do all of the following:

(A) Acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or otherwise, on such terms and in such manner as it considers proper, real and personal property necessary for an authorized purpose or any estate, interest, or right therein, within or without the impacted lake district;

(B) Improve, remediate, maintain, sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of real and personal property on such terms and in such manner as it considers proper;

(C) Request that the department of natural resources, the environmental protection agency, or the department of agriculture adopt, modify, and enforce reasonable rules and regulations governing impacted watersheds;

(D) Employ such managers, administrative officers, agents, engineers, architects, attorneys, contractors, subcontractors, and employees as may be appropriate in the exercise of the rights, powers, and duties conferred on it, prescribe the duties and compensation for such persons, require bonds to be given by any such persons and by officers of the authority for the faithful performance of their duties, and fix the amount and surety therefor, and pay the surety;

(E) Sue and be sued in its corporate name;

(F)

(1) Make and enter into all contracts and agreements and execute all instruments relating to the provisions of this chapter;

(2) Except as provided otherwise under divisions (F)(2) and (3) of this section, when the cost of a contract for the construction of any building, structure, or other improvement undertaken by a lake facilities authority involves an expenditure exceeding fifty thousand dollars, and the lake facilities authority is the contracting authority, the lake facilities authority shall make a written contract after notice calling for bids for the award of the contract has been given by publication twice, with at least seven days between publications, in a newspaper of general circulation in the impacted lake district. Each such contract shall be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in accordance with section 9.312 of the Revised Code. The board of directors by rule may provide criteria for the negotiation and award without competitive bidding of any contract as to which the lake facilities authority is the contracting authority for the construction of any building or structure or other improvement under any of the following circumstances:

(a) There exists a real and present emergency that threatens damage to property or injury to persons of the lake facilities authority or other persons, provided that a statement specifying the nature of the emergency that is the basis for the negotiation and award of a contract without competitive bidding shall be signed at the time of the contract's execution by the officer of the lake facilities authority that executes the contract and shall be attached to the contract.

(b) A commonly recognized industry or other standard or specification does not exist and cannot objectively be articulated for the improvement.

(c) The contract is for any energy conservation measure as defined in section 307.041 of the Revised Code.

(d) With respect to material to be incorporated into the improvement, only a single source or supplier exists for the material.

(e) A single bid is received by the lake facilities authority after complying with the above provisions.

(3) In addition to the exceptions to competitive bidding requirements under division (F)(2) of this section, a lake facilities authority may contract for the acquisition or construction of any property for an authorized purpose and for the leasing, subleasing, sale, or other disposition of the property in a manner determined by the lake facilities authority in its sole discretion, without necessity for competitive bidding or performance bonds.

(4) With respect to any public improvement undertaken by, or under contract for, the lake facilities authority, the authority may elect to apply sections 4115.03 to 4115.21 of the Revised Code.

(G) Accept aid or contributions from any source of money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied only for the purposes for which the grants and contributions are made;

(H) Apply for and accept grants, loans, or commitments of guarantee or insurance, including any guarantees of lake facilities authority bonds and notes, from the United States, the state, or other public body or other sources, and provide any consideration which may be required in order to obtain such grants, loans, or contracts of guarantee or insurance;

(I) Procure insurance against loss to the lake facilities authority by reason of damage to its properties resulting from fire, theft, accident, or other casualties, or by reason of its liability for any damages to persons or property occurring in the construction or operation of facilities or areas under its jurisdiction or the conduct of its activities;

(J) Maintain such funds or reserves as it considers necessary for the efficient performance of its duties;

(K) Enforce any covenants, of which the lake facilities authority is the beneficiary, running with the land.

(L) Issue securities for the remediation of an impacted watershed and directly related permanent improvements in compliance with Chapter 133. of the Revised Code, except that such bonds or notes may be issued only pursuant to a vote of the electors residing within the impacted lake district. The net indebtedness incurred by a lake facilities authority pursuant to this division may not exceed one-tenth of one per cent of the total value of all property within the territory comprising the impacted lake district as listed and assessed for taxation.

(M) Issue lake facilities authority revenue bonds beyond the limit of bonded indebtedness provided by law, payable solely from revenues as provided in section 353.09 of the Revised Code for the purpose of providing funds to pay costs of any facility or facilities or parts thereof;

(N) Advise and provide input to political subdivisions within the impacted lake district with respect to zoning and land use planning within the impacted lake district;

(O) Enter into agreements for the management, ownership, possession, or control of lands or property to be used for wetland mitigation banking;

(P) Adopt and modify rules and regulations to carry out the authority granted to the lake facilities authority under this section.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 340, §101.01, eff. 12/22/2015.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §101.01, eff. 9/29/2013.