Mississippi § 19-31-7 - Establishment of public improvement districts; by local ordinance granting petition; public hearing; contents of ordinance; contribution agreements.

§ 19-31-7. Establishment of public improvement districts; by local ordinance granting petition; public hearing; contents of ordinance; contribution agreements.

The method for the establishment of a public improvement district shall be pursuant to an ordinance adopted by the governing body of each county in which the land is located granting a petition for the establishment of a public improvement district. The petition for the establishment of a public improvement district shall be filed by the petitioner with the governing body of the county or counties. The petition shall contain: A description of the boundaries of the district; The written consent to the establishment of the district by all landowners in the district; A designation of five (5) persons to be the initial members of the board of directors, who shall serve in that office until replaced by elected members as provided in Section 19-31-9; The proposed name of the district; A map of the proposed district showing existing infrastructure, if any; and Based upon available data, the proposed timetable for construction of the district services and the estimated cost of constructing the proposed services. A public hearing on the petition shall be conducted by the governing body of each county of the proposed district within sixty (60) days after the petition is filed unless an extension of time is requested by the petitioners and granted by the governing body of each county. The hearing shall be held at an accessible location in each county in which the public improvement district is to be located. The petitioner shall cause a notice of the hearing to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in each county at least once a week for the four (4) successive weeks immediately prior to the hearing. Such notice shall give the time and place for the hearing, a description of the area to be included in the district, and any other relevant information which the establishing governing bodies may require. The advertisement shall be published in the official minutes of the local governing body. The governing body of each county shall consider the record of the public hearing and any other relevant factors in making its determination to grant or deny a petition for the establishment of a public improvement district. An ordinance establishing a public improvement district shall include the boundaries of the district, the names of the five (5) persons designated to be the initial members of the board of directors of the district and the name of the district. If all of the land in the area for the proposed district is within the territorial jurisdiction of a municipality, then the petition requesting establishment of a public improvement district under this chapter shall be filed by the petitioner with that particular municipality. In such event, the duties of the county with regard to the petition shall be the duties of the municipality. If any of the land area of a proposed district is within the land area of a municipality, the governing body of the county may not create the district without the approval of the municipality. The governing body of any governmental agency, county and/or municipality may enter into contribution agreements with the district.