Mississippi § 57-1-21 - Municipal enterprises; issuance of certificate.

§ 57-1-21. Municipal enterprises; issuance of certificate.

The executive director shall investigate, find and determine upon application of any municipality therefor, as to whether a certificate of public convenience and necessity shall be issued to such municipality to engage in any of the enterprises deemed essential under the above declared public policy for the economic development and advancement of such municipality; and in considering and determining whether or not such certificate shall issue, the executive director shall find and determine affirmatively the following: That there are sufficient natural resources readily and economically available for the operation of the particular enterprise for at least ten (10) years, but in no event less than the period of time for which any bonds may be issued for acquiring or constructing such enterprise. That there is available a labor supply to furnish at least one and one-half workers between the ages of eighteen (18) and fifty (50) for each operative job in such enterprise within an area of twenty-five (25) miles from the proposed location. That there are adequate property values and suitable financial conditions so that the total bonded indebtedness of the municipality, solely for the purposes authorized by Sections 57-1-1 through 57-1-51, shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the total assessed valuation of all the property in the municipality. When the executive director shall have determined the foregoing facts favorably, he is authorized and empowered, having due regard to the promotion of the public policy and the general welfare herein declared, to issue or refuse to issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity to the municipality to engage in such enterprise. If and when such certificate is issued, it shall authorize the particular municipality to acquire, to own, to operate, to sell, to convey, to let, to lease or to rent the particular enterprise found suited to the general welfare of that municipality; but the certificate shall expire in twelve (12) months from its date unless within that time such enterprise shall have been established, subject, however, to any delays necessitated by any legislation or acts of God, delaying the establishment of the enterprise. In no event shall the executive director authorize any municipality actually to operate any enterprise, unless he shall further find and determine that the enterprise is well conceived, has a reasonable prospect of success, will provide proper economic development and employment, will add materially to the general welfare of the municipality, and will not become a burden upon the taxpayers of the municipality. If and when a certificate is issued, the executive director therein shall fix and determine: (a) the extent and the amount to which the municipality may issue bonds or make expenditures for such enterprise; (b) what property may be acquired therefor; (c) the terms upon which such acquisition may be had; (d) what expenditures may be made, and the construction of buildings, and of equipment with its installation; and (e) the method of operation of the enterprise by the municipality. If the governing board of the municipality fails or refuses to follow the requirements made by the executive director in the certificate, then the members of the governing board of the municipality voting for such failure or refusal shall be individually and personally liable, and liable upon their official bonds for any loss that the municipality may sustain by reason of such failure or refusal to follow the requirements, and in addition may be compelled by injunction to comply with such requirements. If the executive director refuses to issue a certificate, an appeal of such refusal may be taken by the municipality to the Governor in the manner and within the time that the Governor shall establish by executive order.