Mississippi § 69-15-105 - County or district to establish program to control or eradicate ticks, flies, and other external parasites.

§ 69-15-105. County or district to establish program to control or eradicate ticks, flies, and other external parasites.

The boards of supervisors in the various counties are hereby authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to put into effect the provisions of this section by order of said respective boards spread upon the minutes of such board when petitioned by a majority of livestock owners in any county or affected district. The board of supervisors of any county, when petitioned, electing to come under the provisions of this section shall be authorized to appropriate money from the general fund or fix the levy annually of an ad valorem tax, not to exceed two (2) mills, upon the assessed valuation of all real and personal property within the area petitioned for and/or fix a fee not to exceed Twenty-five Cents (25¢) per head on livestock annually, based on cost estimates for a program of controlling or eradicating ticks, flies, and other nuisance insects by dipping livestock or by other appropriate methods. The board of supervisors of any county, upon designating an area where the program shall be operated, shall request the technical assistance of the Board of Animal Health. The Board of Animal Health shall cooperate in general planning, technical supervision, furnish specifications for vats, and other equipment, select approved chemical agents and test same for effectiveness. The board of supervisors of any county is authorized to construct dipping vats in suitable locations, purchase other equipment and supplies, and employ such personnel as necessary, including inspectors who shall be enforcement officers for the county board of supervisors. It shall be the duty of each livestock owner within the area of program operations to cooperate with the board of supervisors and its representatives and comply with the provisions of this section. The board of supervisors of any county shall have the authority to require all owners when necessary to assemble all their livestock at a designated time and place and have same dipped or treated according to prescribed methods. Owners who refuse or fail to comply after having been duly notified to have livestock assembled and dipped or treated as prescribed shall be in violation of the provisions of this section and shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 69-15-53 through 69-15-69. The purpose of this section is to supplement and be in addition to Section 69-15-307, Mississippi Code of 1972, and related statutes. Nothing in this section to the contrary shall replace or minimize existing statute concerning existing laws for the eradication of the cattle fever tick (Margaropus annulatus).