§ 262-488. Powers of board.

The Board of Commissioners of the Immokalee Water and Sewer District is authorized and empowered:

(1)

To make rules and regulations for its own government and proceedings and to adopt an official seal for the district.

(2)

To employ engineers, attorneys, accountants, financial or other experts, and such other agents and employees as said district board may require or deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of this law, or to contract for any such services, provided that the board may authorize its director to hire, discipline, and terminate employees, and give salary raises to employees, subject to review and approval by the board.

(3)

To construct, install, erect, and acquire and to operate, maintain, improve, extend, or enlarge and reconstruct a water system or a sewer system or both within said district and the environs thereof and to have the exclusive control and jurisdiction thereof, and to issue its general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, or assessment bonds, or any combination of the foregoing, to pay all or part of the cost of such construction, reconstruction, erection, acquisition, or installation of such water system, sewer system, or both, provided that the total amount of all general obligation indebtedness of the district issued pursuant to this law, shall not exceed 15 percent of the assessed value of the taxable property in the district at the time of the creation of such district, to be ascertained by the assessed valuations for county taxes in effect at the time of the creation of such district.

(4)

To regulate the use of sewers and the supply of water within the district, to prohibit the use and maintenance of outhouses, privies, septic tanks, or other unsanitary structures or appliances, and to regulate the use of sewers and the wastewater collection system within the district by instituting, maintaining, and enforcing a grease management program for the district's commercial and industrial customers.

(5)

To fix and collect rates, fees, and other charges to persons or property or both for the use of the facilities and services provided by any water system or sewer system or both and to fix and collect charges for making connections with any such water system or sewer system, and to provide for reasonable penalties on any users or property for any such rates, fees, or charges that are delinquent.

(6)

To acquire in the name of the district, by purchase, gift, or the exercise of the right of eminent domain, such lands and rights and interest therein, including lands under water and riparian rights and to acquire such personal property as it may deem necessary in connection with the construction, reconstruction, improvement, extension, installation, erection, or operation and maintenance of any water system or sewer system or both and to hold and dispose of all real and personal property under its control; however, nothing contained herein shall authorize the power of eminent domain to be exercised beyond the limits of the district.

(7)

To exercise exclusive jurisdiction, control, and supervision over any water system or sewer system or both, or any part thereof, owned, operated, and maintained by the district, and to make and enforce such rules and regulations for the maintenance and operation of any water system or sewer system or both as may be, in the judgment of the district board, necessary or desirable for the efficient operation of any such systems or improvements in accomplishing the purposes of this law.

(8)

To restrain, enjoin, or otherwise prevent the violation of this law or of any resolution, rule, or regulation adopted pursuant to the powers granted by this law.

(9)

To join with any other district or districts, cities, towns, counties, or other political subdivisions, public agencies, or authorities in the exercise of common powers.

(10)

To contract with municipalities or other private or public corporations or persons to provide or receive a water supply or for sewage disposal, collection, or treatment.

(11)

To prescribe methods of pretreatment of industrial wastes not amendable to treatment with domestic sewage before accepting such wastes for treatment and to refuse to accept such industrial wastes when not sufficiently pretreated as may be prescribed, and by proper resolution to prescribe penalties for the refusal of any person or corporation to so pretreat such industrial wastes.

(12)

To require and enforce the use of its facilities whenever and wherever they are accessible.

(13)

To sell or otherwise dispose of the effluent, sludge, or other byproducts as a result of sewage treatment.

(14)

To accomplish construction by holding hearings, advertising for construction bids, and letting contracts for all or any part or parts of the construction of any water system or sewer system or both to the lowest responsible bidder or bidders or rejecting any and all bids at its discretion, provided that the district may purchase supplies, material, and equipment, as well as expend for construction work, in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 total cost of each transaction without advertising or receiving bids.

(15)

To construct and operate connecting, intercepting, or outlet sewers and sewer mains and pipes and water mains, conduits, or pipelines in, along, or under any streets, alleys, highways, or other public places or ways within the state or any municipality or political subdivision necessary for the purposes of the district.

(16)

Subject to such provisions and restrictions as may be set forth in the resolution authorizing or securing any bonds or other obligations issued under the provisions of this law, to enter into contracts with the Government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or with any county, municipality, district, authority, or political subdivision, private corporation, partnership, association, or individual providing for or relating to the treatment, collection, and disposal of sewage, or the treatment, supply, and distribution of water and any other matters relevant thereto or otherwise necessary to effect the purposes of this law, and to receive and accept from any federal agency, grants or loans for or in aid of the planning, construction, reconstruction, or financing of any water system or sewer system or both and to receive and accept aid or contributions or loans, from any other source, of money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied only for the purpose for which such grants, contributions, or loans may be made.

(Laws of Fla. ch. 78-494, § 8; Laws of Fla. ch. 93-366, § 2; Laws of Fla. ch. 98-495, § 2)