§ A11-4. Marion County Utility Authority; powers and duties.

(1)

The authority may exercise any of the following powers and duties as authorized in the ordinance:

(a)

To prescribe fair and reasonable rates and charges, classifications, standards of quality, and measurements in accordance with section 5[A11-5].

(b)

To prescribe by rule a uniform system and classification of accounts for all utility services provided by the authority.

(c)

To employ and compensate technical, legal, and clerical employees deemed necessary to carry out the duties and powers of the authority.

(d)

To own and operate utility services.

(e)

To acquire in the name of the authority, real property, including riparian rights, by purchase, gift or exercise of right of eminent domain.

(f)

To issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, special assessment bonds or combinations thereof to finance the cost of capital improvement projects. The procedures shall be set forth in the ordinance.

(g)

To make use of any public easements, dedications to public use, or plat reservations.

(h)

To maintain offices and purchase insurance and other personal property necessary or convenient to provide utility services.

(i)

To make and prescribe such rules as are reasonably necessary and appropriate for the proper administration and enforcement of the provisions of the ordinance. These rules shall not become effective until a public hearing before the board has been approved by the board and filed with the clerk of the board. A notice stating the time and place of the hearing and the general nature of the proposed rule shall be served by regular mail on the affected utilities two (2) weeks before the date of the hearing and shall be published by the board in a newspaper of general circulation in Marion County once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks before the date of the hearing. Upon approval by the board, such rules shall have the full force and effect of law within Marion County.

(j)

Subject to the limits and procedures specified in s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, to sue and be sued.

(2)

The authority shall consist of at least three (3) and no more than nine (9) members appointed by the board. The ordinance shall prescribe the number of members and the specific qualifications, if any, desired by the board. The ordinance shall also prescribe the terms of the members and any rules and regulations regarding meetings that the board may desire. The ordinance may authorize the authority to adopt rules of procedure for authority meetings, however all authority meetings shall be open to the public and subject to s. 286.011, Florida Statutes.

(3)

No member of the authority shall be employed by or be connected with or have any financial interest in, directly or indirectly, or serve as an agent or representative of, any utility providing services in Marion County. Members of the authority shall be subject to financial disclosure as required by s. 112.3145, Florida Statutes. No member may be an employee of Marion County.

(4)

The ordinance shall contain provisions regarding the compensation of members of the authority and reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of authority duties.

(5)

The ordinance shall provide for removal and replacement of members of the authority.

(Laws of Fla., Ch. 87-460, § 4)