§ 12-17. Governing body.

(a)

The governing body for the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements shall be the board of county commissioners.

(b)

The board of county commissioners as governing body of the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements is empowered:

(1)

To sue and be sued in the name of the unit.

(2)

To adopt and use a seal and authorize use of a facsimile thereof.

(3)

To acquire in the name of the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements 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 furnishing of services authorized by this article and to hold and dispose of all real and personal property under its control; provided, however, nothing herein contained shall authorize the power of eminent domain to be exercised beyond the limits of the taxing unit.

(4)

To make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.

(5)

To employ and fix the compensation of employees of the unit.

(6)

To authorize compensation for members of the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements for per diem, travel and other reasonable expenses for meetings, hearings and other official business, consistent with F.S. § 112.061.

(7)

To contract for the services of engineers, attorneys, accountants, financial or other consultants and such other agents as the board of county commissioners may require or deem necessary to accomplish the purpose of the unit.

(8)

To borrow money and accept gifts; to convey real or personal property; to apply for and use grants or loans of money or other property from the United States, the state, a local unit of government or any other person for any unit purposes of the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements and to enter into agreements required in connection therewith; and hold, use and dispose of such monies or property for any unit purposes in accordance with the terms of the gift or grant, loan, or agreement relating thereto, subject to state law applicable to noncharter county government.

(9)

To acquire, construct, operate, maintain, equip, improve, extend, enlarge or improve capital projects within or without the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements to perform the specialized public functions or services herein provided.

(10)

To maintain an office at such places as it may designate within or without the taxing unit.

(11)

To adopt by-laws, rules and regulations, resolutions and orders for its own government and proceedings.

(12)

To make use of any public easements, dedications to public use, plat reservations for specific public purposes within the boundaries of the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements for those purposes authorized by the unit.

(13)

To lease as lessor or lessee to or from any person any projects of the type that the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements is authorized to undertake and facilities or properties of any nature for the use of the unit to carry out any of the purposes of this article.

(14)

To borrow money and issue bonds, certificates, warrants, notes or other evidences of indebtedness as hereinafter provided; to levy such tax as may be authorized; and to establish a budget and a fiscal year.

(15)

To issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, special assessment bond or combinations thereof to finance the cost of capital improvement projects authorized by this article; the procedure for issuing such revenue or assessment bonds or the levying of special assessment shall be in the manner provided by law.

(16)

To levy and assess special assessments authorized by law to pay the cost of such specialized public functions or services as are provided for in this article.

(17)

To contract with municipalities, cities, towns, counties, or other political subdivisions, public corporations or persons; to provide or receive such specialized public functions or services.

(18)

To provide for by resolution an advisory council and appoint its members or provide for an election of its members voted on by the registered electors residing in the Lake Tropicana Municipal Service Taxing Unit for Road Improvements. The composition of such council and the term of office for its members shall be set forth in the resolution providing for the advisory council.

(Ord. No. 82-25, §§ I, III, 12-21-82; Ord. No. 88-14, § 1, 3-29-88)

State law reference

Board of county commissioners to be governing body, F.S. § 125.01(2); tax levy in municipal service taxing units, F.S. § 125.01(1)(r).