§ 12-137. Governing body.

(a)

The governing body for the Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit shall be the board of county commissioners, as provided for in section 125.01(2), Florida Statutes.

(b)

The board of county commissioners as governing body of the Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit 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 Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit 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; 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 Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit for per diem, travel and other reasonable expenses for meetings, hearings and other official business, consistent with section 112.061, Florida Statutes.

(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 Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit and to enter into agreements required in connection therewith; and hold, use and dispose of such moneys 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 Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit to perform the specialized public functions or services herein provided.

(10)

To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate within or without said 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 Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit for those purposes authorized by the unit.

(13)

To lease as lessor or lessee to or from any person, firm, corporation, association or body, public or private, any projects of the type that the Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit 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 as now in effect or hereafter amended.

(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 established a budget and a fiscal year.

(15)

To issue general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, special assessment bonds or combinations thereof to finance the cost of capital improvement projects authorized by this article as now in effect or hereafter amended; the procedure for issuing such revenue or assessment bonds or the levying of special assessments 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 of 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 an advisory council and appoint its members or provide for an election of its members voted on by the registered electors residing in the Hills of Ocala Taxing Unit. The composition of such council and the term of office for its members shall be set forth in the resolution providing for said advisory council.

(Ord. No. 83-32, §§ I, III, 12-20-83; Ord. No. 87-27, § 1, 8-11-87; Ord. No. 87-30, § 1, 9-15-87; Ord. No. 89-1, § 2, 1-3-89)