§ 343. [Rights, authority, duties.]

The Taylor County Port Authority and its board of port commissioners shall have the following rights, authority and duties:

(a)

The right to acquire land, submerged land and water rights, by purchase, gift, condemnations or otherwise, and to hold and dispose of the same upon such terms and conditions as the governing body shall deem necessary and wise for development of port facilities. To improve such land or lands so acquired for public purpose in any form whatsoever deemed necessary and expedient by the governing board, which promotes or will have a tendency to promote the public good of the community.

(b)

To construct wharves, docks, channels, jetties, ports, warehouses, shipping facilities and to do all other things incidental and necessary to create, maintain and operate a commercial port for vessels for the express purpose of industrial development.

(c)

Shall have full and complete right to contract.

(d)

Shall have the right to eminent domain.

(e)

Shall have the right to sue and be sued in the name of its corporate authority or administrative agency.

(f)

To prescribe, fix, maintain and regulate charges, tolls or rents for the use of any of its facilities by persons or things at the discretion of its governing body.

(g)

To mortgage, pledge, hypothecate any of its property or assets upon terms and conditions to be decided by the governing body. This power shall be full and complete in all respects whatsoever in order to promote, construct, accomplish, maintain and operate any of the public purposes or projects herein [e]numerated or anything incidental or necessary to same.

(h)

Full and complete authority is hereby given to issue, negotiate and to sell for more or less than par, bonds, revenue certificates or other evidence of indebtedness in the amount and at a rate of interest in such manner and form and conditioned as shall be determined by a unanimous resolution of its governing body for any and every purpose, project or facility herein [e]numerated and authorized directly or indirectly, and to provide for the rights of the holders of such evidence of indebtedness.

(i)

Shall have the right to adopt and enforce reasonable rules and regulations or procedure pertaining to the use, acquisition, maintenance, development, operation or disposal of any of the facilities or projects herein [e]numerated.

(j)

To acquire, do and perform all things herein [e]numerated separately or jointly or in conjunction with a municipality or other political subdivision within the territorial limits of Taylor County.

(k)

To employ any such administrative and technical personnel as deemed necessary by the governing body.

(Laws of Fla. ch. 69-1682, § 3)