The district shall have, and the board may exercise, the following powers:

(1)  To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to adopt and use a seal and authorize the use of a facsimile thereof; to acquire, by purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise, and to dispose of, immovable and movable property; and to make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.

(2)  To contract for the services of consultants to perform planning, engineering, financial, legal, or other appropriate services of a professional nature.

(3)  To borrow money and accept gifts; to apply for and use grants or loans of money or other property from the United States, the state, a unit of local government, or any person for any district purposes and enter into agreements required in connection therewith; and to hold, use, and dispose of such monies or property for any district purposes in accordance with the terms of the gift, grant, loan, or agreement relating thereto.

(4)  To adopt bylaws prescribing the powers, duties, and functions of the officers of the district; the conduct of the business of the district; and the maintenance of records.

(5)  To maintain an office at such place or places as it may designate within a parish in which the district is located, which office must be reasonably accessible to the landowners.  Meetings shall be held at such office or such other location as may be designated by the board.

(6)  To hold, control, and acquire by donation, purchase, or condemnation, or dispose of, any public servitudes or dedications to public use, and to make use of such servitudes or dedications, for any of the purposes authorized by this Chapter.

(7)  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 district is authorized to undertake and facilities or property of any nature for the use of the district to carry out any of the purposes authorized by this Chapter.

(8)  To borrow money and issue bonds, certificates, warrants, notes, or other evidence of indebtedness as hereinafter provided; to levy such special assessments as may be authorized; and to charge, collect, and enforce fees and other user charges.

(9)  To raise, by user charges or fees authorized by resolution of the board, amounts of money which are necessary for the conduct of the district activities and services and to enforce their receipt and collection in the manner prescribed by resolution not inconsistent with law.

(10)  To exercise power of expropriation in accordance with the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 19:1 et seq., subject to the approval of the governing body of the parish which enacted the ordinance establishing the district.

(11)  To cooperate with, or contract with, other governmental agencies as may be necessary, convenient, incidental, or proper in connection with any of the powers, duties, or purposes authorized by this Chapter.

(12)  To determine, order, levy, impose, collect, and enforce special assessments pursuant to this Chapter.

(13)  To exercise all of the powers necessary and proper in connection with any of the powers, duties, or purposes authorized by this Chapter.

Acts 2001, No. 992, §1.