§335.3. Authority, powers, and duties of board; officers; agents

            A. The board of commissioners shall exercise the powers herein conferred upon it within the port area, consisting of the entire parish of Rapides, excluding any private port facility.

            B. The board of commissioners may authorize a reasonable travel allowance for its members in the performance of their official duties. The board of commissioners may further reimburse to its members actual expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties on behalf of the port. It may employ such officers, agents, and employees as it finds necessary in the performance of its duties, and it may prescribe the duties, powers, and compensation of the officers, agents, and employees. The board of commissioners, on terms as it agrees upon, may contract for legal, financial, engineering, and other professional services necessary or expedient in the conduct of its affairs, and, on terms and conditions mutually agreeable, may utilize the services of other executive departments of the state.

            C.(1) The board of commissioners shall regulate the commerce and traffic within the port area in a manner as may, in its judgment, be for the best interests of the state.

            (2) The board shall have charge of and administer public wharves, docks, sheds, and landings. It may:

            (a) Construct or acquire and equip wharves, landings, and other structures useful for the commerce of the port and provide mechanical facilities therefor.

            (b) Erect sheds or other structures on the wharves and landings.

            (c) Provide light, water, police protection, and other services for its facilities as it deems advisable.

            (d) Construct or acquire, maintain, and operate basins, locks, canals, warehouses, and elevators.

            (e) Charge for the use of all facilities administered by it and for all services rendered by it.

            (f) Establish fees, rates, tariffs, or other charges as it deems fit.

            (g) Establish harbor lines within the port area by agreement with the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

            (h) Construct, own, operate, and maintain terminal rail facilities and other common carrier rail facilities for the purpose of rendering rail transportation to and from the facilities to be erected, owned, and operated by the port in both intrastate and interstate commerce.

            (3) Title to all property and improvements acquired by the port shall rest in the port.

            D. The board of commissioners may make and enter into contracts, leases, and other agreements with railroads, trucking companies, and barge lines and with any and all companies interested in the transportation, storage, and shipping of goods and other products, whether by rail, truck line, barge line, or otherwise, for the use of facilities administered by the board or any part or portion thereof for a period of time not exceeding forty years. However, no exclusive franchise shall be granted to any carrier.

            E. The board of commissioners may make and enter into contracts, leases, and other agreements with political subdivisions for the management and operation of port and ancillary facilities, including industrial park property adjacent to the port facility. This right shall include the construction and operation of warehouses, storage facilities, and other buildings used in connection with the port.

            F. The board of commissioners is authorized to make and construct any of the works of public improvements in the port and anything in connection therewith which may be necessary or useful for the business of the board, to purchase machinery or materials and equipment for performing the work and to supervise the making of the same or to make and construct the works through contracts with others, and generally to do all other acts necessary or proper to carry out the powers vested in it with regard to works of public improvement.

            Acts 1987, No. 440, §1; Acts 1992, No. 770, §1; Acts 2015, No. 434, §1, eff. July 1, 2015.