Section 65-33-51 - Authority for certain counties to borrow money and to receive federal aid(1) In any county maintaining a sea wall or road protection structure under the provisions of this chapter, the board of supervisors may borrow funds not in excess of one million, five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00), at a rate of interest not exceeding four per cent per annum, in addition to such sums as have heretofore been borrowed for the purpose of constructing, repairing, strengthening, or maintaining the road protection structure or sea wall of the county. Such board of supervisors shall have the authority to acquire by purchase or otherwise a dredge boat and to use and operate it for the purpose of pumping a sand beach adjacent to such sea wall or road protection structure or for the maintenance thereof, and to pay for same out of any funds provided under this section. The funds or amount borrowed for the purposes provided for in this section shall be repaid within a period of fifteen years from the date borrowed, and shall be paid out of the funds collected under this chapter. All bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness maturing each year and the interest thereon, however, shall be first provided for and paid out of said funds. The loans authorized herein shall not be subject to other limitations, restrictions, or provisions of the general laws governing the borrowing of money, amounts of indebtedness, budget, and election; and said loans may be made by the board of supervisors of such county either by issuance of county bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness which shall be full faith and credit obligations of the county issuing same and shall be payable, both as to principal and interest, from the same sources of revenue and taxes made available for the payment of road protection bonds under the provisions of this chapter. The money herein authorized to be borrowed by such board of supervisors may be borrowed from any person, firm, corporation, governmental lending agency, or from any sinking funds of such county; if the money be borrowed from any sinking fund, it shall be repaid before the sinking fund from which it is borrowed, when supplemented by funds paid into same, is needed. Before the board of supervisors shall borrow money under this section, it shall spread on its minutes an order reciting such intention, and shall thereafter publish a copy of such order in three weekly issues of some newspaper having a general circulation in the county. If, within fifteen days after the first publication of a copy of such order, fifteen per cent of the qualified electors of the county shall file with such board of supervisors a petition in writing requesting an election on the question of borrowing money in the amount and for the purpose as set forth in such order, then such money shall not be borrowed unless authorized by a majority of the qualified voters of such county voting in an election to be ordered by such board of supervisors for that purpose. Notice of such election shall be given and such election shall be held and conducted as provided by law in connection with elections for the submission of bond issues in such county. If such proposition shall fail to receive such majority vote at such election, then no further proceedings for the borrowing of such money shall be had or taken within a period of six months from and after the date of such election. If, however, no such petition shall be so filed, or if at such election such petition shall be assented to by a majority vote, then such board of supervisors shall be authorized to borrow such money in the amount and for the purpose as set forth in such order as published. The amount authorized to be borrowed under this section may be borrowed at any time and in any amount, but the total borrowed shall not exceed one million, five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000.00) in addition to such sums as may heretofore have been borrowed for the purposes herein enumerated, or either of them.(2) The board of supervisors is hereby given full power and authority to meet and do and grant any request of the United States Beach Erosion Board of the United States Army Engineers by and under Public Law 727, 79th Congress, Chapter 960, 2nd Session, and to assure either or both the following:(a) Assure maintenance of the sea wall and drainage facilities, and of the beach by artificial replenishment, during the useful life of these works, as may be required to serve their intended purpose;(b) Provide, at the county's own expense, all necessary land, easements, and rights of way;(c) To hold and save the United States free from all claims for damages that may arise either before, during, or after prosecution of the work;(d) To prevent, by ordinance, any water pollution that would endanger the health of the bathers;(e) To assume perpetual ownership of any beach construction and its administration for public use only, and that the board of supervisors is given full power and authority to do any and all things necessary in and about the repair and reconstruction, or construction or maintenance of the sea wall and sloping beach adjacent thereto; and it is given such power to cooperate with the requirements of the United States government to receive any grant or grants of money from Congress or to contribute any grant or grants to the United States Army Engineers in and about this construction and maintenance and it is further given full power and authority to employ engineers, lawyers, or any other professional or technical help in and about the completion of this project. In the event the county engineer is selected to do any or all of said work, the board of supervisors is hereby authorized to pay and allow him such reasonable fees or salary which, in its opinion, is necessary, just, and commensurate to the work done by him. It is further given full power and authority to let, by competitive bids, any contract for the repair of said wall, or for the installation and drainage, and for the construction of any additional section of wall, together with any artificial beach adjacent to said wall; or it may, in its discretion, negotiate a contract for any and all construction or any part thereof for the construction, repair, reconstruction, or additions thereto; or it may do any or all of said work under the direction of the county engineer or engineers employed by it and for which purpose it may employ all necessary labor and equipment and purchase necessary materials.
The intent and purpose of this section is to give unto the respective boards of supervisors the full power and authority to carry out all the provisions herein, and to act independently, jointly, or severally with the United States government by and under Public Law 727, 79th Congress.
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any county with an assessed valuation of less than $10,000,000.00.Codes, 1942, § 8516.3; Laws, 1948, ch. 334, §§ 1-3.