Definitions

As used in this part, the term: (1) ‘‘Authority’’ means the Oconee River Greenway Authority. (2) ‘‘Cost of the project’’ means the cost of construction; the cost of all lands, properties, rights, easements, and franchises acquired; the cost of all machinery and equipment; financing charges; interest prior to and during construction and for one year after completion of construction; the cost of engineering, architectural, and legal expenses and of plans and specifications and other expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of the project; administrative expenses; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the financing authorized in this part, the construction of any project, and the placing of the same in operation. Any obligation or expense incurred for any of the foregoing purposes shall be regarded as a part of the cost of the project and may be paid or reimbursed as such out of such bonds or obligations as may be issued by any authority, department, commission, or agency of the State of Georgia. (3) ‘‘Geographic jurisdiction of the authority’’ means Baldwin County and, subject to approval and upon such terms as agreed to by the authority and the governing authority of any county to be added, any other county bordered by or through which flows the Oconee River or any impounded waters thereof. (4) ‘‘Project’’ means real property which borders, or is contiguous to real property which borders, the Oconee River or any impounded waters thereof in any county or counties within the geographic jurisdiction of the authority and improvements thereto of every kind and character deemed by the authority necessary or convenient for its corporate purpose. History. — Code 1981, § 12-3-401, enacted by Ga. L. 2002, p. 820, § 1; Ga. L. 2003, p. 448, § 1. 12-3-402. Creation; membership; compensation; qualifications; accountabilities; assignment. (a) There is created a body corporate and politic to be known as the Oconee River Greenway Authority which shall be deemed to be an instrumentality of the State of Georgia and a public corporation; and by that name, style, and title such body may contract and be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded, and complain and defend in all courts of this state. 220 12-3-403 (b) The authority shall consist of the commissioner of natural resources or the designee thereof, the director of the State Forestry Commission or the designee thereof, the mayor of Milledgeville, the president of Georgia Military College, the chairperson of the governing authority of each county which is in the geographic jurisdiction of the authority or the designee thereof, and no more than four residents of each county which is in the geographic jurisdiction of the authority who have training or experience in biology, botany, or environmental science and who shall be appointed by the chairperson of the governing authority of such county. (c) The authority shall elect its own officers. No vacancy on the authority shall impair the right of the quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the authority. (d) The members of the authority shall receive no compensation for their services on the authority but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred while discharging the duties imposed upon them by this part. (e) The authority shall have perpetual existence. Any change in name or composition of the authority shall in no way affect the vested rights of any person under this part or impair the obligations of any contracts existing under this part. (f ) The members of the authority shall be accountable in all respects as trustees. The authority shall keep suitable and proper books and records of all receipts, income, and expenditures of every kind and shall submit for inspection all the books, together with the proper statement of the authority’s financial position, to the state auditor. (g) The authority is assigned to the Department of Natural Resources for administrative purposes only in accordance with Code Section 50-4-3. History. — Code 1981, § 12-3-402, enacted by Ga. L. 2002, p. 820, § 1; Ga. L. 2003, p. 448, § 2; Ga. L. 2013, p. 777, § 1/HB 177. 12-3-403. Purpose and nature of authority.