Section 8-21-12-11 - Purpose The authority may do all acts necessary or reasonably incident to carrying out the purposes of this chapter, including the following:
(1) To protect a district and all property owned or managed by the authority and, to carry out this subdivision, to employ special police or hire guards.(2) To incur indebtedness in the name of the authority in accordance with this chapter.(3) To adopt administrative procedures, rules, and regulations, including rules under IC 4-22-2.(4) To:(A) acquire real, personal, or mixed property by deed, purchase, lease, condemnation, or otherwise and dispose of it for use, in connection with, or for administrative purposes of the airport;(B) receive gifts, donations, bequests, and public trusts and to agree to conditions and terms accompanying them and to bind the authority to carry them out;(C) receive and administer federal or state aid; and(D) erect buildings or structures that may be needed to administer and carry out this chapter.(5) To determine matters of policy regarding internal organization and operating procedures not specifically provided for otherwise.(6) To adopt a schedule of reasonable charges and to collect them from all users of facilities and services within the district.(7) To purchase supplies, materials, equipment, and services to carry out the duties and functions of the authority, in accordance with procedures adopted by the authority.(8) To employ personnel that are necessary to carry out the duties, functions, and powers of the authority.(9) To:(A) acquire, establish, construct, improve, equip, maintain, control, lease, and regulate airports, landing fields, and other air navigation facilities;(B) acquire by lease (with or without the option to purchase) airports, landing fields, or navigation facilities, and any structures, equipment, or related improvements; and(C) erect, install, construct, and maintain at the airport or airport's facilities for the servicing of aircraft and for the comfort and accommodation of air travelers and the public. The Indiana department of transportation must grant approval before land may be purchased or leased for the establishment of an airport or landing field and before an airport or landing field may be established and shall establish the boundaries of a district or districts from time to time.
(10) To fix and determine exclusively the uses to which the airport lands may be put. All uses must be necessary or desirable to the airport or the aviation industry and must be compatible with the uses of the surrounding lands as far as practicable.(11) To employ or contract with an airport director, superintendents, managers, financial advisers, engineers, surveyors, bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and other attorneys, clerks, mechanics, laborers, and all employees the authority considers expedient, and to prescribe and assign the respective duties and authorities and to fix and regulate the compensation to be paid to the persons employed by the authority. Employees shall be selected irrespective of their political affiliations.(12) To make all rules and regulations, consistent with laws regarding air commerce, for the management and control of airports, landing fields, air navigation facilities, and other property within a district or otherwise under the authority's control.(13) To acquire by lease the use of an airport or landing field for aircraft pending the acquisition and improvement of an airport or landing field.(14) To manage and operate airports, landing fields, and other air navigation facilities acquired or maintained by the authority; to lease all or part of an airport, landing field, or any buildings or other structures, and to fix, charge, and collect rentals, tolls, fees, and charges to be paid for the use of the whole or a part of the airports, landing fields, or other air navigation facilities by aircraft landing there and for the maintenance or servicing of the aircraft; to construct public recreational facilities that will not interfere with air operational facilities; to fix, charge, and collect fees for public admissions and privileges; and to make contracts for the operation and management of the airports, landing fields, and other air navigation facilities; and to provide for the use, management, and operation of the air navigation facilities through lessees, its own employees, or otherwise. Contracts or leases for the maintenance, operation, or use of the airport or any part of it may be made for a term not exceeding forty (40) years, and may be extended for similar terms of years. If a person whose character, experience, and financial responsibility has been determined satisfactory by the authority, offers to erect a permanent structure that facilitates and is consistent with the operation, use, and purpose of the airport on land owned or otherwise controlled by the authority, a lease may be entered into for a period not to exceed ninety-nine (99) years. The authority may not grant an exclusive right for the use of a landing area under the authority's jurisdiction. However, this does not prevent the making of leases in accordance with other provisions of this chapter. All contracts and leases are subject to restrictions and conditions that the authority prescribes. The authority may lease property and facilities for any commercial or industrial use the authority considers necessary and proper, including the use of providing airport motel facilities.(15) To sell machinery, equipment, or material that is not required for aviation purposes. The proceeds shall be deposited with the authority or in accordance with an applicable trust agreement.(16) To negotiate and execute contracts for sale or purchase, lease, personal services, materials, supplies, equipment, or any other transaction or business relative to an airport under the authority's control and operation in accordance with the terms and conditions the authority may determine.(17) To vacate all or parts of roads, highways, streets, or alleys within a district.(18) To approve any state, county, city, or other highway, road, street, or other public way, railroad, power line, or other right-of-way to be laid out or opened across an airport or in such proximity as to affect the safe operation of the airport.(19) To construct drainage and sanitary sewers with connections and outlets as are necessary for the proper drainage and maintenance of an airport or landing field acquired or maintained under this chapter, including the necessary buildings and improvements and for the public use of them in the same manner that the authority may construct sewers and drains. However, with respect to the construction of drains and sanitary sewers beyond the boundaries of the airport or landing field, the authority may negotiate with the departments, bodies, and officers of a local entity to secure the proper orders and approvals; and to order a public utility or public service corporation or other person to remove or to install in underground conduits wires, cables, and power lines passing through or over the airport or landing field or along the borders or within a reasonable distance that may be determined to be necessary for the safety of operations, upon payment to the utility or other person of due compensation for the expense of the removal or reinstallation. The authority must consent before any franchise may be granted by state authorities or local entities for the construction of or maintenance of railway, telephone, telegraph, electric power, pipe, or conduit line upon, over, or through a district or within a reasonable distance of the district that is necessary for the safety of operation. The authority must also consent before overhead electric power lines carrying a voltage of more than four thousand four hundred (4,400) volts and having poles, standards, or supports over thirty (30) feet in height within one-half (1/2) mile of a landing area acquired or maintained under this chapter may be installed.(20) To contract with any other state agency or instrumentality or any political subdivision for the rendition of services, the rental or use of equipment or facilities, or the joint purchase and use of equipment or facilities that are necessary for the operation, maintenance, or construction of an airport operated under this chapter.(21) To provide air transportation in furtherance of the duties and responsibilities of the authority.(22) To promote or encourage aviation related trade or commerce at the airports that it operates.Amended by P.L. 93-2024,SEC. 84, eff. 7/1/2024.As added by P.L. 28-1991, SEC.2.