Section 324.50135 - Additional powers of districtIn addition to those powers granted elsewhere in this part, a district has all of the following powers, which are subject to federal and state environmental laws:
(a) To obtain real property for purposes of industrial site development within the gross territorial boundary of a district, a municipality located within the gross territorial boundary may take private property under the uniform condemnation procedures act, Act No. 87 of the Public Acts of 1980, being sections 213.51 to 213.77 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, for the purpose of transfer to the district and may transfer the property to the district for use in an industrial site. The taking, transfer, and use shall be considered necessary for public purposes and for the benefit of the public. For the purposes of this section, "industrial site development" means the location of industrial plant facilities for production, processing, handling, storage, marketing, manufacturing, or directly related transportation facilities of forest resources. Each district shall have only 1 industrial site not to exceed 150 acres.(b) To act as the marketing agent for the members or an association of the members within a district after obtaining their consent, in order to facilitate cooperation among the members to increase their bargaining power, including the power to make commitments of private timber in a manner, volume, and for periods prescribed by the board.(c) To conduct business operations with the powers provided in section 261 of the business corporation act, Act No. 284 of the Public Acts of 1972, being section 450.1261 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.(d) To conduct and publish the results of surveys, investigations, and support research by research institutions relating to the need and nature of forest practices within a district.(e) To develop comprehensive management plans for forest practices within the district which specify the procedures, performances, and resources necessary or desirable for the effectuation of the plans. If the state land encompassed by a district's gross territorial boundary is greater than 5% of the total forest land area, the department and the district administrators shall cooperate in the development of comprehensive management plans. The plans shall be published so as to bring them to the attention of the members within a district.(f) To conduct projects to demonstrate the means and methods of forest practices within a district on forest land owned or controlled by the state or an agency of the state, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction, and on any other forest land within a district upon obtaining the consent of the owner or the necessary rights or interest in the land.(g) To carry out and to assist members in carrying out forest practices within a district.(h) To obtain options upon and to acquire, by purchase, exchange, lease, gift, grant, bequest, devise, or otherwise, property, real or personal, or rights or interests in real or personal property; to maintain, administer, and improve property acquired; to receive income from the property and to expend that income in implementing this part; and to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of its property or interests.(i) To make available to members within a district, on terms the board shall prescribe, foresters, forest managers, forest practice and harvesting machinery and equipment, seeds, and seedlings and other material, equipment, or personnel, as will be of assistance in carrying out forest practices.(j) To construct, improve, operate, and maintain sawmills, hardboard mills, and other structures or facilities as may be necessary or convenient to carry out this part, and to cooperate with owners of existing structures and facilities.(k) To assume by purchase, lease, or otherwise, and to administer, a forest improvement project undertaken within the boundaries of a district by the United States or an agency of the United States, or an agency of the state; to manage, as agent of the United States or an agency of the United States, or an agency of the state, a forest improvement project within its boundaries; to act as agent for the United States, or an agency of the United States, or for an agency of the state, in connection with the acquisition of real or personal property for, or in the construction, operation, or administration of, a forest improvement project within its boundaries; to accept donations, gifts, and contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise, from the United States or an agency of the United States, from an agency of the state, or from any other source, and to use or expend that money or those services, materials, or other contributions in carrying on its operations subject to policies and procedures as adopted by the department; and to accept money, gifts, and donations from any source.(l) To cooperate with industrial and trade development agencies in efforts to promote the expansion of industrial and manufacturing activities utilizing wood products.(m) To sue and be sued in the name of the district; to have a seal, which seal shall be judicially noticed; to have perpetual succession unless discontinued as provided in this part; to make and execute contracts and other instruments, necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers; and to promulgate rules consistent with this part and the rules of the department in order to carry into effect the policy and purposes of this part.(n) To extend benefits to members as considered desirable by the board and to require contributions in money, services, materials, or otherwise of members of forest land as a condition of extending benefits under this part.(o) To defray all or part of the project costs of a forest improvement project, borrow money, and issue bonds as provided in this part. A bond or coupon issued under this part shall not be a general obligation of, or constitute a debt of the state or a political subdivision of the state, other than the issuing district.(p) To enter into lease, lease-purchase, installment sale, loan, or other agreements with a person to provide for the acquisition, construction, equipping, improving, or financing of a forest improvement project.(q) To mortgage any of the following in favor of the holders of the bonds issued in conjunction with a project:(ii) The industrial site of the district.(iii) Any building, equipment, or other personal property situated on the site.(iv) District owned forest land.(v) Member owned forest land, with the member's consent.(r) To sell and convey any district owned property, including without limitation the sale and conveyance of the industrial site and its facilities subject to a mortgage, for a price and at a time the board determines. A sale or conveyance shall not be made in a manner as to impair the rights or interests of the holders of bonds.(s) To employ a district manager, foresters, architects, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts, and other employees and agents as are necessary to implement this part.(t) To receive and accept from a public or private agency loans or grants for or in aid of a project or portion of a project undertaken, and receive and accept a loan, grant, aid, or contribution from any source of money, property, labor, or any other thing of value, to be held, used, and applied only for the purposes for which the loan, grant, aid, or contribution is made.(u) To issue bonds for purposes of funding a forest improvement district or forest practices.Add. 1995, Act 57, Imd. Eff. 5/24/1995.