Section 65-1-10 - Powers and duties of Executive DirectorUnder the authority of the Mississippi Transportation Commission, and in conformity with its orders as spread on its minutes, the executive director shall:
(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, appoint a director in charge of each operating office of the department who shall be responsible to the Executive Director for the operation of such office. Each such director shall be qualified and experienced in the functions performed by the office under his charge;(b) Administer the policies promulgated by the commission;(c) Supervise and direct all administrative and technical activities of the department;(d) Organize the offices and bureaus of the department;(e) Coordinate the activities of the various offices of the department;(f) Fix the compensation of employees of the department and require any employee to give bond to the State of Mississippi for the faithful performance of his duties in an amount the executive director deems appropriate. Premiums on all bonds so required shall be paid out of any funds available to the department;(g) Recommend such studies and investigations as he may deem appropriate and carry out the approved recommendations in conjunction with the various offices;(h) Prepare and deliver to the Legislature and the Governor on or before January 1 of each year, and at such other times as may be required by the Legislature or Governor, a full report of the work of the department and the offices thereof, including a detailed statement of expenditures of the department and any recommendations the department may have.(i) Have full and general supervision over all matters relating to the construction or maintenance of the state highways, letting of contracts therefor, and the selection of materials to be used in the construction of state highways under the authority conferred by this chapter as herein set forth and the employment, promotion, demotion, reprimand, suspension, termination, reassignment, transfer, moving or relocation of all personnel not specifically authorized by statute to be employed by the commission. The executive director may authorize the payment of expenses of any personnel reassigned, transferred, moved or relocated in accordance with such rules and regulations as are promulgated by the commission;(j) Approve all bids, sign all vouchers and requisitions, issue all orders for supplies and materials, sign all contracts and agreements in the name of the State of Mississippi, and subscribe to all other matters which may arise in the carrying out of the intent and purpose of this chapter;(k) Receive and assume control, for the benefit of the state, of any and all highways herein or hereafter fixed as roads constituting a part of the state highway system;(l) Provide for boulevard stops, restricted entrances to main highways and access driveways, neutral grounds, and roadside parks, erect all suitable direction and warning signs, and provide access roads in or to municipalities where necessary; provide limited access facilities when and where deemed necessary, such a facility being defined as a highway or street especially designed or designated for through traffic and over, from or to which owners or occupants of abutting land or other persons have only such limited right or easement of access as may be prescribed by the commission, and provide that certain highways or streets may be parkways from which trucks, buses and other commercial vehicles shall be excluded or may be freeways open to customary forms of highway and street traffic and use, and such limited access facilities or parkways may be planned, designated, established, regulated, vacated, altered, improved, constructed and maintained and rights-of-way therefor specifically obtained, either by purchase, gift, condemnation or other form of acquisition;(m) Construct bridges with or without footways, and sidewalks where deemed essential to decrease hazards;(n) Perform services for the Department of Finance and Administration on state property, including, but not limited to, engineering services, and to advance such funds to defray the cost of the expenses incurred in performing such services from out of Transportation Department funds until such department is reimbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration;(o) Perform all duties authorized by Section 27-19-136, Mississippi Code of 1972, concerning the assessment and collection of permit fees, fines and penalties.Laws, 1981, ch. 464, § 4; Laws, 1988, ch. 437; Laws, 1992, ch. 496, § 7; Laws, 1996, ch. 375, § 3, eff. 10/1/1996.