68-2015. Operation of projects; restoration and repair of private property; agreements with political subdivisions; annual report and audit; employees contracting with authority; penalty.

68-2015

Chapter 68.--ROADS AND BRIDGES
PART III.--MISCELLANEOUS
Article 20.--TOLL ROADS OR TURNPIKES

      68-2015.   Operation of projects; restoration and repair of private property;agreements with political subdivisions; annual report and audit; employeescontracting with authority; penalty.Each turnpike project when constructed and opened to traffic shall bemaintained and kept in good condition and repair by the authority. Eachsuch project shall also be policed and operated by such force of police,toll-takers and other operating employees as the authority may in itsdiscretion employ.

      All private property damaged or destroyed in laying out andconstructing said turnpike project shall be restored or repaired andplaced in its original condition as nearly as practicable or adequatecompensation made therefor out of funds provided under the authority ofthis act.

      All counties, cities, towns and other political subdivisions and allpublic agencies and commissions of the state, notwithstanding anycontrary provision of law, are hereby authorized and empowered to lease,lend, grant or convey to the authority at its request upon such termsand conditions as the proper authorities of such counties, cities,towns, political subdivisions, agencies or commissions of the state maydeem reasonable and fair and without the necessity for anyadvertisement, order of court or other action or formality, other thanthe regular and formal action of the authorities concerned, any realproperty which may be necessary or convenient to the effectuation of theauthorized purposes of the authority, including public roads and otherreal property already devoted to public use.

      On or before the thirty-first day of Marchin each year the authorityshall make an annual report of its activities for the preceding calendaryear to the governor. Each such report shall set forth a completeoperating and financial statement covering its operations during theyear. The authority shall cause an audit of its books and accounts to bemade at least once in each year by certified public accountants and thecost thereof may be treated as a part of the cost of construction oroperation of the project.

      Any member, agent or employee of the authority who contracts with theauthority or is interested, either directly or indirectly, in anycontract with the authority or in the sale of any property, either realor personal, to the authority shall be punished by a fine of not morethan one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by imprisonment for not more thanone (1) year, or both.

      History:   L. 1953, ch. 308, § 15; L. 1957, ch. 369, § 1; L. 1979,ch. 213, § 1; July 1.