House Bill 1801e1

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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Sugarland Drainage

  3         District, Glades and Hendry Counties; providing

  4         for codification of special laws relating to

  5         the Sugarland Drainage District, a special

  6         taxing district of the State of Florida,

  7         composed of the Counties of Glades and Hendry;

  8         providing legislative intent; codifying and

  9         reenacting chapter 11136, Laws of Florida,

10         1925, chapter 18287, Laws of Florida, 1937,

11         chapter 26639, Laws of Florida, 1951, chapter

12         28515, Laws of Florida, 1953, chapter 28516,

13         Laws of Florida, 1953, and chapters 70-532,

14         72-433, 74-485, 75-381, 75-382, 77-562, and

15         82-297, Laws of Florida; providing for minimum

16         charter requirements; providing for Supervisor

17         qualifications; providing for ratification of

18         prior actions; providing for repeal of all

19         prior special acts relating to the Sugarland

20         Drainage District; providing an effective date.

21

22  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

23

24         Section 1.  Pursuant to section 189.429, Florida

25  Statutes, this act constitutes the codification of all special

26  acts relating to the Sugarland Drainage District, which is an

27  independent special district and political subdivision of the

28  State of Florida. It is the intent of the Legislature in

29  enacting this law to provide a single comprehensive special

30  act charter for the district, including all current

31  legislative authority granted to the district by its several


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1  legislative enactments and any additional authority granted by

  2  this act.  It is further the intent of this act to preserve

  3  all district authority, including the authority to annually

  4  assess and levy against the taxable property in the district.

  5         Section 2.  Chapter 11136, Laws of Florida, 1925;

  6  chapter 18287, Laws of Florida, 1937; chapter 26639, Laws of

  7  Florida, 1951; chapter 28515, Laws of Florida, 1953; chapter

  8  28516, Laws of Florida, 1953; and chapters 70-532, 72-433,

  9  74-485, 75-381, 75-382, 77-562, and 82-297, Laws of Florida,

10  are codified, reenacted, amended, and repealed as herein

11  provided.

12         Section 3.  The Sugarland Drainage District is

13  re-created and the charter for such district is re-created and

14  reenacted to read:

15         Section 1.  In accordance with section 189.404(3),

16  Florida Statutes, the following shall constitute the minimum

17  charter requirements of Sugarland Drainage District:

18         (1)  The District is organized and exists for all

19  purposes set forth in this act and chapter 298, Florida

20  Statutes, as they may be amended from time to time, so far as

21  not inconsistent with this act.

22         (2)  The powers, functions, and duties of the District

23  regarding non-ad valorem assessments, bond issuance, other

24  revenue-raising capabilities, budget preparation and approval,

25  liens and foreclosure of liens, use of tax deeds and tax

26  certificates as appropriate for non-ad valorem assessments,

27  and contractual agreements shall be as set forth in chapters

28  189, 197, and 298, Florida Statutes, this act, or any other

29  applicable general or special law, as they may be amended from

30  time to time.

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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         (3)  The District was created by chapter 11136, Laws of

  2  Florida, 1925, a special legislative act.

  3         (4)  The District's charter may be amended only by

  4  special act of the Legislature.

  5         (5)  In accordance with chapter 298, Florida Statutes,

  6  the District is governed by a Board of Supervisors.  The

  7  membership and organization of the Board shall be as set forth

  8  in this act and chapter 298, Florida Statutes, as they may be

  9  amended from time to time.

10         (6)  The compensation of Board members shall be

11  governed by this act and chapter 298, Florida Statutes, as

12  they may be amended from time to time.

13         (7)  The administrative duties of the Board shall be as

14  set forth in this act and chapter 298, Florida Statutes, as

15  they may be amended from time to time.

16         (8)  Requirements for financial disclosure, meeting

17  notices, reporting, public records maintenance, and per diem

18  expenses for officers and employees shall be as set forth in

19  chapters 112, 189, 286, and 298, Florida Statutes, as they may

20  be amended from time to time.

21         (9)  The procedures and requirements governing the

22  issuance of bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness

23  by the District shall be as set forth in chapters 189 and 298,

24  Florida Statutes, and applicable general laws, as they may be

25  amended from time to time.

26         (10)  The procedures for conducting District elections

27  and for qualification of electors shall be pursuant to

28  chapters 189 and 298, Florida Statutes, and applicable general

29  laws, as they may be amended from time to time.

30         (11)  The District may be financed by any method

31  established in this act, chapters 189 and 298, Florida


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1  Statutes, or any applicable general laws, as they may be

  2  amended from time to time.

  3         (12)  In accordance with chapter 298, Florida Statutes,

  4  the District may continue to levy upon all of the real taxable

  5  property in the district a special tax each year as

  6  maintenance tax.

  7         (13)  The method for collecting non-ad valorem

  8  assessments, fees, or service charges shall be as set forth in

  9  chapters 197 and 298, Florida Statutes, as they may be amended

10  from time to time.

11         (14)  The District's planning requirements shall be as

12  set forth in chapters 189 and 298, Florida Statutes, as they

13  may be amended from time to time.

14         (15)  The geographic boundary limitations are as set

15  forth in section 2.

16         Section 2.  That for the purpose of draining,

17  reclaiming, and conserving the lands hereinafter described,

18  and protecting the same from the effects of water, or lack of

19  water, for controlling the water in the District and the water

20  tables with respect to the lands therein, for agricultural and

21  sanitary purposes, and for the public health convenience,

22  welfare, utility, and benefit, Sugarland Drainage District is

23  hereby declared to exist and the boundaries of said Sugarland

24  Drainage District are hereby redefined and declared to be as

25  follows:

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27         Beginning at the Northeast corner of Section

28         22, Township 43 S., Range 34E; thence South

29         along the East side of Sections 22, 27 and 34,

30         a distance of 2 miles and 80 feet to a point 80

31         feet south of the Southeast corner of said


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         Section 27, Township 43 S., Range 34 E; thence

  2         West along a line 80 feet South of and parallel

  3         to the South line of Sections 27,28, 29 and 30,

  4         a distance of 4 miles to a point 80 feet South

  5         of the Southwest corner of Section 30, Township

  6         43 S., Range 34 E; thence continuing West along

  7         a line 80 feet South of and parallel to the

  8         South line of Section 25, Township 43 S., Range

  9         33; E, a distance of one-half mile to a point

10         80 feet South of the South quarter, of said

11         Section 25, Township 43 S, Range 33 E; thence

12         South along the North and South quarter-section

13         line of Section 36, Township 43 S, Range 33 E,

14         a distance of 5200 more or less to the South

15         quarter corner of said Section 36; thence

16         continuing South along the North-South

17         quarter-section line of Section 1 T. 44 S, R 33

18         E, to the South 1/4 corner of said Section 1;

19         thence West along the South line of Section 1,

20         T 44 S, R 33 E, a distance of one-half mile to

21         the Southwest corner of Section 1, Township 44

22         S, Range 33 E; thence North along the West line

23         of Section 1, T 44 S, R33 E, Sections 36, 25,

24         24 and 13, T 43 S, R. 33 E., a distance of

25         approximately 5 miles to a point 160 feet South

26         of the section corner common to Sections 13,

27         14, 11 and 12, Township 43 S, Range 33 E;

28         thence West along a line 160 feet South of and

29         parallel to the North line of Sections 14, and

30         15, a distance of 2 miles to a point 160 feet

31         South of and 100 feet East of the Northwest


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         corner of Section 15; thence North a distance

  2         of 160 feet to the North boundary of said

  3         Section 15; thence West 100 feet to the

  4         Northwest corner of Section 15; thence North to

  5         the Northwest corner of said Section 10,

  6         Township 43 S, Range 33 E, said point being on

  7         the Township line between Township 43 S and

  8         Township 42 S, also the County line between

  9         Hendry and Glades Counties, Florida; thence

10         continue North along the extension West line of

11         Section 10 produced through the Southeast

12         quarter of Section 33, Township 42 S, Range 33

13         E, a distance of 1105 feet more or less to a

14         point on the North bank of Nine Mile Canal;

15         thence in a general Easterly direction along

16         the North bank of Nine Mile Canal through

17         Sections 33 and 34, Township 42 S, Range 33 E,

18         Sections 11 and 12, Township 43 S, Range 33 E,

19         and Section 7, Township 43 S, Range 34 E, the

20         following bearings and distances:

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22         North 88° 43' East, 930.0 feet; South 89° 34'

23         East, 1000.0 feet; South 85° 51' East 770 feet;

24         South 80° 20' East 700.00 feet; South 70° 46'

25         East 900.0 feet; South 67° 20' East 1100.0

26         feet; South 65 ° 14' East 358.5 feet; South 65°

27         14' East 532.0 feet; South 61° 12' East 900.0

28         feet; South 58° 15' East 601.0 feet; South 54°

29         11' East 900.0 feet; South 52° 32' East 1700.0

30         feet; South 49° 31' East 900.0 feet; South 52°

31         14' East 700.0 feet; South 57° 27' East 1100.0


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         feet; South 65° 39' East 700.0 feet; South 78 °

  2         24' East 360.5 feet; North 81° 13' East 861.5

  3         feet; North 82° 49' East 800.0 feet; North 78°

  4         35' East 550.0 feet; North 61° 05' East 363.5

  5         feet; North 47° 05' East 1200.0 feet; North 47°

  6         05' East 1700.0 feet; North 49° 21' East 600.0

  7         feet; North 52° 28' East 457.0 feet; North 49°

  8         09' East 878.4 feet; North 45° 43' East 800.0

  9         feet; North 49° 24' East 300.0 feet to a point

10         on the South line of Section 31, Township 42

11         South, Range 34 East; thence East along the

12         South line of Sections 31 and 32, Township 42

13         S, Range 34 E. to the Westerly bank of the main

14         outfall canal of Sugarland Drainage District;

15         thence Northeasterly along said bank to the

16         intersection with the Southerly right of way of

17         the Central and Southern Florida Flood

18         Control's Canal C-21; thence Easterly along

19         said right of way to the Easterly bank of the

20         said main outfall canal; thence Southwesterly

21         along said Easterly bank to the intersection of

22         the Township line common to T. 42 S and T 43 S;

23         thence South along the North and South quarter

24         section line of Sections 8 and 17, a distance

25         of 2 miles to the North Quarter Section Corner

26         of Section 20, Township 43 S, Range 34 E;

27         thence East along the North line of Sections

28         20, 21, and 22, a distance of 2 1/2 miles to

29         the Northeast corner of Section 22, Township 43

30         S, Range 34 E, the point of beginning.

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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         Section 3.  That for the purpose of paying the costs of

  2  administering the affairs of Sugarland Drainage District

  3  generally and for the purposes of maintaining, operating,

  4  preserving, and rendering efficient the ditches, canals,

  5  drains, levees, and other improvements, and to repair and to

  6  restore the same when needed, and for the purpose of defraying

  7  the current expenses of the District, the Board of Supervisors

  8  is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to levy and

  9  impose, within Sugarland Drainage District, special taxes or

10  assessments, which shall be known and designated as the

11  "Maintenance Tax."

12         Section 4.  Lands held by Trustees of the Internal

13  Improvement Fund of Florida shall be subject to the special

14  taxes or assessments authorized by this Act to be levied, and

15  in furtherance of the trusts upon which such lands are held,

16  the said Trustees are authorized and empowered to pay such

17  taxes or assessments out of any funds in hand derived from the

18  sale of lands, or otherwise.

19         Section 5.  It shall be the duty of such officer or

20  officers as may be charged with the duty with respect to State

21  and County taxes to assess and levy upon all railroad

22  property, telegraph property, and telephone property within

23  said District the amount of such taxes and assessments as in

24  the case of State and County taxes, and to collect the said

25  taxes and assessments in the same manner as is required by law

26  with respect to the assessment and collection of taxes on such

27  property for State and County purposes, and to remit the same

28  to the Treasurer of Sugarland Drainage District in the same

29  manner as remittances are required to be made with respect to

30  other taxes.

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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         Section 6.  That all taxes and assessments levied by or

  2  for Sugarland Drainage District upon lands situated within the

  3  district, as defined in this Act, be, and the same hereby are,

  4  ratified, confirmed, and validated, and declared to be legal

  5  and binding, notwithstanding any defects in the proceedings

  6  pursuant to which such taxes and assessments were levied or

  7  the failure upon the part of any officer or person to comply

  8  with statutory provisions or requirements relating to the

  9  assessment and levy of such taxes and assessments.

10         Section 7.  That all action taken by the Board of

11  Supervisors of Sugarland Drainage District, the officers and

12  agents of said District, in connection with the refinancing of

13  the indebtedness of the District by or through loans

14  authorized or disbursed by Reconstruction Finance Corporation,

15  and all contracts, undertakings, and agreements entered into

16  by said District or said Board with Reconstruction Finance

17  Corporation in connection with said loans, are, and each of

18  them is, hereby ratified, validated, confirmed, and declared

19  to be legal, valid, and binding; and said Board is hereby

20  specifically authorized to carry out, perform, and execute any

21  and all agreements, undertakings, and contracts with

22  Reconstruction Finance Corporation relative to such loans.

23         Section 8.  That all proceedings, acts, and doings,

24  taken, done, and performed by the Board of Supervisors,

25  agents, and officers of Sugarland Drainage District, and

26  landowners of said District in meetings assembled including

27  the election of Supervisors, since the creation of the

28  District, are, and each of them is, hereby ratified,

29  validated, confirmed, and declared to be legal, valid, and

30  binding.

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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         Section 9.  All special taxes or assessments heretofore

  2  levied and assessed upon lands within the boundaries of

  3  Sugarland Drainage District, be, and the same hereby are,

  4  ratified, confirmed, and validated, and declared to be legal

  5  and binding.

  6         Section 10.  Sugarland Drainage District is divided

  7  into 2 zones as follows:

  8

  9         Zone A.  Shall include those lands located

10         south of U.S. Highway 27 and east of Canal No.

11         4; namely the west 1/2 of Section 17, all of

12         Section 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29 and 30,

13         Township 43 S, Range 34 E; and the east 1/2 of

14         Sections 13, 24, and 25, Township 43 S, Range

15         33 E.

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17         Zone B.  Shall include those lands within the

18         District located north of U.S. Highway 27 and

19         west of Canal No. 4; namely, that portion south

20         of 9 Mile Canal of Sections 33 and 34, Township

21         42 S, Range 33 E, and Section 7 and the west

22         1/2 of Section 8, Township 43 S., Range 34 E

23         and Sections 10, 11, and 12; plus the west 1/2

24         of Sections 13, 21, 25 and 36, Township 43 S,

25         Range 33 E and the west 1/2 of Section 1,

26         Township 44 S, Range 33 E.

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28         Section 11.  For the purpose for which maintenance

29  taxes of the Sugarland Drainage District are authorized to be

30  levied, the Board of Supervisors of Sugarland Drainage

31  District is hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to levy


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1  and impose, in the manner provided by law, upon the lands

  2  within the boundaries of the District a maintenance tax.

  3         Section 12.  In imposing the taxes authorized to be

  4  levied by this act, or as it may hereafter be amended, the

  5  separate parcels of less than one (1) acre shall be assessed

  6  the tax amount applicable to parcels of one (1) acre.

  7         Section 13.  It is hereby ascertained, determined, and

  8  declared that the benefits accrued and to accrue to the lands

  9  within Sugarland Drainage District by virtue of the works or

10  public improvements which have been constructed heretofore by

11  or under the authority of the Board of Supervisors of said

12  district are at least equal in amount to the taxes and

13  assessments authorized by this act to be levied; and that all

14  lands in Zone A are equally benefited and all lands in Zone B

15  are equally benefited and that the benefits to each zone are

16  in proportion to the amount of taxes authorized to be levied

17  against each zone.

18         Section 14.  The Board of Supervisors of Sugarland

19  Drainage District shall have the power to designate

20  maintenance areas identifying those lands requiring a higher

21  degree of water management within Sugarland Drainage District

22  and to levy variable maintenance tax rates upon the basis of

23  benefits received by lands within the maintenance area.

24         Section 15.  The Board of Supervisors of Sugarland

25  Drainage District may enter into arrangements with other like

26  drainage or water control districts to share a pro-rata cost

27  of insurance coverage, rental, purchases, and use of supplies,

28  equipment, buildings, and facilities and for service of

29  employees.

30         Section 16.  The governing Board of Sugarland Drainage

31  District shall be designated "Board of Supervisors of


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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1  Sugarland Drainage District" and shall be composed of three

  2  persons, who shall be resident Freeholders of the State of

  3  Florida.

  4         Section 17.  That all other acts and proceedings of the

  5  Circuit Court of said Hendry and Glades Counties taken by,

  6  for, and on behalf of said District since the creation

  7  thereof; and all of the acts and proceedings of the Board of

  8  Supervisors, the Commissioners, and all other officers and

  9  agents of said District, and of said Hendry and Glades

10  Counties, acting for and on behalf of said District, and any

11  and all tax levies and assessments which have been made by the

12  said Board of Supervisors for and on behalf of said District,

13  by and they are each and every one of them, and each and every

14  part thereof, hereby ratified, validated, and confirmed.

15         Section 4.  Chapter 11136, Laws of Florida, 1925;

16  chapter 18287, Laws of Florida, 1937; chapter 26639, Laws of

17  Florida, 1951; chapter 28515, Laws of Florida, 1953; chapter

18  28516, Laws of Florida, 1953; and chapters 70-532, 72-433,

19  74-485, 75-381, 75-382, 77-562, and 82-297, Laws of Florida,

20  are hereby repealed.

21         Section 5.  In case any one or more of the sections or

22  provisions of this Act or the application of such sections or

23  provisions to any situation, circumstances, or person shall

24  for any reason be held to be unconstitutional, such

25  unconstitutionality shall not affect any other sections or

26  provisions of this Act or the application of such sections or

27  provisions to any other situation, circumstances, or person,

28  and it is intended that this law shall be construed and

29  applied as if such section or provision had not been included

30  herein for any unconstitutional application.

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                                      HB 1801, First Engrossed/ntc



  1         Section 6.  In the event of a conflict of the

  2  provisions of this act with the provisions of any other act,

  3  the provisions of this act shall control to the extent of such

  4  conflict.

  5         Section 7.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  6  law.

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