Section 12-3-314. Powers of authority generally

   The authority shall have power:

   (1) To have a seal and alter it at pleasure;

   (2) To acquire, hold, and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes;

   (3) To appoint, select, and employ officers, agents, and employees, including engineering, architectural, and construction experts, fiscal agents, and attorneys; to contract for the services of individuals or organizations not employed full time by the authority who or which are engaged primarily in the rendition of personal services rather than the sale of goods or merchandise, such as, but not limited to, the services of attorneys, accountants, engineers, architects, consultants, and advisers, and to allow suitable compensation for such services; and to make provisions for group insurance, retirement, or other employee benefit arrangements, provided that no part-time or contract employees shall participate in group insurance or retirement benefits;

   (4) To make contracts and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient, including contracts for construction of projects or contracts with respect to the leasing or use of projects which the authority causes to be subdivided, erected, or acquired;

   (5) To plan, survey, subdivide, administer, construct, erect, acquire, own, repair, remodel, maintain, add to, extend, improve, equip, operate, and manage projects as defined in this part, such projects to be located on property owned or leased by the authority. The cost of any such project shall be paid from its income, from the proceeds of revenue anticipation certificates of the authority, or from such proceeds and any loan, gift, or grant from the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or the State of Georgia, any county, municipal, or local government or governing body; provided, however, that the authority shall not undertake any such activity having a projected cost of over $1 million unless it has first evaluated the feasibility of involving private persons or entities in the development, construction, operation, and management of the authority's existing projects and such proposed activities and has filed a copy of such evaluation with the Office of Planning and Budget and the Recreational Authorities Overview Committee;

   (6) To accept loans or grants, or both, of money, materials, or property of any kind from the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, upon such terms and conditions as the United States or such agency or instrumentality, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, may impose;

   (7) To borrow money for any of its corporate purposes, to issue negotiable revenue anticipation certificates from earnings of such projects, and to provide for the payment of the same and for the rights of the holders thereof;

   (8) To exercise any power which is usually possessed by private corporations performing similar functions and which is not in conflict with the Constitution and laws of this state;

   (9) To act as agent for the United States, or any agency, department, corporation, or instrumentality thereof, in any manner within the purposes or powers of the authority;

   (10) To adopt, alter, or repeal its own bylaws, rules, and regulations governing the manner in which its business may be transacted and in which the power granted to it may be enjoyed, as the authority may deem necessary or expedient in facilitating its business;

   (11) To receive and accept loans, gifts, grants, donations, or contributions of property, facilities, or services, with or without consideration, from any person, firm, or corporation or from the State of Georgia, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or from any county, municipal, or local government or governing body;

   (12) To hold, use, administer, and expend such sum or sums as may hereafter be received as income, gifts, or appropriations by authority of the General Assembly for any of the purposes of this authority;

   (13) To do any other things necessary or proper to beautify, improve, and render self-supporting the island park, to make its facilities available to people of average income, and to advertise its beauties to the world;

   (14) To acquire, lease (as lessee), purchase, hold, own, and use any franchise or any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, or any interest therein; and to sell, lease (as lessor), transfer, or dispose thereof whenever the same is no longer required for purposes of the authority, or exchange the same for other property or rights which are useful for the purposes of the authority;

   (15) To fix, alter, charge, and collect fares, rates, rentals, and other charges for its facilities and for admission to the islands at reasonable rates to be determined exclusively by the authority;

   (16) To operate for hire boats, taxicabs, trains, trolleys, and other vehicles, systems, and facilities and other activities designed for the transportation of persons and property on the islands; to provide concessions, off-street parking, and other facilities for the comfort, safety, and convenience of visitors and other persons on the islands;

   (17) To invest and reinvest any or all idle funds or moneys, including, but not limited to, funds held in reserve or debt retirement or received through the issuance of revenue certificates or from contributions, gifts, or grants, which cannot be immediately used for the purpose for which received, such investment to be made in any security or securities which are legal investments for executors or trustees; provided, however, that investments in such securities will at all times be held for and, when sold, used for the purposes for which the money was originally received;

   (18) To grant, on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis, the right to use and occupy streets, roads, sidewalks, and other public places for the purpose of rendering utility services, upon such conditions and for such time as the authority may deem wise;

   (19) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly given in this part; and to do any and all other acts and things which this part authorizes or requires to be done, whether or not included in the general powers mentioned in this Code section; or

   (20) To sell or authorize others to sell, upon obtaining a license from the Department of Revenue, alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises only:

      (A) Upon property owned or controlled by the authority and located within the territorial limits of property controlled by the authority; and

      (B) Upon watercraft owned or controlled by the authority operating on Lake Sidney Lanier from such property.

The authority shall determine by resolution, as it may amend from time to time, the conditions, including hours and days of sale, under which such sales shall be permitted.

Ga. L. 1962, p. 736, § 4; Ga. L. 1968, p. 1132, §§ 2, 3; Ga. L. 1972, p. 3509, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 445, § 2; Ga. L. 1993, p. 1781, § 4; Ga. L. 1995, p. 105, § 22.