19-2855.   Powers; issuance of bonds; tax levy, use of proceeds.The county board of park commissioners shall be vested with all thepower, authority and control heretofore vested in the board of countycommissioners relating to county parks, parkways andrecreational areas, county lakes, roads and park drives, including allbuildings, grounds and other structures located within such countyparks, parkways and recreational areas. It shall have power to makebylaws, rules and regulations for the orderly transaction and managementof its business. It is further empowered to enter into agreements withthe secretary of wildlife and parks, by and with the consent of the boardof county commissioners, for the building and construction ofone or more reservoirs, lakes, dams or embankments for impounding wateron lands in the park and recreational grounds of the county. Nothing insuch agreements shall be construed to prohibit the secretary and the Kansasdepartment ofwildlife and parks from the right to exercise the same functions,rights and authority as though the lands for such park and recreationalgrounds had been acquired by the department, and any agreement between anysuch county board of park commissioners and the secretary shall expresslyprovide that, notwithstanding the title to such landsshall be vested in such county, all rights therein or thereon, watersand water rights, and for keeping, improving and maintaining themfor the use and benefit of the departmentshall be unimpaired and shall likewise be public park and recreationalgrounds for the use and enjoyment of the public. All bonds required orauthorized by law to be issued relating toparks, parkways and recreational areas, and all taxes levied for themaintenance or improvement thereof, shall be issued and levied by theboard of county commissioners, and for the purpose of creating suchcounty park and recreational fund, hereinafter referred to, and for thepurpose of enlarging existing park areas or acquiring additional parkand recreational grounds or sites and for the making of permanentimprovements to and for maintaining such park, recreational grounds orsites now owned or hereafter acquired by such county and to pay a portionof the principal and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A.12-1774 and amendments thereto by cities located in thecounty, the board ofcounty commissioners is hereby authorized to levy an annual tax on alltaxable tangible property in the county.

      Such new or additional grounds or sites for park and recreationalpurposes may be acquired by the board of county commissioners of suchcounty by purchase, donation, long term leases or easements or theexercise of the right of eminent domain, as provided for in chapter 26of the Kansas Statutes Annotated and amendments thereto. Following theacquisition of such grounds or sites, the county board of parkcommissioners shall improve, maintain and supervise all such park andrecreational areas in the manner now provided by law. The board ofcounty commissioners of any such county,by and with the consent of the board of park commissioners of any suchcounty, may convey title to such portion or portions of the new park andrecreational areas so acquired under the provisions of this act to anyfederal nonprofit corporation or foundation created under the laws ofthe United States, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining anynational shrine, park or memorial upon any land in such county, whichadjoins, abuts or is adjacent to the new park and recreational areas soacquired by any such county under the provisions of this act. The boardof county commissioners shall have power, and itshall be its duty, upon recommendation of the county board of parkcommissioners, to adopt resolutions from time to time for the regulationand orderly government of parks, parkways, recreational areas, countylakes, roads, park drives and public grounds, and to prescribe fines andpenalties for the violation of the provisions of such resolutions.

      History:   L. 1945, ch. 177, § 3; L. 1947, ch. 200, § 1; L.1957, ch. 184, § 1; L. 1959, ch. 142, § 1; L. 1967, ch. 155, § 1; L.1970, ch. 100, § 24; L. 1975, ch. 162, § 23; L. 1979, ch. 52, § 120;L. 1989, ch. 118, § 171; July 1.