North Dakota Code § 40-49-12

Powers of the board of park commissioners
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A board of park commissioners may:
1. Acquire by purchase, gift, devise, condemnation subject to chapter 32-15, conveyance 
pursuant to Public Law No. 115 -306, or otherwise, land anywhere within this state, or 
outside this state if located adjacent to a boundary of this state and of the park district, 
for parks, boulevards, and ways. The board has the sole and exclusive authority to 
maintain, govern, and improve the land, and to provide for the erection of structures 
thereon. Such parks, boulevards, and ways are considered for purposes of taxation 
and for all other purposes as being within the territorial limits of the municipality. If the 
board has acquired the legal title in fee to such lands, the board may sell and convey 
the same. A conveyance must be executed by the president and clerk of the board 
upon a resolution approved by not less than two-thirds of the members thereof.
2. Lay out, open, grade, curb, pave, and otherwise improve any path, way, or street, in, 
through, or around the parks, and construct, erect, build, maintain, manage, and 
govern any and all buildings, pavilions, play and pleasure grounds or fields, and such 
other improvements of a like character as may be deemed necessary.
3. Pass all ordinances necessary and requisite to carry into effect the powers granted to 
a board of park commissioners, with such penalties as the board may deem proper. 
No such penalty, however, shall exceed five hundred dollars.
4. Levy special assessments on all property especially benefited by the purchase, 
opening, establishment, and improvement of such parks or boulevards and of ways or 
streets about the same.
5. Employ such engineers, surveyors, clerks, and other employees, including a police 
force, as may be necessary, define and prescribe their respective duties, and fix and 
pay their compensation.
6. Issue negotiable bonds of the park district as provided in title 21.
7. Levy taxes upon all the property within the district for the purpose of maintaining and 
improving parks, boulevards, and ways, and to defray the expenses of the district. The 
proceeds of the taxes shall be available also for use in payment for any land 
purchased during the year or previously, or for improvements previously made for park 
purposes.
8. Establish building lines for all property fronting on any park, boulevard, or way under 
the direction and control of the board, and control the subdivision and platting of 
property within four hundred feet [121.92 meters] thereof.
9. Borrow money to defray the expenses of the year, subject to the limitations contained 
in title 21, in anticipation of taxes already levied, and issue therefor the warrants or 
other obligations of the district.
10. Connect any park or parks owned or controlled by it with any other park or parks, and 
for that purpose, it may select and take charge of any connecting street or streets or 
parts thereof; and the board shall have the sole and exclusive charge and control of 
any street or streets taken for such purpose.
11. Plant, set out, maintain, protect, and care for shade trees in any of the public streets or 
highways of the park district. The board may specify and regulate the kinds of trees 
that shall be planted in any such street or highway, the size and location of such trees, 
and the methods to be used in the planting and cultivation thereof and may pass such 
ordinances as may be necessary for the protection and control of such trees.

12. Plat and lay out such portions of park property as are not needed for the 
accommodation of the general public, and lease and demise lots or portions thereof for 
residential or concession purposes. The board may prescribe by ordinances the use 
that may be made of such leaseholds and the character of structures that may be 
placed thereon and may regulate generally the use and enjoyment thereof by the 
lessees or their successors.
13. Levy taxes upon all the property within the district, within the general fund levy 
authority of section 57 -15-12, for the purpose of funding a comprehensive health care 
program for district employees.
14. Participate in cooperative purchasing contracts with the office of management and 
budget pursuant to chapter 54 -44.4, participate in cooperative purchasing contracts 
with another state, and contract for cooperative purchases pursuant to a joint powers 
agreement under chapter 54-40.3.

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