Missouri Revised Statutes § 257.200 - Powers of board, limits
The board of trustees may take many actions to carry out the conservancy district’s purposes, including suing and being sued, managing watercourses, handling property, building and operating works, charging fees, levying taxes, issuing bonds, making contracts, and choosing a district office location.
257.200. Powers of board, limits. — 1. In order to accomplish the purposes of the conservancy district, the board of trustees may: (1) Sue and be sued by its corporate name. (2) Clean out, straighten, widen, alter, deepen or change the course or terminus of any ditch, drain, sewer, river, watercourse, pond, lake, creek or natural stream within the district; fill up any abandoned or altered watercourse; concentrate, divert or divide the flow of water within said district. (3) Purchase, acquire, hold, sell, convey, encumber, lease, control, or use such land and personal property as may, by the board of trustees, be deemed necessary or convenient to enable it to properly carry out the purpose for which organized. (4) Construct or contract for the construction of, and operate, maintain, preserve or supervise, engineering works and other works, improvements and facilities. (5) Remove or change the location of any building, facility or structures which interfere with such improvements within the district. (6) Acquire any easement, riparian or other right, or cemetery within the district for right-of-way, holding basin or for any necessary purpose. (7) Replat or subdivide land, open new roads, streets and alleys, or change the course of an existing one. (8) Charge fees consistent with the purposes and services of the district. (9) Levy taxes, issue bonds and incur indebtedness within the limitations prescribed by this chapter. (10) Enter into contracts or other arrangements with the United States government or any part thereof, with the state government or any part thereof, with public corporations of this state or another, or with persons, for cooperation, financial aid or other assistance in constructing, maintaining, using and operating the works or facilities of the district or the waters thereof, or in any other way in furthering the purposes of the district under this chapter; and jointly or severally may purchase, lease or acquire land or other property in order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter or further the interests of the district. (11) Select a residence of home office for the district, which shall be at a place designated by the board of trustees. 2. The objects and powers enumerated in this chapter shall not be construed to exclude other objects and powers necessary to effectuate the general purposes of the district, but there shall be excluded from such purposes, objects and powers the construction, operation or holding by the district of permanent structures for lodging, and the ownership or holding by the district of land for such a use, excepting such residential accommodations as may be necessary for personnel concerned with the operation and maintenance of the works, improvements, facilities, and other property of the district. (L. 1959 S.B. 199 § 20)