Mississippi Code Title 51. Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control § 51-26-1

(1) There is hereby created the Tallahatchie River Authority composed of the geographic boundaries of the following counties that the Tallahatchie River or Little Tallahatchie River traverse or border in the State of Mississippi, subject to the board of supervisors of a county voting and spreading on its minutes the decision to participate in the authority: Leflore, Tallahatchie, Quitman, Panola, Lafayette, Marshall, Union and Tippah. The authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of one (1) member appointed by the board of supervisors of each of the counties eligible and whose board of supervisors chooses to participate. Board members shall be appointed by the appointing authorities within sixty (60) days after July 1, 2022.

(2) The boards of supervisors of the counties of Leflore and Tallahatchie shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of one (1) year; the boards of supervisors of the counties of Quitman and Panola shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of two (2) years; the boards of supervisors of the counties of Lafayette and Marshall shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of three (3) years; and the boards of supervisors of the counties of Union and Tippah shall each appoint a member from their respective counties for an initial term of four (4) years. All appointments made after the initial appointments shall be for terms of four (4) years each from the expiration of the previous term, or until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(3) Board members shall serve without pay. Upon appointment the members shall meet and organize at Charleston, Mississippi, set a regular time and place for the meetings of the authority, and secure offices and all necessary equipment therefor. A full-time executive director may be appointed by the board if the board deems the appointment advisable, and, if a director is appointed, he or she shall be full-time and shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The salary of a director may be paid out of such funds as may be available to the authority or from any source.