CHAPTER 588
An Act to amend and reenact § 21-118, as amended, of the Code of

Virginia, relating to the powers and duties of the governing bodies
of sanitary districts, by adding certain provisions relating to the

acquisition of property by right of eminent domain. CH 812]
Approved March 81, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 21-118, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 21-118. After the entry of such order creating a sanitary district
in such county, the governing body thereof shall have the following powers
and a subject to the conditions and limitations hereinafter pre-
scribed:

(1) To construct, maintain and operate water supply, sewerage,
garbage removal and disposal, heat, light, fire fighting equipment and
power and gas systems and sidewalks for the use and benefit of the public
in such sanitary districts.

(2) To acquire by gift, condemnation, purchase, lease, or otherwise,
and to maintain and operate any such water supply, sewerage, garbage
removal and disposal, heat, light, fire fighting equipment and power and
gas systems and sidewalks in such district and to acquire by gift, con-
demnation, purchase, lease, or otherwise, rights, title, interest, or ease-
ments therefor in and to real estate in such district. eae

(3) To contract with any person, firm, corporation or municipality
to construct, establish, maintain and operate any such water supply,
sewerage, garbage removal and disposal, heat, light, fire fighting equip-
ment and power and gas systems and sidewalks in such district. =.

(4) To require owners or tenants of any property, in the district
to connect with any such system or systems, and to contract with the
owners or tenants for such connections. The owners or tenants shall have
the right of appeal to the circuit court or the judge thereof in vacation
within ten days from action by the governing body.

(5) To fix and prescribe the rates of charge for the use of any such
system or systems, and to provide for the collection of such charges. ;

_(6) To levy and collect an annual tax upon all the property in such
sanitary district subject to local taxation to pay, either in whole or in
part, the expenses and charges incident to constructing, maintaining and
operating water supply, sewerage, garbage removal and disposal, heat,
light, fire fighting equipment and power and gas systems and sidewalks
for the use and benefit of the public in such sanitary district.

(7) To employ and fix the compensation of any technical, clerical
or other force and help which from time to time, in their judgment may
be deemed necessary for the construction, operation or maintenance of
any such system or systems and sidewalks. .

(8) To negotiate and contract with any person, firm, corporation or
municipality with regard to the connections of any such system or systems
with any other system or systems now in operation or hereafter estab-
lished, and with regard to any other matter necessary and proper for the
construction or operation and maintenance of any such system within
the sanitary district.

(9) The governing body shall have the same power and authority
for the abatement of nuisances in such sanitary district as is vested by
law in councils of cities and towns for the abatement of nuisances therein,
and it shall be the duty of the governing body to exercise such power
when any such nuisance shall be shown to exist.

(10) Proceedings for the acquisition of rights, title, interest or ease-
ments in and to real estate, by such sanitary districts in all cases in which
they now have or may hereafter be given the right of eminent domain,
may be instituted and conducted in the name of such sanitary district and
the procedure shall be in the manner and under the restrictions prescribed
by the general statutes of this State relative to the condemnation of lands.