For purposes of the State Aeronautics Act and the laws of this state relating to aeronautics, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the meanings given in this section, unless otherwise specifically defined or unless another intention clearly appears or the context otherwise requires:

(1) Aeronautics means transportation by aircraft; the operation, construction, repair, or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft power plants, and accessories, including the repair, packing, and maintenance of parachutes; and the design, establishment, construction, extension, operation, improvement, repair, or maintenance of airports, restricted landing areas, or other air navigation facilities, and air instruction;

(2) Aircraft means any contrivance now known, hereafter invented, used, or designed for navigation of or flight in the air;

(3) Airport means (a) any area of land or water, except a restricted landing area, which is designed for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, whether or not facilities are provided for the sheltering, servicing, or repairing of aircraft or for receiving or discharging passengers or cargo, (b) all appurtenant areas used or suitable for airport buildings or other airport facilities, and (c) all appurtenant rights-of-way, whether heretofore or hereafter established;

(4) Air navigation facility means any facility, other than one owned or controlled by the federal government, used in, available for use in, or designed for use in aid of air navigation, including airports, restricted landing areas, and any structures, mechanisms, lights, beacons, marks, communicating systems, or other instrumentalities or devices used or useful as an aid or constituting an advantage or convenience to the safe takeoff, navigation, and landing of aircraft, or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of an airport or restricted landing area and any combination of any or all of such facilities;

(5) Air navigation means the operation or navigation of aircraft in the air space over this state or upon any airport or restricted landing area within this state;

(6) Airman means any individual who engages, as the person in command, or as pilot, mechanic, or member of the crew, in the navigation of aircraft while under way and (excepting individuals employed outside the United States, any individual employed by a manufacturer of aircraft, aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances to perform duties as inspector or mechanic in connection therewith, and any individual performing inspection or mechanical duties in connection with aircraft owned or operated by him or her) any individual who is directly in charge of the inspection, maintenance, overhauling, or repair of aircraft engines, propellers, or appliances and any individual who serves in the capacity of aircraft dispatcher or air traffic control-tower operator;

(7) Air instruction means the imparting of aeronautical information by any aeronautics instructor or in or by any air school or flying club;

(8) Aeronautics instructor means any individual engaged in giving instruction, or offering to give instruction, in aeronautics, either in flying or ground subjects, or both, for hire or reward, without advertising such occupation, without calling his or her facilities an air school or anything equivalent thereto, and without employing or using other instructors. It does not include any instructor in any public school or university of this state or any institution of higher learning duly accredited and approved for carrying on collegiate work while engaged in his or her duties as such instructor;

(9) Airport protection privileges means easements through or other interests in air space over land or water, interests in airport hazards outside the boundaries of airports or restricted landing areas, and other protection privileges, the acquisition or control of which is necessary to insure safe approaches to the landing areas of airports and restricted landing areas and the safe and efficient operation thereof;

(10) Airport hazard means any structure, object of natural growth, or use of land which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at any airport or restricted landing area or is otherwise hazardous to such landing or taking off;

(11) Civil aircraft means any aircraft other than a public aircraft;

(12) Commission means the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission;

(13) Director means the Director of Aeronautics;

(14) Division means the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation;

(15) Flying club means any person, other than an individual, who, neither for profit nor reward, owns, leases, or uses one or more aircraft for the purpose of instruction or pleasure or both;

(16) Location means the general vicinity to be served by a specific airport;

(17) Municipality means any county, city, village, or town of this state and any other political subdivision, public corporation, authority, or district in this state which is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, maintain, improve, and operate airports and other air navigation facilities;

(18) Navigable air space means air space above the minimum altitudes of flight prescribed by the laws of this state or by the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the division consistent therewith;

(19) Operation of aircraft or operate aircraft means the use of aircraft for the purpose of air navigation and includes the navigation or piloting of aircraft. Any person who causes or authorizes the operation of aircraft, whether with or without the right of legal control, in the capacity of owner, lessee, or otherwise, of the aircraft, shall be deemed to be engaged in the operation of aircraft within the meaning of the statutes of this state;

(20) Privately owned public use airport means any airport owned by a person which is primarily engaged in the business of providing necessary services and facilities for the operation of civil aircraft and which (a) has at least one paved runway, (b) is engaged in the retail sale of aviation gasoline or aviation jet fuel, and (c) possesses facilities for the sheltering, servicing, or repair of aircraft;

(21) Public aircraft means an aircraft used exclusively in the service of any government or of any political subdivision thereof, including the government of any state, territory, or possession of the United States or the District of Columbia, but not including any government-owned aircraft engaged in carrying persons or property for commercial purposes;

(22) Restricted landing area means any area of land, water, or both, which is used or is made available for the landing and takeoff of aircraft, the use of which shall, except in case of emergency, be only as provided from time to time by the commission;

(23) Site means the specific land area to be used as an airport; and

(24) State airway means a route in the navigable air space over and above the lands or waters of this state, designated by the division as a route suitable for air navigation.

The purpose of the State Aeronautics Act is to further the public interest and aeronautical progress by (1) providing for the protection and promotion of safety in aeronautics, (2) cooperating in effecting a uniformity of the laws relating to the development and regulation of aeronautics in the several states, (3) revising existing statutes relative to the development and regulation of aeronautics so as to grant such powers to and impose such duties upon the division in order that the state may properly perform its functions relative to aeronautics and effectively exercise its jurisdiction over persons and property within such jurisdiction, may assist in the promotion of a statewide system of airports, may cooperate with and assist the political subdivisions of this state and others engaged in aeronautics, and may encourage and develop aeronautics, (4) establishing uniform regulations, consistent with federal regulations and those of other states, in order that those engaged in aeronautics of every character may so engage with the least possible restriction, consistent with the safety and the rights of others, and (5) providing for cooperation with the federal authorities in the development of a national system of civil aviation and for coordination of the aeronautical activities of those authorities and the authorities of this state by assisting in accomplishing the purposes of federal legislation and eliminating costly and unnecessary duplication of functions properly in the province of federal agencies.

(1) The Division of Aeronautics shall be a division of the Department of Transportation.

(2)(a) Until December 31, 2017, the chief administrative officer of the division shall be the director, to be known as the Director of Aeronautics, and shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Legislature, with due regard to his or her fitness through aeronautical education and by knowledge of and recent practical experience in aeronautics. The director shall devote full time to the performance of his or her official duties and shall not have any pecuniary interest in, stock in, or bonds of any civil aeronautics enterprise. The director shall, before assuming the duties of the office, take and subscribe an oath, such as is required by state officers. The director shall be bonded or insured as required by section 11-201. The director shall receive such compensation as the Governor, with the approval of the commission, shall determine, subject to the provisions of the legislative appropriations bill.

(b) Beginning January 1, 2018, the chief administrative officer of the division shall be the Director of Aeronautics who shall be appointed by and report directly to the Director-State Engineer, subject to confirmation by the Legislature, with due regard to his or her fitness through aeronautical education and by knowledge of and recent practical experience in aeronautics. The director shall devote full time to the performance of his or her official duties and shall not have any pecuniary interest in, stock in, or bonds of any civil aeronautics enterprise. The director shall, before assuming the duties of the office, take and subscribe an oath, such as is required by state officers.

(1) There is hereby created the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission which shall consist of five members, who shall be appointed by the Governor. The terms of office of the members of the commission initially appointed shall expire on March 1 of the years 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1950, as designated by the Governor in making the respective appointments. As the terms of members expire, the Governor shall, on or before March 1 of each year, appoint a member of the commission for a term of five years to succeed the member whose term expires. Each member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor. In case of a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term of a member, the appointment shall be made only for the remainder of the term. All members of the commission shall be citizens and bona fide residents of the state and, in making such an appointment, the Governor shall take into consideration the interest or training of the appointee in some one or all branches of aviation. The commission shall, in December of each year, select a chairperson for the ensuing year. The Director of Aeronautics shall serve as secretary as set forth in section 3-127. Three members shall constitute a quorum, and no action shall be taken by less than a majority of the commission.

(2) The commission shall meet upon the written call of the chairperson, the director, or any two members of the commission. Regular meetings shall be held at the office of the division but, whenever the convenience of the public or of the parties may be promoted or delay or expense may be prevented, the commission may hold meetings or proceedings at any other place designated by it. All meetings of the commission shall be open to the public. No member shall receive any salary for his or her service, but each shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred by him or her in the performance of his or her duties as provided in sections 81-1174 to 81-1177.

(3)(a) The commission shall advise the Director-State Engineer relative to the appointment of the Director of Aeronautics, and the commission shall report to the Director-State Engineer whenever the commission feels that the Director of Aeronautics is not properly fulfilling his or her duties. The commission shall also advise the Governor on the general status and state of aviation in Nebraska.

(b) The commission shall further act in an advisory capacity to the Director of Aeronautics and Director-State Engineer.

(4) The commission shall have, in addition, the following specific duties: (a) To allocate state funds and approve the use of federal funds to be spent for the construction or maintenance of airports; (b) to designate the locations and approve sites of airports; (c) to arrange and authorize the purchase of aircraft upon behalf of the state; (d) to select and approve pilots to be employed by the state, if any; and (e) to assist the Director of Aeronautics in formulating the regulations and policies to be carried out by the division under the terms of the State Aeronautics Act. The commission may allocate state funds for the promotion of aviation as defined for the purpose of this section by the division. The director may designate one or more members of the commission to represent the division in conferences with officials of the federal government, of other states, of other agencies or municipalities of this state, or of persons owning privately owned public use airports.

The division shall adopt a seal and adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for its administration. All rules, regulations, and orders of the Department of Aeronautics adopted prior to July 1, 2017, in connection with the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation pursuant to Laws 2017, LB339, shall continue to be effective until revised, amended, repealed, or nullified pursuant to law.

(1) The division may purchase aircraft for the use of state government and may sell any state aircraft that is not needed or suitable for state uses. State aircraft shall be subject at all times to the written orders of the Governor for use and service in any branch of the state government. The division shall establish an hourly rate for use of a state aircraft by a state official or agency. The hourly rate shall not include an amount to recover the cost of acquisition by purchase, but shall include amounts for items such as variable fuel and oil costs, routine maintenance costs, landing fees, and preventive maintenance reserves. Such funds shall only be expended for the purposes provided for by this section.

(2) It is the intent of the Legislature that the use of state-owned, chartered, or rented aircraft by the division shall be for the sole purpose of state business. The division shall electronically file with the Clerk of the Legislature a quarterly report on the use of all state-owned, chartered, or rented aircraft by the division that includes the following information for each trip: The name of the agency or other entity traveling; the name of each individual passenger; all purposes of the trip; the destination and intermediate stops; the miles flown; and the duration of the trip.

(1) The division shall have general supervision over aeronautics within this state. It is empowered and directed to encourage, foster, and assist in the development of aeronautics in this state and encourage the establishment of airports and other air navigation facilities.

(2) The Department of Transportation may budget for and pay any of the costs related to the administration of the division, including, but not limited to, employee salaries and benefits, out of the Highway Cash Fund, as the Director-State Engineer determines, in his or her sole discretion, to be in the best interest of transportation in Nebraska. Such costs do not include costs related to the construction, reconstruction, repair, operation, or maintenance of airport infrastructure, including runways, concrete surfacing, hangers or capital improvements, buildings, and structures.

(3) No state funds for the acquisition, engineering, construction, improvement, or maintenance of airports shall be expended upon any project or for any work upon any such project which is not done under the supervision of the division. When any airport which has received state grant funds pursuant to the State Aeronautics Act ceases to be an airport or a privately owned public use airport, the division shall, consistent with all other provisions of state and federal law, seek to recover so much of the state funds provided to the airport as it may and shall deposit any such funds so recovered into the Aeronautics Cash Fund.

The division shall cooperate with and assist the federal government, the political subdivisions of this state, and others engaged in aeronautics or the promotion of aeronautics and seek to coordinate the aeronautical activities of these bodies. To this end, the division is empowered to confer with or to hold joint hearings with any federal aeronautical agency in connection with any matter arising under the State Aeronautics Act, or relating to the sound development of aeronautics, and to avail itself of the cooperation, services, records, and facilities of such federal agencies, as fully as may be practicable, in the administration and enforcement of the act. The division shall reciprocate by furnishing to the federal agencies its cooperation, services, records, and facilities, insofar as may be practicable. The division shall report to the appropriate federal agency all accidents in aeronautics in this state of which it is informed and preserve, protect, and prevent the removal of the component parts of any aircraft involved in an accident being investigated by it until a federal agency institutes an investigation. The division shall report to the appropriate federal agency all refusals to register federal licenses, certificates, or permits and all revocations of certificates of registration, and the reasons therefor, and all penalties, of which it has knowledge, imposed upon airmen for violations of the laws of this state relating to aeronautics or for violations of the rules, regulations, or orders of the division.

The division may (1) perform such acts, (2) issue and amend such orders, (3) adopt and promulgate such reasonable general or special rules, regulations, and procedure, and (4) establish such minimum standards, consistent with the State Aeronautics Act, as it shall deem necessary to carry out the act and to perform its duties under the act as commensurate with and for the purpose of protecting and insuring the general public interest and safety, the safety of persons receiving instruction concerning, or operating, using, or traveling in aircraft, and of persons and property on land or water, and to develop and promote aeronautics in this state. No rule or regulation of the division shall apply to airports or other air navigation facilities owned or controlled by the federal government within this state.

All rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the division under the authority of the State Aeronautics Act shall be kept in conformity, as nearly as may be, with the then current federal legislation governing aeronautics, the regulations duly promulgated thereunder, and rules and standards issued from time to time pursuant thereto.

The division shall keep on file with the Secretary of State and at the principal office of the division a copy of all its rules and regulations for public inspection.

It may designate, design, establish, expand or modify a state airways system which will best serve the interests of the state. It may chart such airways system and arrange for the publication and distribution of such maps, charts, notices and bulletins, relating to such airways, as may be required in the public interest. The system shall be supplementary to and coordinated in design and operation with the federal airways system. It may include all types of air navigation facilities, whether publicly or privately owned; Provided, that such facilities conform to federal safety standards.

The division may, insofar as is reasonably possible, offer its engineering or other technical services, without charge, to any municipality or to any person owning a privately owned public use airport desiring them in connection with the construction, maintenance, or operation or the proposed construction, maintenance, or operation of an airport or restricted landing area.

The division may represent the state in aeronautical matters before federal agencies and other state agencies.

The division may participate as party plaintiff or defendant, or as intervenor on behalf of this state, or any municipality or citizen thereof, in any controversy having to do with any claimed encroachment by the federal government or any foreign state upon any state or individual rights pertaining to aeronautics.

The division, the director, and every state, county, and municipal officer, charged with the enforcement of state and municipal laws, shall enforce and assist in the enforcement of the State Aeronautics Act, all rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant thereto, and all other laws of this state relating to aeronautics. In the aid of such enforcement, general police powers are hereby conferred upon the director, and such of the officers and employees of the division as may be designated by it, to exercise such powers. The division is further authorized, in the name of this state, to enforce the act and the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated pursuant thereto by injunction in the courts of this state. Municipalities and persons owning privately owned public use airports are authorized to cooperate with the division in the development of aeronautics and aeronautical facilities in this state. The division may use the facilities and services of other agencies of the state to the utmost extent possible and such agencies are authorized and directed to make available such facilities and services.

The director, or any officer or employee of the division designated by it, shall have the power to hold investigations, inquiries, and hearings concerning matters covered by the State Aeronautics Act and orders, rules, and regulations of the division and concerning accidents in aeronautics within this state. All hearings so conducted shall be open to the public. The director, and every officer or employee of the division designated by it to hold any inquiry, investigation, or hearing, shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations, certify to all official acts, issue subpoenas, and compel the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of papers, books, and documents. In case of a failure to comply with any subpoena or order issued under the authority of the act, the division or its authorized representative may invoke the aid of any court of this state of general jurisdiction. The court may thereupon order the witness to comply with the requirements of the subpoena or order or to give evidence touching the matter in question. Any failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.

In order to facilitate the making of investigations by the division, in the interest of public safety and the promotion of aeronautics, the public interest requires, and it is, therefor, provided, that the reports of investigations or hearings, or any part thereof, shall not be admitted in evidence or used for any purpose in any suit, action, or proceeding, growing out of any matter referred to in the investigation, hearing, or report thereof, except in case of criminal or other proceedings instituted on behalf of the division or this state under the State Aeronautics Act and other laws of this state relating to aeronautics, nor shall any member of the commission, the director, or any officer or employee of the division be required to testify to any facts ascertained in, or information gained by reason of, his or her official capacity, or be required to testify as an expert witness in any suit, action, or proceeding involving any aircraft. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the division may, in its discretion, make available to appropriate federal and state agencies information and material developed in the course of its hearings and investigations.

The division may render assistance in the acquisition, development, operation, or maintenance of privately owned public use airports or airports owned, controlled, or operated or to be owned, controlled, or operated by municipalities in this state out of appropriations made by the Legislature for that purpose.

The division may enter into any contracts necessary to the execution of the powers granted it by the State Aeronautics Act.

The division shall grant no exclusive right for the use of any airway, airport, restricted landing area, or other air navigation facility under its jurisdiction. This section shall not prevent the making of leases in accordance with other provisions of the State Aeronautics Act.

The division is authorized to cooperate with the government of the United States, and any agency or department thereof, in the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities in this state and to comply with the provisions of the laws of the United States and any regulations made thereunder for the expenditure of federal money upon such airports and other navigation facilities.

The division is authorized to accept federal and other money, either public or private, for and on behalf of this state, any municipality, or any person owning a privately owned public use airport, for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities, whether such work is to be done by the state, by such municipalities, or by any person owning a privately owned public use airport, or jointly, aided by grants of aid from the United States, upon such terms and conditions as are or may be prescribed by the laws of the United States and any regulations thereunder. The division may act as agent of any municipality of this state or any person owning a privately owned public use airport, upon the request of such municipality or person, in accepting such money in its behalf for airports or other air navigation facility purposes, and in contracting for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, or operation of airports or other air navigation facilities, financed either in whole or in part by federal money, and such person or the governing body of any such municipality is authorized to designate the division as its agent for such purposes and to enter into an agreement with the division prescribing the terms and conditions of such agency in accordance with federal laws, rules, and regulations and with the State Aeronautics Act. Such money as is paid over by the United States Government shall be retained by the state or paid over to the municipalities or persons under such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the United States Government in making such grants.

All contracts for the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of airports or other air navigation facilities made by the division, either as the agent of this state, as the agent of any municipality, or as the agent of any person owning a privately owned public use airport, shall be made pursuant to the laws of this state governing the making of like contracts. When the acquisition, construction, improvement, maintenance, and operation of any airport, landing strip, or other air navigation facility is financed wholly or partially with federal money, the division, as agent of the state, of any municipality, or of any person owning a privately owned public use airport, may let contracts in the manner prescribed by the federal authorities, acting under the laws of the United States, and any rules or regulations made thereunder, notwithstanding any other state law to the contrary.

The Aeronautics Cash Fund is created. All money received by the division pursuant to the State Aeronautics Act shall be remitted to the State Treasurer for credit to the fund. The division is authorized, whether acting for this state, as the agent of any of its municipalities, or as the agent of any person owning a privately owned public use airport, or when requested by the United States Government or any agency or department thereof, to disburse such money. Any money in the Aeronautics Cash Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act. The State Treasurer shall transfer any money in the Department of Aeronautics Cash Fund on July 1, 2017, to the Aeronautics Cash Fund.

The director shall (1) administer the State Aeronautics Act, the rules and regulations adopted and promulgated under the act, orders established under the act, and all other laws of the state relative to aeronautics, (2) attend and serve as secretary, but not vote, at all meetings of the commission, (3) appoint, subject to section 3-104, such experts, field and office assistants, clerks, and other employees as may be required and authorized for the proper discharge of the functions of the division and for whose services funds have been appropriated, (4) be in charge of the offices of the division and responsible for the preparation of reports and collection and dissemination of data and other public information relating to aeronautics, and (5) execute all contracts entered into by the division which are legally authorized and for which funds are appropriated.

In order to safeguard and promote the general public interest and safety, the safety of persons using or traveling in aircraft and of persons and property on the ground, and the interest of aeronautical progress requiring that airports, restricted landing areas, and air navigation facilities be suitable for the purposes for which they are designed and to carry out the purposes of the State Aeronautics Act, the division may: Recommend airport and restricted landing area sites; license airports, restricted landing areas, or other air navigation facilities; and provide for the renewal and revocation of such licenses in accordance with rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the division.

Except as provided in section 3-130, it shall be unlawful for any person to operate or cause or authorize to be operated any civil aircraft within this state unless such aircraft has an appropriate effective license, certificate, or permit issued by the United States Government.

The provisions of section 3-129 shall not apply to:

(1) An aircraft which has been licensed by a foreign country with which the United States has a reciprocal agreement covering the operations of such licensed aircraft;

(2) An airman operating military or public aircraft or any aircraft licensed by a foreign country with which the United States has a reciprocal agreement covering the operation of such licensed aircraft;

(3) Persons operating model aircraft or to any person piloting an aircraft which is equipped with fully functioning dual controls when a licensed instructor is in full charge of one set of said controls and such flight is solely for instruction or for the demonstration of said aircraft to a bona fide prospective purchaser;

(4) A nonresident operating aircraft in this state who is lawfully entitled to operate aircraft in the state of residence; or

(5) An airman while operating or taking part in the operation of an aircraft engaged principally in commercial flying constituting an act of interstate or foreign commerce.

The federal license, certificate, or permit, and the evidence of registration in this or another state, if any, required for an airman shall be kept in the personal possession of the airman when the airman is operating within this state and must be presented for inspection upon the demand of any passenger, peace officer of this state, authorized official or employee of the division, or official, manager, or person in charge of any airport in this state upon which the airman shall land or the reasonable request of any other person. The federal aircraft license, certificate, or permit required for aircraft must be carried in every aircraft operating in this state at all times and must be conspicuously posted therein where it may readily be seen by passengers or inspectors and must be presented for inspection upon the demand of any passenger, peace officer of this state, authorized official or employee of the division, or official, manager, or person in charge of any airport in this state upon which the airman shall land or the reasonable request of any person.

Any proposed airport or restricted landing area shall be first licensed by the division before such airport or area shall be used or operated. Any municipality or person acquiring property for the purpose of constructing or establishing an airport or restricted landing area shall, prior to such acquisition, make application to the division for a certificate of approval of the site selected and the general purpose or purposes for which the property is to be acquired, to insure that the property and its use shall conform to minimum standards of safety and shall serve the public interest. It shall be unlawful for any municipality or officer or employee thereof, or for any person, to operate an airport or restricted landing area for which a license has not been issued by the division.

Whenever the division makes an order granting or denying a certificate of approval of an airport or a restricted landing area, or an original license to use or operate an airport, restricted landing area, or other air navigation facility, and the applicant or any interested municipality, within fifteen days after notice of such order has been sent the applicant by registered or certified mail, demands a public hearing, or whenever the division desires to hold a public hearing, before making an order, such a public hearing in relation thereto shall be held in the municipality applying for the certificate of approval or license or, in case the application was made by anyone other than a municipality, at the county seat of the county in which the proposed airport, restricted landing area, or other air navigation facility is proposed to be situated, or the major portion thereof, if located in more than one county, at which hearing all parties in interest and other persons shall have an opportunity to be heard. Notice of the hearing shall be published by the division in a legal newspaper in or of general circulation in the county in which the hearing is to be held, at least twice, the first publication to be at least fifteen days prior to the date of hearing. After a proper and timely demand has been made, the order shall be stayed until after the hearing, when the division may affirm, modify, or reverse it, or make a new order. If no hearing is demanded, the order shall become effective upon the expiration of the time permitted for making a demand. Where a certificate of approval of an airport or restricted landing area has been issued by the division, it may grant a license for its operation and use, and no hearing may be demanded thereon.

In determining whether to issue a certificate of approval or license for the use or operation of any proposed airport or restricted landing area, the division shall take into consideration (1) its proposed location, size, and layout, (2) the relationship of the proposed airport or restricted landing area to a comprehensive plan for statewide and nationwide development, (3) whether there are safe areas available for expansion purposes, (4) whether the adjoining area is free from obstructions based on a proper glide ratio, (5) the nature of the terrain, (6) the nature of the uses to which the proposed airport or restricted landing area will be put, and (7) the possibilities for future development.

The provisions of sections 3-133 to 3-135 shall not apply to restricted landing areas designed for personal use.

The division is empowered to temporarily or permanently revoke any certificate of approval or license issued by it when it shall determine that an airport, restricted landing area, or other navigation facility is not being maintained or used in accordance with the State Aeronautics Act and the rules and regulations lawfully adopted and promulgated pursuant thereto.

The provisions of sections 3-133 to 3-136 shall not apply to any airport, restricted landing area or other air navigation facility owned or operated by the federal government within this state.

If the division refuses to (1) issue a certificate of approval of a license or the renewal of a license for an airport, restricted landing area, or other air navigation facility or (2) permit the registration of any license, certificate, or permit, the division shall set forth its reasons therefor and shall state the requirements to be met before such approval will be given, registration permitted, license granted, or order modified or changed. Any order made by the division pursuant to the State Aeronautics Act shall be served upon the interested persons by either registered or certified mail or in person. To carry out the act, the director, officers, and employees of the division and any officers, state or municipal, charged with the duty of enforcing the act may inspect and examine at reasonable hours any premises, and the buildings and other structures thereon, where airports, restricted landing areas, flying clubs, or other air navigation facilities or aeronautical activities are operated or carried on.

Any person aggrieved by an order of the division or by the granting or denial of any license, certificate, or registration may appeal the order or such granting or denial, and the appeal shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

The division is authorized and empowered, on behalf of and in the name of this state, within the limitation of available appropriations, to (1) acquire, by purchase, gift, devise, lease, condemnation proceedings, or otherwise, real or personal property for the purpose of establishing and constructing airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities, (2) acquire in like manner, own, control, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip, operate, regulate, and police such airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities either within or without this state, (3) make, prior to any such acquisition, investigations, surveys, and plans, (4) erect, install, construct, and maintain at such airports facilities for the servicing of aircraft and for the comfort and accommodation of air travelers, and (5) dispose of any such property, airport, or restricted landing area or any other air navigation facility by sale, lease, or otherwise, in accordance with the laws of this state governing the disposition of other like property of the state. The division may not, however, acquire or take over any airport, restricted landing area, or other air navigation facility owned or controlled by a municipality of this state without the consent of such municipality. The division may erect, equip, operate, and maintain on any airport such buildings and equipment as are necessary and proper to establish, maintain, and conduct such airport and air navigation facilities connected therewith.

Where necessary, in order to provide unobstructed air space for the landing and taking off of aircraft utilizing airports and restricted landing areas acquired or operated under the State Aeronautics Act, the division may acquire, in the same manner as is provided for the acquisition of property for airport purposes, easements through or other interests in air space over land or water, interest in airport hazards outside the boundaries of the airports or restricted landing areas, and such other airport protection privileges as are necessary to insure safe approaches to the landing areas of the airports and restricted landing areas and the safe and efficient operation thereof. The division may acquire, in the same manner, the right or easement, for a term of years or perpetually, to place or maintain suitable marks for the daytime marking and suitable lights for the nighttime marking of airport hazards, including the right of ingress and egress to or from such airport hazards for the purpose of maintaining and repairing such lights and marks. This authority shall not be so construed as to limit the right, power, or authority of the state or any municipality to zone property adjacent to any airport or restricted landing area pursuant to any law of this state.

The division may engage in all activities jointly with the United States, with other states, with municipalities or other agencies of this state, and with persons owning privately owned public use airports.

The division may exercise the right of eminent domain, in the name of the state, for the purpose of acquiring any property which it is authorized to acquire by condemnation. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724. The fact that the property so needed has been acquired by the owner under power of eminent domain shall not prevent its acquisition by the division by the exercise of the right of eminent domain conferred in the State Aeronautics Act. The division shall not be precluded from abandoning the condemnation of any such property in any case where possession thereof has not been taken. Nothing in the State Aeronautics Act shall be construed as granting to privately owned public use airports the authority to exercise the power of eminent domain nor shall anything in the State Aeronautics Act be construed as granting to the division or any municipality the authority to exercise the right of eminent domain for the purpose of acquiring lands or easements for the sole use or benefit of privately owned public use airports.

The division may (1) lease, for a term not exceeding ten years, such airports, other air navigation facilities, or real property acquired or set apart for airport purposes, to private parties, any municipal or state government, the national government, or any department of any such government for operation, (2) lease or assign, for a term not exceeding ten years, to private parties, any municipal or state government, the national government, or any department of any such government for operation or other use consistent with the purposes of the State Aeronautics Act, space, area, improvements, or equipment on such airports, (3) sell any part of such airports, other air navigation facilities, or real property to any municipal or state government, or to the United States or any department or instrumentality thereof, for aeronautical purposes or purposes incidental thereto, and (4) confer the privilege or concession of supplying, upon the airports, goods, commodities, things, services, and facilities, so long as in each case in so doing the public is not deprived of its rightful, equal, and uniform use thereof.

The division may determine the charges or rental for the use of any properties and the charges for any service or accommodations under its control and the terms and conditions under which such properties may be used, so long as in all cases the public shall not be deprived of its rightful, equal, and uniform use of such property. Charges shall be reasonable and uniform for the same class of service and established with due regard to the property and improvements used and the expenses of operation to the state. To enforce the payment of charges, the state shall have a lien which the division may enforce, substantially as is provided by law for liens and the enforcement thereof, for repairs to or the improvement, storage, or care of any personal property.

The acquisition of any lands for the purpose of establishing airports or other air navigation facilities; the acquisition of any airport protection privileges; the acquisition, establishment, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities, whether by the state separately or jointly with any municipality, municipalities, or any person owning a privately owned public use airport; the assistance of this state in any such acquisition, establishment, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, and operation; and the exercise of any other powers granted to the division are hereby declared to be public and governmental functions exercised for a public purpose and matters of public necessity. Such lands and other property and privileges acquired are declared to be public property.

There is hereby imposed a tax of five cents per gallon upon aviation gasoline and a tax of three cents per gallon upon aviation jet fuel purchased for and used in aircraft within the State of Nebraska. Such aircraft tax shall be levied, collected, and refunded in the manner provided in Chapter 66, article 4, with reference to other motor fuel. The State Treasurer shall credit the aircraft tax and fees so collected and remitted to a special fund to be known as the Aircraft Fuel Tax Fund, which fund shall be distributed as provided in this section. The State Treasurer shall make all refunds as provided in sections 3-150 and 3-151 from the fund, and the balance of the aircraft tax shall be credited to the Aeronautics Cash Fund.

For purposes of this section, aviation gasoline means fuel used in aircraft meeting the criteria established for motor vehicle fuel in section 66-482. The terms aviation fuel and aircraft fuel as used in the statutes include both aviation gasoline and aviation jet fuel.

The suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, and importers defined in Chapter 66, article 4, shall collect the tax as prescribed in section 3-148, keep an account thereof separately from other fuel tax, and remit the tax collected accordingly to the Tax Commissioner. The Tax Commissioner shall remit the tax to the State Treasurer in the same manner as is provided by law for the collection and remittance of motor vehicle fuel tax. No other or different tax shall be imposed for fuel bought for and used in aircraft. Such tax shall be used for the purposes set forth in the State Aeronautics Act. The penalty for violation of the provisions of this section relating to the collection and remittance of the tax shall be the same as set forth for the violation of the law with reference to the motor fuel tax contained in Chapter 66, article 7, and the right of enforcement and the penalties shall be likewise applicable as set forth therein.

Any person, firm, partnership, limited liability company, company, agency, corporation, body politic, municipality, or National Guard or reserve officer of the United States Army who buys and uses aircraft fuel meeting the specifications set by the Department of Revenue, bought for and used only in aircraft in connection with any air school approved by the federal government, on which the tax has been paid or which is chargeable under section 3-148 and who consumes the same for purposes of operating or propelling aircraft used strictly for air school purposes shall be reimbursed the amount of tax so paid in the manner and subject to the conditions provided in this section and section 3-151.

All claims for reimbursement shall be made by affidavit in such form and containing such information as the Tax Commissioner shall prescribe. Such claims shall be accompanied by the original invoices of sales and receipts and shall be filed with the commissioner within seven months from the date of purchase or invoice. The commissioner may require such further information as he shall deem necessary for the determination of such claims. He shall transmit all claims approved by him to the Director of Administrative Services, who shall forthwith draw his warrant against the proceeds of the tax levied under section 3-148 and credited to the Aircraft Fuel Tax Fund in the state treasury upon the presentation of proper vouchers for each claim for reimbursement; and the State Treasurer shall pay such warrants out of money in such fund without specific appropriation.

Any person violating any of the provisions of the State Aeronautics Act, or any of the rules, regulations, or orders adopted, promulgated, or issued pursuant thereto, shall be guilty of a Class II misdemeanor.

Sections 3-101 to 3-164 shall be known and may be cited as the State Aeronautics Act.

(1) The division is hereby authorized and directed to dispose of all real property held by the division and formerly used by the United States as army airfields, and which is not required for airport operational use purposes. The division shall seek approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to dispose of such property. The property may be platted and subdivided into lots or parcels to be sold separately so as to obtain the greatest total sale price.

(2) The division shall dedicate the necessary roads for airport access and shall reserve such easements for access, utilities, drainage, and other purposes as may be necessary or convenient to maintain the airports as operational. The sales may be made subject to such terms, conditions, and restrictions as may be required by the deeds by which such property was conveyed to the State of Nebraska by the Federal Aviation Administration. When approval is received, the division shall have such property appraised by noninterested appraisers qualified to make appraisals based on experience and who have professional status as appraisers of real property. The appraisers shall be selected by the division based on competitive bids received after three weeks' notice of invitation for bids has been published in at least two newspapers of general circulation throughout the state. The notice shall state that the selection shall be made of the lowest and best qualified bidders and that the division reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to readvertise for further bids.

(3) Each appraiser's report shall contain (a) an opinion as to the fair market value of the lands appraised, showing a segregation of actual land value, elements and basis of damage, and depreciated in place value of buildings and improvements, if any, (b) a report of income derived from the land in recent years, (c) the adaptability of the land, including the most profitable or highest and best use, (d) a report of a personal inspection of the lands appraised, including a detailed description of their physical characteristics and conditions, (e) the general history of the property and its environs, and a statement of the character of the area surrounding the land being appraised, indicating any of the favorable and unfavorable influences, (f) a listing of recent sales of similar property in the area, showing seller, purchaser, date of sale, selling price, acreage involved, buildings and improvements involved, if any, and an estimate of the value of such improvements, and if there is a difference in value between comparable sales and the property appraised, a discussion of the difference in value to be included, (g) a listing of recent offerings for sale of property in the same general area, including the property being appraised, if recently offered, and the prices quoted, if any, (h) a trend of land values in the area and current land or real estate market conditions, (i) the actual valuation of real property in the community, (j) the effective date of valuation, (k) a statement of the qualifications of the appraiser including a statement by the appraiser that he or she has no personal interest, present or prospective, in the land being appraised, and (l) the signature of the appraiser and date of report.

(4) Such property shall be sold to the highest bidder, but in no case shall such property be sold at less than the appraised value. Notice of such sale and time and place where the same will be held shall be given as provided in section 72-258. When the highest bid is less than the appraised value, the sale shall be canceled and except for property leased pursuant to section 3-157 the property shall be offered for sale again within one year after the date of the previous offering.

The Aeronautics Trust Fund is created. The necessary expenses incurred in the sale of property under section 3-155 shall be paid from the Aeronautics Cash Fund, and the proceeds from the sale of such property shall be credited to the Aeronautics Trust Fund after reimbursement of costs of sale have been made to the Aeronautics Cash Fund. The net proceeds from the disposal of such property shall be used by the division in conformance with any agreements upon which the Federal Aviation Administration conditions its consent to the sale of the aforementioned land and the quit claim deeds (1) filed in the office of the register of deeds of Dodge County on November 17, 1947, and recorded in Deeds Record 89 on page 342 and September 16, 1948, and recorded in Deeds Record 89 on page 578, (2) filed in the office of the register of deeds of Red Willow County on September 16, 1948, in Deeds Record 71 on page 17, September 14, 1966, in Deeds Record 91 on page 281, and December 17, 1968, in Deeds Record 93 on page 549, (3) filed in the office of the register of deeds of Clay County on November 17, 1947, in Deeds Record 86 on page 561, September 16, 1948, in Deeds Record 87 on page 148, and March 14, 1968, in Deeds Record 95 on page 321, (4) filed in the office of the register of deeds of Fillmore County on September 16, 1948, in Deeds Record 39 on page 229, February 21, 1968, in Deeds Record 25 on page 90, January 26, 1948, in Deeds Record 39 on page 189, September 21, 1948, in Deeds Record 39 on page 236, and February 13, 1968, in Deeds Record 25 on page 83, and (5) filed in the office of the register of deeds of Thayer County on January 31, 1948, in Deeds Record 48 on page 493, September 16, 1948, in Deeds Record 48 on page 581, and December 29, 1967, in Deeds Record 58 on page 531, and the rules and regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration, part 155, adopted December 7, 1962. Any money in the Aeronautics Trust Fund available for investment shall be invested by the state investment officer pursuant to the Nebraska Capital Expansion Act and the Nebraska State Funds Investment Act. The State Treasurer shall transfer any money in the Department of Aeronautics Trust Fund on July 1, 2017, to the Aeronautics Trust Fund.

The division may lease for a period not exceeding twelve years real property held by the division that has been offered for sale for two consecutive years and has not been sold. The lease shall provide for annual rental payments based on fair rental value. The rental payments shall be deposited in the Aeronautics Cash Fund. The division shall cause reappraisals to be made of the land under lease when it deems it necessary due to changes in buildings or improvements, changes in the land, or for other reasons. The division may, after the expiration of any lease, offer such land for sale by public auction as set forth in section 3-155 or may enter into another lease.

Any person who in the ordinary course of his or her business rents an aircraft to another person shall deliver to the renter a written notice stating the nature and extent of insurance coverage provided, if any, for the renter against loss of or damage to the hull of the aircraft or liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the aircraft. The notice shall contain the name of the person giving the notice.

The Executive Board of the Legislative Council pursuant to the authority granted in Laws 2013, LB194, section 9, commissioned an independent study to enable the Legislature to determine whether the state should purchase or otherwise acquire an aircraft for state purposes and what type of aircraft should be acquired, if any. After completion and review of the study, the Legislature authorized the Department of Aeronautics to purchase a new aircraft in 2014. It is the intent of the Legislature to fund the purchase with General Funds and other funds. The Legislature also directed the department, upon taking possession of a new aircraft, to sell the state's 1982 Piper Cheyenne aircraft, with the proceeds retained for use for preventive maintenance funding for the new aircraft.

On and after July 1, 2017, positions of employment in the Department of Aeronautics related to the powers, duties, and functions transferred pursuant to Laws 2017, LB339, are transferred to the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation. For purposes of the transition, employees of the Department of Aeronautics shall be considered employees of the Department of Transportation and shall retain their rights under the state personnel system or pertinent bargaining agreement, and their service shall be deemed continuous. This section does not grant employees any new rights or benefits not otherwise provided by law or bargaining agreement or preclude the division or the director from exercising any of the prerogatives of management set forth in section 81-1311 or as otherwise provided by law. This section is not an amendment to or substitute for the provisions of any existing bargaining agreements.

On and after July 1, 2017, whenever the Department of Aeronautics is referred to or designated by any contract or other document in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation pursuant to Laws 2017, LB339, such reference or designation shall apply to such division. All contracts entered into by the Department of Aeronautics prior to July 1, 2017, in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the division are hereby recognized, with the division succeeding to all rights and obligations under such contracts. Any cash funds, custodial funds, gifts, trusts, grants, and any appropriations of funds from prior fiscal years available to satisfy obligations incurred under such contracts shall be transferred and appropriated to the division for the payments of such obligations. All documents and records transferred, or copies of the same, may be authenticated or certified by the division for all legal purposes.

No suit, action, or other proceeding, judicial or administrative, lawfully commenced prior to July 1, 2017, or which could have been commenced prior to that date, by or against the Department of Aeronautics, or the director or any employee thereof in such director's or employee's official capacity or in relation to the discharge of his or her official duties, shall abate by reason of the transfer of duties and functions from the Department of Aeronautics to the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation.

On and after July 1, 2017, unless otherwise specified, whenever any provision of law refers to the Department of Aeronautics in connection with duties and functions transferred to the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation, such law shall be construed as referring to such division.

On July 1, 2017, all items of property, real and personal, including office furniture and fixtures, books, documents, and records of the Department of Aeronautics pertaining to the duties and functions transferred to the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation pursuant to Laws 2017, LB339, shall become the property of such division.

Any appropriation and salary limit provided in any legislative bill enacted by the One Hundred Fifth Legislature, First Session, to Agency No. 17, Department of Aeronautics, in the following program classifications, shall be null and void, and any such amounts are hereby appropriated to Agency No. 27, Department of Transportation: Program No. 26, Administration and Services; Program No. 301, Public Airports; and Program No. 596, State-Owned Aircraft. Any financial obligations of the Department of Aeronautics that remain unpaid as of June 30, 2017, and that are subsequently certified as valid encumbrances to the accounting division of the Department of Administrative Services pursuant to sections 81-138.01 to 81-138.04, shall be paid by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation from the unexpended balance of appropriations existing in such program classifications on June 30, 2017.

For the purpose of the Revised Airports Act, unless specifically otherwise provided in the act, the definitions of words, terms, and phrases appearing in the State Aeronautics Act are hereby adopted. The following words, terms, and phrases shall in the Revised Airports Act have the meanings given in this section, unless otherwise specifically defined, or unless another intention clearly appears, or the context otherwise requires: (1) Municipality means any county, city, or village of this state or any city airport authority established pursuant to the Cities Airport Authorities Act and (2) airport purposes means and includes airport, restricted landing area, and other air navigation facility purposes.

Any proposed airport, restricted landing area, or other air navigation facility which will be in existence for less than thirty consecutive days shall first be approved by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation before any such airport, landing area, or other facility shall be used or operated. Any municipality or person proposing the use of property for such purpose shall first make application for a temporary permit for the site selected and the general purpose or purposes for which the property will be used, to insure that the property and its use shall conform to minimum standards of safety and shall serve the public interest. Designation of the location and approval of sites for the proposed temporary airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities as provided in section 3-104 may be delegated to the division by the Nebraska Aeronautics Commission. The provisions of this section shall not apply to restricted landing areas designated for personal use pursuant to section 3-136.

Every municipality is hereby authorized, through its governing body, to (1) acquire property, real or personal, for the purpose of establishing, constructing, and enlarging airports and other air navigation facilities, (2) acquire, establish, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip, operate, and regulate such airports and other air navigation facilities and structures and other property incidental to their operation, either within or without the territorial limits of such municipality and within or without this state, (3) make, prior to any such acquisition, investigations, surveys, and plans, (4) construct, install, and maintain airport facilities for the servicing of aircraft and for the comfort and accommodation of air travelers and (5) purchase and sell equipment and supplies as an incident to the operation of its airport properties. It may not, however, acquire or take over any airport or other air navigation facility owned or controlled by any other municipality of the state without the consent of such municipality. It may use for airport purposes any available property that is now or may at any time hereafter be owned or controlled by it. Such air navigation facilities as are established on airports shall be supplementary to and coordinated in design and operation with those established and operated by the federal and state governments.

Property needed by a municipality for an airport or restricted landing area, for the enlargement of either, or for other airport purposes may be acquired by purchase, gift, devise, lease, or other means, if such municipality is able to agree with the owners of the property on the terms of such acquisition, and otherwise by condemnation. Full power to exercise the right of eminent domain for such purposes is hereby granted every municipality both within and without its territorial limits. For all property which is to be acquired by a city of the metropolitan class outside of its zoning jurisdiction, approval must be obtained from the county board of the county where the property is located before the right of eminent domain may be exercised. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724. The title to real property so acquired shall be in fee simple, absolute, and unqualified in any way. The fact that the property needed has been acquired by the owner under power of eminent domain shall not prevent its acquisition by the municipality by the exercise of the right of eminent domain herein conferred. It shall not be precluded from abandoning the condemnation of any such property in any case where possession thereof has not been taken.

Where necessary, in order to provide unobstructed air space for the landing and taking off of aircraft utilizing airports or restricted landing areas acquired or operated under the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502, every municipality is authorized to acquire, in the same manner as is provided for the acquisition of property for airport purposes, easements through or other interests in air spaces over land or water, interests in airport hazards outside the boundaries of the airports or restricted landing areas and such other airport protection privileges as are necessary to insure safe approaches to the landing areas of said airports or restricted landing areas and the safe and efficient operation thereof. It is also hereby authorized to acquire, in the same manner, the right or easement, for a term of years or perpetually, to place or maintain suitable marks for the daytime marking and suitable lights for the nighttime marking of airport hazards, including the right of ingress and egress to or from such airport hazards, for the purpose of maintaining and repairing such lights and marks. This authority shall not be so construed as to limit any right, power or authority to zone property adjacent to airports and restricted landing areas under the provisions of any law of this state.

It shall be unlawful for anyone to build, rebuild, create, or cause to be built, rebuilt, or created any object, or plant, cause to be planted or permit to grow higher any tree or trees or other vegetation, which shall encroach upon any airport protection privileges acquired pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-202 to 3-204. Any such encroachment is declared to be a public nuisance and may be abated in the manner prescribed by law for the abatement of public nuisances, or the municipality in charge of the airport or restricted landing area for which airport protection privileges have been acquired as in sections 3-202 to 3-204 provided may go upon the land of others and remove any such encroachment without being liable for damages in so doing.

(1) The acquisition of any lands for the purpose of establishing airports or other air navigation facilities, (2) the acquisition of airport protection privileges, (3) the acquisition, establishment, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, and operation of airports and other air navigation facilities, and (4) the exercise of any other powers herein granted to municipalities are hereby declared to be public, governmental, and municipal functions exercised for a public purpose and matters of public necessity. Such lands and other property, easements, and privileges acquired and used by such municipalities in the manner and for the purposes enumerated in the Revised Airports Act shall and are hereby declared to be public property.

Any acquisition of property, within or without the limits of any municipality, for airports and other air navigation facilities, or of airport protection privileges, heretofore made by any such municipality in any manner, together with the conveyance and acceptance thereof, is hereby legalized and made valid and effective.

Any property acquired by a municipality pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 shall be exempt from taxation to the same extent as other property used for public purposes. All income received in connection with the operation by a municipality of any airport or other air navigation facility shall also be exempt from taxation.

The cost of investigating, surveying, planning, acquiring, establishing, constructing, enlarging or improving or equipping airports and other air navigation facilities, and the sites therefor, including structures and other property incidental to their operation, in accordance with the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 may be paid for by appropriation of money available therefor, or wholly or partly from the proceeds of bonds of the municipality, as the governing body of the municipality shall determine. The word cost includes awards in condemnation proceedings and rentals where an acquisition is by lease.

Any bonds to be issued by any municipality pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 shall be authorized and issued in the manner and within the limitation, except as herein otherwise provided, prescribed by the laws of this state or the charter of the municipality for the issuance and authorization of bonds thereof for the construction of works of internal improvements.

In all cases where a municipality has heretofore issued any bonds for the purpose of investigating, surveying, planning, acquiring, establishing, constructing, enlarging, equipping, or improving any airport, or other air navigation facility, or site therefor, or to meet the cost of structures of other property incidental to their operation, whether such airport or other air navigation facility was termed, under the law existing at the time of the issuance of such bonds, an airport, a landing field, a landing strip, an aviation field, or a flying field, or has incurred any other indebtedness, or entered into any lease or other contract in connection with the acquisition, establishment, construction, ownership, enlargement, control, leasing, equipment, improvement, maintenance, operation, or regulation of any such airport or other air navigation facility, or site therefor, or structure or other property incidental to its operation, the proceedings heretofore taken in all such cases are hereby in all respects validated and confirmed. Any bonds already issued thereunder are validated and made legal obligations of such municipality and such municipality is hereby authorized and empowered, pursuant to such proceedings, to issue further bonds for such purposes up to the limit fixed in the original authorization thereof, without limitation of the general power herein granted to all municipalities in this state, which bonds when issued shall be legal obligations of such municipality according to their terms.

The governing bodies having power to appropriate money within the municipalities in this state acquiring, establishing, constructing, enlarging, improving, maintaining, equipping or operating airports and other air navigation facilities under the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502, are hereby authorized to appropriate and cause to be raised by taxation or otherwise in such municipalities, sufficient money to carry out the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502.

The revenue obtained from the ownership, control and operation of any such airport or other air navigation facility shall be used, first, to finance the maintenance, improvement and operating expenses thereof and, second, to make payments of interest on and current principal requirements of any outstanding bonds or certificates issued for the acquisition or improvement thereof, and to make payment of interest on any mortgage heretofore made. Revenue in excess of the foregoing requirements may be applied to finance the extension or improvement of the airport or other air navigation facilities.

In addition to the general power conferred in the Revised Airports Act and section 18-1502 and without limitation thereof, a municipality which has established or may hereafter establish airports, restricted landing areas, or other air navigation facilities, or which has acquired or set apart or may hereafter acquire or set apart real property for such purpose or purposes, is hereby authorized:

(1) To vest authority for the construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, operation, and regulation thereof in an officer, a board, or a body of such municipality by ordinance or resolution which shall prescribe the powers and duties of such officer, board, or body. The expense of such construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, operation, and regulation shall be a responsibility of the municipality;

(2) To adopt and amend all needful rules, regulations, and ordinances for the management, government, and use of any properties under its control, whether within or without the territorial limits of the municipality; to appoint airport guards or police, with full police powers; to fix by ordinance or resolution, as may be appropriate, penalties for the violation of the rules, regulations, and ordinances, and enforce the penalties in the same manner in which penalties prescribed by other rules, regulations, and ordinances of the municipality are enforced. For purposes of such management, government, and direction of public use, such part of all highways, roads, streets, avenues, boulevards, and territory as adjoins or lies within five hundred feet of the limits of any airport or restricted landing area acquired or maintained under the Revised Airports Act and section 18-1502 shall be under like control and management of the municipality. It may also adopt and enact rules, regulations, and ordinances designed to safeguard the public upon or beyond the limits of private airports or landing strips within such municipality or its police jurisdiction against the perils and hazards of instrumentalities used in aerial navigation. Rules, regulations, and ordinances shall be published as provided by general law or the charter of the municipality for the publication of similar rules, regulations, and ordinances. They must conform to and be consistent with the laws of this state and the rules and regulations of the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation and shall be kept in conformity, as nearly as may be, with the then current federal legislation governing aeronautics and the regulations duly promulgated thereunder and rules and standards issued from time to time pursuant thereto;

(3) To lease for a term not exceeding ten years such airports, other air navigation facilities, or real property acquired or set apart for airport purposes to private parties, any municipal or state government, the national government, or any department of any such government for operation; to lease or assign space, area, improvements, or equipment on such airports for a term not exceeding ten years to private parties, any municipal or state government, the national government, or any department of any such government for operation or use consistent with the purposes of the Revised Airports Act and section 18-1502; to sell any part of such airports, other air navigation facilities, or real property to any municipal or state government, or to the United States or any department or instrumentality thereof, for aeronautical purposes or purposes incidental thereto, and to confer the privileges or concessions of supplying upon its airports goods, commodities, things, services, and facilities, so long as, in each case, the public is not thereby deprived of its rightful, equal, and uniform use thereof;

(4) To sell or lease any real or personal property, acquired for airport purposes and belonging to the municipality, which, in the judgment of its governing body, may not be required for aeronautic purposes, in accordance with the laws of this state, or the provisions of the charter of the municipality, governing the sale or leasing of similar municipally owned property. The proceeds of the sale of any property the purchase price of which was obtained by the sale of bonds shall be deposited in the sinking fund from which funds have been authorized to be taken to finance such bonds. In the event all the proceeds of such sale are not needed to pay the principal of the bonds remaining unpaid, the remainder shall be paid into the general fund of the municipality. The proceeds of sales of property the purchase price of which was paid from appropriations shall be paid into the general fund of the municipality;

(5) To determine the charges or rental for the use of any properties under its control and the charges for any services or accommodations, and the terms and conditions under which such properties may be used, so long as in all cases the public shall not be deprived of its rightful, equal, and uniform use of such property. Charges shall be reasonable and uniform for the same class of service and established with due regard to the property and improvements used and the expense of operation to the municipality. To enforce the payment of charges, the municipality shall have a lien and may enforce it, substantially as is provided by law for liens and the enforcement thereof, for repairs to or the improvement, storage, or care of any personal property; and

(6) To exercise all powers necessarily incidental to the exercise of the general and special powers granted in the Revised Airports Act.

A municipality is authorized to accept, receive, and receipt for federal money, and other money, either public or private, for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, or operation of airports and other air navigation facilities, and sites therefor, and to comply with the provisions of the laws of the United States and any rules and regulations made thereunder for the expenditure of federal money upon such airports and other air navigation facilities.

All contracts for the acquisition, construction, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, equipment, or operation of airports or other air navigation facilities, made by the municipality itself or through the agency of the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation, shall be made pursuant to the laws of this state governing the making of like contracts, except that where such acquisition, construction, improvement, enlargement, maintenance, equipment, or operation is financed wholly or partly with federal money, the municipality or the division as its agent may let contracts in the manner prescribed by the federal authorities, acting under the laws of the United States, and any rules or regulations made thereunder.

The power herein granted to a municipality to establish and maintain airports shall include the power to establish and maintain such airports in, over and upon any public waters of this state within the limits or jurisdiction of or bordering on the municipality, any submerged land under such public waters, and any artificial or reclaimed land which before the artificial making or reclamation thereof constituted a portion of the submerged land under such public waters, and as well the power to construct and maintain terminal buildings, landing floats, causeways, roadways and bridges for approaches to or connecting with the airport, and landing floats and breakwaters for the protection of any such airport.

All the other powers herein granted municipalities with reference to airports on land are granted to them with reference to such airports in, over and upon public waters, submerged land under public waters, and artificial or reclaimed land.

All powers, rights and authority granted to any municipality in sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 may be exercised and enjoyed by two or more municipalities, or by this state and one or more municipalities therein, acting jointly, either within or without the territorial limits of either or any of said municipalities and within or without this state, or by this state or any municipality therein, acting jointly with any other state or municipality therein, either within or without this state, if the laws of such other state permit such joint action.

For purposes of sections 3-221 to 3-232 only, unless another intention clearly appears or the context otherwise requires, this state shall be included in the term municipality, and all the powers conferred upon municipalities in the Revised Airports Act and section 18-1502, if not otherwise conferred by law, are hereby conferred upon this state when acting jointly with any municipality or municipalities. Where reference is made to the governing body of a municipality, that term shall mean, as to the state, the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation.

Any two or more municipalities may enter into agreements with each other, duly authorized by ordinance or resolution, as may be appropriate, for joint action pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-221 to 3-232. Concurrent action by the governing bodies of the municipalities involved shall constitute joint action.

Each such agreement shall (1) specify its terms, (2) the proportionate interest which each municipality shall have in the property, facilities and privileges involved, (3) the proportion of the preliminary costs, costs of acquisition, establishment, construction, enlargement, improvement and equipment, and of the expenses of maintenance, operation and regulation to be borne by each, (4) make such other provisions as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of sections 3-221 to 3-232, (5) provide for amendments thereof, (6) the conditions and methods of termination and (7) the disposition of all or any part of the property, facilities and privileges jointly owned if said property, facilities and privileges, or any part thereof, shall cease to be used for the purposes herein provided or if the agreement shall be terminated, and for the distribution of the proceeds received upon any such disposition, and of any funds or other property jointly owned and undisposed of, and the assumption or payment of any indebtedness arising from the joint venture which remains unpaid, upon any such disposition or upon a termination of the agreement.

Municipalities acting jointly as herein authorized shall create a board from the inhabitants of such municipalities for the purpose of acquiring property for, establishing, constructing, enlarging, improving, maintaining, equipping, operating and regulating the airports and other air navigation facilities and airport protection privileges to be jointly acquired, controlled, and operated. Such board shall consist of members to be appointed by the governing body of each municipality involved, the number to be appointed by each to be provided for by the agreement for the joint venture. Each member shall serve for such time and upon such terms as to compensation, if any, as may be provided for in the agreement.

Each such board shall organize, select officers for terms to be fixed by the agreement, and adopt and from time to time amend rules of procedure.

Such board may exercise, on behalf of the municipalities acting jointly by which it is appointed, all the powers of each of such municipalities granted by the Revised Airports Act, except as otherwise provided in the act. Real property, airports, restricted landing areas, air protection privileges, or personal property costing in excess of a sum to be fixed by the joint agreement, may be acquired, and condemnation proceedings may be instituted, only by authority of the governing bodies of each of the municipalities involved. The total amount of expenditures to be made by the board for any purpose in any calendar year shall be determined by the municipalities involved by the approval by each on or before the preceding May 1, of a budget for the ensuing fiscal year. Rules and regulations provided for by subdivision (2) of section 3-215 shall become effective only upon approval of each of the appointing governing bodies and the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation. No real property and no airport, other air navigation facility, or air protection privilege, owned jointly, shall be disposed of by the board, by sale, lease, or otherwise, except by authority of all the appointing governing bodies, but the board may lease space, area, or improvements and grant concessions on airports for aeronautical purposes or purposes incidental thereto, subject to subdivision (3) of section 3-215. This section shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12.

Each municipality, acting jointly with another, pursuant to the Revised Airports Act, is authorized and empowered to enact, concurrently with the other municipalities involved, such ordinances as are provided for by subdivision (2) of section 3-215, and to fix by such ordinances penalties for the violation thereof. Such ordinances, when so concurrently adopted, shall have the same force and effect within the municipalities and on any property jointly controlled by them or adjacent thereto, whether within or without the territorial limits of either or any of them, as ordinances of each municipality involved, and may be enforced in any one of the municipalities in like manner as are its individual ordinances. The consent of the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation to any such ordinance, where the state is a party to the joint venture, shall be equivalent to the enactment of the ordinance by a municipality. The publication provided for in subdivision (2) of section 3-215 shall be made in each municipality involved in the manner provided by law or charter for publication of its individual ordinances.

Condemnation proceedings shall be instituted, in the names of the municipalities jointly, and the property acquired shall be held by the municipalities as tenants in common. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724.

For the purpose of providing funds for necessary expenditures in carrying out the provisions of sections 3-221 to 3-232, a joint fund shall be created and maintained, into which each of the municipalities involved shall deposit its proportionate share as provided by the joint agreement. Such funds are to be provided by bond issues, tax levies and appropriations made by each municipality in the same manner as though it were acting separately under the authority of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502. The revenue obtained from the ownership, control and operation of the airports and other air navigation facilities jointly controlled shall be paid into such fund, to be expended as provided in section 3-214. Revenue in excess of the cost of maintenance and operating expenses of the joint properties shall be divided as may be provided in the original agreement for the joint venture.

All disbursements from such fund shall be made by order of the board in accordance with such rules and regulations and for such purposes as the appointing governing bodies, acting jointly, shall prescribe.

Specific performance of the provisions of any joint agreement entered into as provided for in sections 3-221 to 3-231 may be enforced as against any party thereto by the other party or parties thereto.

Whenever the governing body of any municipality determines that the public interest and the interests of the municipality will be served by assisting any other municipality in exercising the powers and authority granted by sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502, such first-mentioned municipality is expressly authorized and empowered to furnish such assistance by gift, or lease with or without rental, of real property, by the donation, lease with or without rental, or loan, of personal property, and by the appropriation of money, which may be provided for by taxation or the issuance of bonds in the same manner as funds might be provided for the same purposes if the municipality were exercising the powers heretofore granted in its own behalf.

The purposes of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 are specifically declared to be county purposes as well as generally public, governmental and municipal.

The powers herein granted to all municipalities are specifically declared to be granted to counties in this state, any other statute to the contrary notwithstanding.

Every airport and other air navigation facility controlled and operated by any municipality, or jointly controlled and operated pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502, shall, subject to federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, be under the exclusive jurisdiction and control of the municipality or municipalities controlling and operating it and no other municipality in which such airport or air navigation facility shall have any police jurisdiction of the same or any authority to charge or exact any license fees or occupation taxes for the operations thereon. Such municipality or municipalities shall have concurrent jurisdiction over the adjacent territory described in subdivision (2) of section 3-215.

Sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 shall be so interpreted and construed as to make uniform so far as possible the laws and regulations of this state and other states and of the government of the United States having to do with the subject of aeronautics.

Sections 3-201 to 3-238 and 18-1502 may be cited as the Revised Airports Act.

(1) No city airport authority, county airport authority, joint airport authority, or municipality in this state, whether acting alone or jointly with another city airport authority, county airport authority, joint airport authority, or municipality, or with the state, shall submit to any federal agency or department any project application under the provisions of any act of Congress which provides airport planning or airport construction and development funds for the expansion and improvement of the airport system, unless the project and the project application have been first approved by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, no city airport authority, county airport authority, joint airport authority, or municipality shall directly accept, receive, receipt for, or disburse any funds granted by the United States under any act of Congress pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, but it shall designate the division as its agent and in its behalf to accept, receive, receipt for, and disburse such funds. Such authorities and municipalities shall enter into an agreement with the division prescribing the terms and conditions of such agency in accordance with federal laws, rules, and regulations, and applicable laws of this state. Such money as is paid by the United States shall be retained by the state or paid over to the city airport authority, county airport authority, joint airport authority, or municipality under such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the United States in making such grant.

(3) Any city airport authority, county airport authority, joint airport authority, or municipality operating a primary airport may directly accept, receive, receipt for, and disburse any funds granted by the United States for the primary airport under the provisions of any act of Congress pursuant to subsection (1) of this section by informing the division, in writing, of its intent to do so. If an airport loses its status as a primary airport before signing a grant agreement with the United States, the airport shall be subject to subsection (2) of this section.

(4) For purposes of this section:

(a) City airport authority means an authority established pursuant to the Cities Airport Authorities Act;

(b) County airport authority means an authority established under sections 3-601 to 3-622;

(c) Joint airport authority means an authority established under the Joint Airport Authorities Act;

(d) Municipality means any county, city, or village of this state and any other political subdivision, public corporation, authority, or district in this state which is or may be authorized by law to acquire, establish, construct, maintain, improve, and operate airports and other air navigation facilities; and

(e) Primary airport means any airport which:

(i) Receives scheduled passenger air service;

(ii) Has at least ten thousand revenue passenger enplanements or boardings, as officially recorded by the United States, in at least one of the most recent five calendar years for which official numbers are available; and

(iii) Does not receive any funds apportioned by the United States for nonprimary airports.

As used in sections 3-240 to 3-244, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Airport means any area of land or water which is used or intended for use, for the landing and taking off of aircraft, and any appurtenant areas which are used, or intended for use, for airport buildings or other airport facilities or rights-of-way, together with all airport buildings and facilities located thereon.

(2) Air navigation facility means any facility, other than one owned and operated by the United States, used in, available for use in, or designed for use in, aid of air navigation, including any structures, mechanisms, lights, beacons, markers, communicating systems, or other instrumentalities, or devices used or useful as an aid, or constituting an advantage or convenience, to the safe taking off, navigation, and landing of aircraft, or the safe and efficient operation or maintenance of an airport, and any combination of any or all of such facilities.

(3) Governmental agency means any municipality, city, village, county, public corporation, or other public agency.

This state or any governmental agency of this state having any powers with respect to planning, establishing, acquiring, developing, constructing, enlarging, improving, maintaining, equipping, operating, regulating, or protecting airports or air navigation facilities within this state, may exercise those powers within any state or jurisdiction adjoining this state, subject to the laws of that state or jurisdiction.

Any state adjoining this state or any governmental agency thereof may plan, establish, acquire, develop, construct, enlarge, improve, maintain, equip, operate, regulate, and protect airports and air navigation facilities within this state, subject to the laws of this state applicable to airports and air navigation facilities. The adjoining state or governmental agency shall have the power of eminent domain in this state, if the adjoining state authorizes the exercise of that power therein by this state or any governmental agency thereof having any of the powers mentioned in section 3-241. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724.

The powers granted by sections 3-241 and 3-242 may be exercised jointly by two or more states or governmental agencies, including this state and its governmental agencies, in such combination as may be agreed upon by them.

Sections 3-240 to 3-244 may be cited as the Extraterritorial Airports Act.

For purposes of the Airport Zoning Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1)(a) Airport means an area of land or water that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft and includes any related buildings and facilities;

(b) Airport includes only public-use airports with state or federally approved airport layout plans and military airports with military service-approved military layout plans;

(2) Airport hazard means any structure or tree or use of land that penetrates any approach, operation, transition, or turning zone;

(3) Airport hazard area means any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided in the act, but such area shall not extend in any direction a distance in excess of the limits provided for approach, operation, transition, and turning zones;

(4) Airport layout plan means a scaled drawing of existing and proposed land, buildings, and facilities necessary for the operation and development of an airport prepared in accordance with state rules and regulations and federal regulations and guidelines;

(5) Approach zone means a zone that extends from the end of each operation zone and is centered along the extended runway centerlines. Approach zone dimensions are as follows:

(a) For an existing or proposed instrument runway:

(i) An approach zone extends ten miles from the operation zone, measured along the extended runway centerline. The approach zone is one thousand feet wide at the end of the zone nearest the runway and expands uniformly to sixteen thousand eight hundred forty feet wide at the farthest end of the zone; and

(ii) The height limit of an approach zone begins at the elevation of the runway end for which it is the approach and rises one foot vertically for every fifty feet horizontally, except that the height limit shall not exceed one hundred fifty feet above the nearest existing or proposed runway end elevation within three miles of the end of the operation zone at that runway end. At three miles from such operation zone, the height limit resumes sloping one foot vertically for every fifty feet horizontally and continues to the ten-mile limit; and

(b) For an existing or proposed visual runway:

(i) An approach zone extends from the operation zone to the limits of the turning zone, measured along the extended runway centerline. The approach zone is five hundred feet wide at the end of the zone nearest the runway and expands uniformly so that at a point on the extended runway centerline three miles from the operation zone, the approach zone is three thousand seven hundred feet wide; and

(ii) The height limit of an approach zone begins at the elevation of the runway end for which it is the approach and rises one foot vertically for every forty feet horizontally, except that the height limit shall not exceed one hundred fifty feet above the nearest existing or proposed runway end elevation within three miles of the end of the operation zone at that runway end;

(6) Electric facility means an overhead electrical line, including poles or other supporting structures, owned or operated by an electric supplier as defined in section 70-1001.01, for the transmission or distribution of electrical power to the electric supplier's customers;

(7) Existing runway means an instrument runway or a visual runway that is paved or made of turf that has been constructed or is under construction;

(8) Instrument runway means an existing runway with precision or nonprecision instrument approaches as developed and published by the Federal Aviation Administration or an existing or proposed runway with future precision or nonprecision instrument approaches reflected on the airport layout plan. After September 6, 2013, an airport shall not designate an existing or proposed runway as an instrument runway if the runway was not previously designated as such without the approval of the airport's governing body after a public hearing on such designation;

(9) Operation zone means a zone that is longitudinally centered on each existing or proposed runway. Operation zone dimensions are as follows:

(a) For existing and proposed paved runways, the operation zone extends two hundred feet beyond the ends of each runway. For existing and proposed turf runways, the operation zone begins and ends at the same points as the runway begins and ends;

(b) For existing and proposed instrument runways, the operation zone is one thousand feet wide, with five hundred feet on either side of the runway centerline. For all other existing and proposed runways, the operation zone is five hundred feet wide, with two hundred fifty feet on either side of the runway centerline; and

(c) The height limit of the operation zone is the same as the height of the runway centerline elevation on an existing or proposed runway or the surface of the ground, whichever is higher;

(10) Person means any individual, firm, partnership, limited liability company, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or body politic and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or other similar representative thereof;

(11) Political subdivision means any municipality, city, village, or county;

(12) Proposed runway means an instrument runway or a visual runway that has not been constructed and is not under construction but that is depicted on the airport layout plan that has been conditionally or unconditionally approved by, or has been submitted for approval to, the Federal Aviation Administration;

(13) Runway means a defined area at an airport that is prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length;

(14) Structure means any object constructed or installed by man, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, smokestacks, and overhead transmission or distribution lines;

(15) Transition zone means a zone that extends outward at a right angle to the runway centerline and upward at a rate of one foot vertically for every seven feet horizontally. The height limit of a transition zone begins at the height limit of the adjacent approach zone or operation zone and ends at a height of one hundred fifty feet above the highest elevation on the existing or proposed runway;

(16) Tree means any object of natural growth;

(17) Turning zone's outer limit means the area located at a distance of three miles as a radius from the corners of the operation zone of each runway and connecting adjacent arcs with tangent lines, excluding any area within the approach zone, operation zone, or transition zone. The height limit of the turning zone is one hundred fifty feet above the highest elevation on the existing or proposed runway; and

(18) Visual runway means a runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures, with no straight-in instrument approach procedure and no instrument designation indicated on an airport layout plan approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, a military service-approved military layout plan, or any planning documents submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration by a competent authority.

(1) It is hereby found that an airport hazard endangers the lives and property of the users of an airport and occupants of land in its vicinity and also, if of the obstruction type, in effect reduces the size of the area available for the landing, takeoff, and maneuvering of aircraft, thus tending to destroy or impair the utility of the airport and the public investment therein.

(2) Accordingly, it is hereby declared that (a) the creation or establishment of an airport hazard is a public nuisance and an injury to the community served by the airport in question, (b) it is necessary in the interest of the public health, public safety, and general welfare that the creation or establishment of airport hazards be prevented, and (c) the prevention of airport hazards should be accomplished, to the extent legally possible, by the exercise of the police power, without compensation.

(3) It is further declared that both the prevention of the creation or establishment of airport hazards and the elimination, removal, alteration, mitigation, or marking and lighting of existing airport hazards are public purposes for which political subdivisions may raise and expend public funds and acquire land or property interests therein.

In order to prevent the creation or establishment of airport hazards, every political subdivision that has an airport hazard area within the area of its zoning jurisdiction shall adopt, administer, and enforce, under the police power and in the manner and upon the conditions prescribed in the Airport Zoning Act, airport zoning regulations for such airport hazard area. The regulations shall meet the minimum regulations as prescribed by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation and may divide such area into zones and, within such zones, specify the land uses permitted and regulate and restrict the height to which structures may be erected and trees allowed to grow, except that a political subdivision or a joint airport zoning board provided for in section 3-304 may include modifications or exceptions to the airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act that the political subdivision or joint airport zoning board deems appropriate. Such modifications and exceptions shall not be considered a conflict for purposes of section 3-306. The authority of a political subdivision to adopt airport zoning regulations shall not be conditional upon prior adoption of a comprehensive development plan or a comprehensive zoning ordinance.

If an airport is owned or controlled by a political subdivision and any airport hazard area appertaining to such airport is located outside of the political subdivision's zoning jurisdiction, the political subdivision owning or controlling the airport and the political subdivision or political subdivisions within whose zoning jurisdiction the airport hazard area or areas are located may, by ordinance or resolution duly adopted, create a joint airport zoning board, which board shall have the same power to adopt, by resolution approved by a majority of the board, airport zoning regulations applicable to an airport hazard area as that vested by section 3-303 in any political subdivision within whose zoning jurisdiction such area is located. Any airport zoning regulation, or any amendment thereto, adopted by a joint airport zoning board shall be filed with the official or administrative agency responsible for the enforcement of zoning regulations in each of the political subdivisions participating in the creation of the joint airport zoning board and shall be enforced as provided in section 3-319.

If a joint airport zoning board is created pursuant to section 3-304, such board shall have two representatives appointed by each political subdivision participating in its creation as members thereof and also a chairperson elected by a majority of the members so appointed. The term of each member shall be four years.

In the event that a political subdivision has adopted or hereafter adopts a comprehensive zoning ordinance regulating, among other things, the height of buildings, any airport zoning regulations applicable to the same area or portion thereof may be incorporated in and made a part of such comprehensive zoning regulations and be administered and enforced in connection therewith.

In the event of any conflict between any airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act and any other regulations applicable to the same area, whether the conflict be with respect to the height of structures or trees, the use of land, or any other matter, and whether such other regulations were adopted by the political subdivision which adopted the airport zoning regulations or by some other political subdivision, the more stringent limitation or requirement shall govern and prevail.

No airport zoning regulations shall be adopted, amended, or changed under the Airport Zoning Act except by the action of the legislative body of the political subdivision in question, or the joint airport zoning board provided for in section 3-304, after a public hearing in relation thereto, at which parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard. At least ten days' notice of the hearing shall be published in an official paper, or a paper of general circulation, in the political subdivision or subdivisions in which the airport hazard area is located.

Prior to the initial zoning of any airport hazard area under the Airport Zoning Act, the political subdivision or joint airport zoning board which is to adopt the regulations shall appoint a commission, to be known as the airport zoning commission, to recommend the boundaries of the various zones to be established and the regulations to be adopted therefor. Such commission shall make a preliminary report and hold public hearings thereon before submitting its final report. The legislative body of the political subdivision or the joint airport zoning board shall not hold its public hearings or take other action until it has received the final report of such commission. If a city or county planning commission or a joint or interjurisdictional planning commission already exists, it may be appointed as the airport zoning commission.

All airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act shall be reasonable and not impose any requirement or restriction which is not reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of the act. In determining what regulations it may adopt, each political subdivision and joint airport zoning board shall consider, among other things, the character of the flying operations expected to be conducted at the airport, the nature of the terrain within the airport hazard area, the character of the neighborhood, and the uses to which the property to be zoned is put and adaptable. If an airport layout plan has been submitted for approval to the Federal Aviation Administration with a proposed instrument runway depicted thereon and such airport layout plan is conditionally or unconditionally approved without such proposed instrument runway, the political subdivision shall adopt or revise, as necessary, airport zoning regulations to protect any approach zone for a visual runway only.

(1) No airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act shall require the removal, lowering, or other change or alteration of any existing structure or tree not conforming to the regulations when adopted or amended or otherwise interfere with the continuance of any nonconforming use, except as provided in section 3-311.

(2) Any structure that has not yet been constructed but that has received, prior to August 1, 2013, zoning approval from the political subdivision exercising zoning jurisdiction over such structure may be constructed and shall thereafter be considered an existing structure for purposes of this section.

(1) Airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act may require that a permit be obtained before any new structure or use may be constructed or established and before any existing use or structure may be substantially changed, altered, or repaired.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section for certain electric facilities, all airport zoning regulations adopted under the act shall provide that before any nonconforming structure or tree may be replaced, substantially altered or repaired, rebuilt, allowed to grow higher, or replanted, a permit authorizing any replacement, alteration, repair, reconstruction, growth, or replanting must be secured from the administrative agency authorized to administer and enforce the regulations. A permit shall be granted under this subsection if the applicant shows that the replacement, alteration, repair, reconstruction, growth, or replanting of the nonconforming structure, tree, or nonconforming use would not result in an increase in height or a greater hazard to air navigation than the condition that existed when the applicable regulation was adopted. For nonconforming structures other than electric facilities, no permit under this subsection shall be required for repairs necessitated by fire, explosion, act of God, or the common enemy or for repairs which do not involve expenditures exceeding more than sixty percent of the fair market value of the nonconforming structure, so long as the height of the nonconforming structure is not increased over its preexisting height.

(3) An electric supplier owning or operating an electric facility made nonconforming by the adoption of airport zoning regulations under the Airport Zoning Act may, without a permit or other approval by the political subdivision adopting such regulations, repair, reconstruct, or replace such electric facility if the height of such electric facility is not increased over its preexisting height. Any construction, repair, reconstruction, or replacement of an electric facility, the height of which will exceed the preexisting height of such electric facility, shall require a permit from the political subdivision adopting such regulations. The permit shall be granted only upon a showing that the excess height of the electric facility will not establish or create an airport hazard or become a greater hazard to air navigation than the electric facility that previously existed.

Any person desiring to erect any structure, increase the height of any structure, permit the growth of any tree, or otherwise use his or her property in a manner inconsistent with the airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act may apply to the board of adjustment for a variance from the zoning regulations in question. Such variances shall be allowed only if the board of adjustment makes the same findings for the granting of variances generally as set forth in subsection (2) of section 19-910, except that if the applicant demonstrates that the proposed structure or alteration of a structure does not require any modification or revision to any approach or approach procedure as approved or written by the Federal Aviation Administration on either an existing or proposed runway and the applicant provides signed documentation from the Federal Aviation Administration that the proposed structure or alteration of the structure will not require any modification or revision of any airport minimums, such documentation may constitute evidence of undue hardship and the board of adjustment may grant the requested variance without such findings. Any variance may be allowed subject to any reasonable conditions that the board of adjustment may deem necessary to effectuate the purposes of the act.

In granting any permit under or variance from any airport zoning regulation adopted under the Airport Zoning Act, the administrative agency or board of adjustment may, if it deems it advisable to effectuate the purposes of the act and reasonable in the circumstances, so condition such permit or variance as to require the owner of the structure or tree in question to permit the political subdivision, at its own expense, to install, operate, and maintain thereon such markers and lights as may be necessary to indicate to flyers the presence of an airport hazard.

All airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act shall provide for the administration and enforcement of such regulations by an administrative agency which may be an agency created by such regulations or any official, board, or other existing agency of the political subdivision adopting the regulations. In the case of airport zoning regulations adopted by a joint airport zoning board, each of the political subdivisions which participated in the creation of the joint airport zoning board shall create or designate an official or an administrative agency to administer and enforce the airport zoning regulations within its respective zoning jurisdiction. The duties of any official or administrative agency designated pursuant to the act shall include that of reviewing and acting upon all applications for permits under the airport zoning regulations, but such agency shall not have or exercise any of the powers herein delegated to the board of adjustment. In no event shall such official or administrative agency be or include any member of the board of adjustment.

(1) Any person aggrieved or taxpayer affected by any decision of an administrative agency made in its administration of airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act, or any governing body of a political subdivision which is of the opinion that a decision of such an administrative agency is an improper application of airport zoning regulations of concern to such governing body, may appeal to the board of adjustment authorized to hear and decide appeals from the decisions of such administrative agency.

(2) Any appeal taken under this section shall be taken within a reasonable amount of time, as provided by the rules of the board, by filing with the agency from which the appeal is taken and with the board, a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. The agency from which the appeal is taken shall forthwith transmit to the board all the papers constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.

(3) An appeal shall stay any proceeding in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless the agency from which the appeal is taken certifies to the board, after the notice of appeal has been filed with it, that by reason of the facts stated in the certificate a stay would, in its opinion, cause imminent peril to life or property. In such cases the proceedings shall not be stayed except by an order of the board after notice to the agency from which the appeal is taken and upon due cause shown.

(4) The board shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of appeals, give public notice thereof, give due notice to the parties in interest, and decide the appeal within sixty days after the date of filing such appeal. Any party may appear in person or by an agent or attorney at the hearing.

(1) All airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act shall provide for a board of adjustment to have and exercise the following powers:

(a) To hear and decide appeals from any order, requirement, decision, or determination made by the administrative agency in the enforcement of the airport zoning regulations;

(b) To hear and decide any special exceptions to the terms of the airport zoning regulations upon which such board may be required to pass under such regulations; and

(c) To hear and decide petitions for variances from the strict application of airport zoning regulations.

(2) A board of adjustment shall consist of five regular members, each to be appointed for a term of three years by the political subdivision or joint airport zoning board adopting the regulations. Any member thereof may be removed by the appointing authority for cause, upon written charges and after a public hearing. The concurring vote of four members of the board shall be necessary to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of the administrative agency or to decide in favor of the applicant on any matter upon which the board is required to pass under the airport zoning regulations or to effect any variation in such regulations.

(3) The board of adjustment may, consistent with the Airport Zoning Act, reverse or affirm wholly or partly or modify the order, requirement, decision, or determination appealed from and may make such order, requirement, decision, or determination as it deems right and proper under the circumstances.

(4) A board of adjustment, board of zoning appeals, or similar zoning appeals board that exists on September 6, 2013, may be designated as and shall exercise the power of the board of adjustment for airport zoning regulations as required by this section.

The board shall adopt rules in accordance with the provisions of the ordinance or resolution by which it was created. Meetings of the board shall be held at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the board may determine. The chairman, or in his absence the acting chairman, may administer oaths and compel the attendance of witnesses. All hearings of the board shall be public. The board shall keep minutes of its proceedings, showing the vote of each member upon each question or, if absent or failing to vote, indicating such fact. It shall also keep records of its examinations and other official actions. Such minutes and records shall immediately be filed in the office of the board and be a public record.

Any (1) person aggrieved or taxpayer affected by any decision of a board of adjustment, (2) governing body of a political subdivision, or (3) joint airport zoning board, which is of the opinion that a decision of a board of adjustment is arbitrary or capricious, illegal, or unsupported by evidence, may obtain judicial review of such decision by filing a petition in error in the district court of the county in which the structure or tree that is the subject of the decision is located. The filing of and proceeding on the petition in error shall be in accordance with sections 25-1901 to 25-1937.

Costs shall not be allowed against the board of adjustment unless it appears to the court that it acted with gross negligence, in bad faith or with malice in making the decision appealed from.

In any case in which airport zoning regulations adopted under the Airport Zoning Act, although generally reasonable, are held by a court to interfere with the use or enjoyment of a particular structure or parcel of land to such an extent or to be so onerous in their application to such a structure or parcel of land as to constitute a taking or deprivation of that property in violation of the Constitution of Nebraska or the Constitution of the United States, such holding shall not affect the application of such regulations to other structures and parcels of land.

Each violation of the Airport Zoning Act or of any regulations, orders, or rulings promulgated or made pursuant to the act shall constitute a Class IV misdemeanor. Each day a violation continues to exist shall constitute a separate offense. In addition, the political subdivision or agency adopting zoning regulations under the act may institute, in any court of competent jurisdiction, an action to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate any violation of (1) the act, (2) airport zoning regulations adopted under the act, or (3) any order or ruling made in connection with the administration or enforcement of the act or such regulations. The court in such proceedings shall adjudge to the plaintiff such relief by way of injunction, which may be mandatory or otherwise, as may be proper under all the facts and circumstances of the case in order to fully effectuate the purposes of the act and of the regulations adopted and orders and rulings made pursuant thereto.

In any case in which (1) it is desired to remove, lower, or otherwise terminate a nonconforming structure or use, (2) the approach protection necessary cannot, because of constitutional limitations, be provided by airport zoning regulations under the Airport Zoning Act, or (3) it appears advisable that the necessary approach protection be provided by acquisition of property rights rather than by airport zoning regulations, the political subdivision within which the property or nonconforming use is located or the political subdivision owning or operating the airport or served by it may acquire by purchase, grant, or condemnation, such air right, aviation easement, or other estate or interest in the property or nonconforming structure or use in question as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of the act. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724.

The Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation may aid and assist municipalities and other political subdivisions of the state in planning, developing, and carrying out programs for airport zoning in order to secure uniformity therein as far as possible.

Sections 3-301 to 3-333 shall be known and may be cited as the Airport Zoning Act.

There is hereby recognized, declared, and found (1) to exist, in behalf of the citizens of the United States, a public right of freedom of transit in air commerce through the air space of the State of Nebraska, (2) that any obstruction to air navigation (a) interferes with the public right of freedom of transit in air commerce, (b) endangers the lives and property of those using the air space for travel and transportation by air, and (c) endangers the lives and property of the occupants of land in the State of Nebraska, and (3) that the public health, safety, and welfare require that the erection and maintenance of obstructions to air navigation be regulated and controlled.

As used in sections 3-401 to 3-409, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Meteorological evaluation tower means an anchored structure, including all guy wires and accessory facilities, on which one or more meteorological instruments are mounted for the purpose of meteorological data collection;

(2) Obstruction means any structure which obstructs the air space required for the flight of aircraft and in the landing and taking off of aircraft at any airport or restricted landing area;

(3) Person means any public utility, public district, or other governmental division or subdivision or any person, corporation, partnership, or limited liability company;

(4) Structure means any manmade object which is built, constructed, projected, or erected upon, from, and above the surface of the earth, including, but not limited to, towers, antennas, buildings, wires, cables, and chimneys; and

(5) Terrain flight training area means an area established by the Nebraska National Guard within which military and related flight training is conducted using rotary-wing aircraft and which existed as of July 19, 2018.

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation, without having first applied for and obtained a permit in writing from the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation, to build, erect, or maintain any structure within the State of Nebraska, the height of which exceeds one hundred fifty feet above the surface of the ground at point of installation.

(1) The application for the permit required by section 3-403 shall be made in writing on forms prescribed by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation and shall contain or be accompanied by details as to the location, construction, height, and dimensions of the proposed structure, the nature of its intended use, and such other information as the Director of Aeronautics may require. If the proposed structure is proposed to be built inside the boundaries of or within one thousand meters of the boundaries of any terrain flight training area, the application for a permit shall be accompanied by a written mitigation agreement between the applicant and the Nebraska National Guard.

(2) Upon the filing of an application, the director shall make an investigation and an aeronautical study of such proposed construction and its effect, if any, upon air navigation, and the health, welfare, and safety of the public. In making such investigation and aeronautical study and making his or her determination under this section, the director shall consider (a) the character of flying operations expected to be conducted in the area concerned, (b) the nature of the terrain, (c) the character of the neighborhood, (d) the uses to which the property concerned is devoted or adaptable, (e) the proximity to existing airports, airways, control areas, and control zones, (f) the height of existing adjacent structures, and (g) all the facts and circumstances existing at the time of application.

(3) If the director, upon such investigation, determines that such proposed structure will not constitute a hazard to air navigation and will not interfere unduly with the public right of freedom of transit in commerce through the air space affected thereby, the director shall issue to the applicant a permit, required by section 3-403, authorizing the erection and construction of such structure, subject to such conditions as to marking and lighting as the division may prescribe by its rules and regulations, authorized by section 3-407. The director shall impose only such restrictions or requirements as may be reasonably necessary to effectuate sections 3-401 to 3-409. If the director does not so determine, the director shall deny the application.

(4) On or before August 1, 2018, the Nebraska National Guard shall provide the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation a description of the boundaries of the terrain flight training areas by metes and bounds or an official map that shows the boundaries of the terrain flight training areas. The description or map shall be used by the division in its management of the airspace of the State of Nebraska pursuant to sections 3-401 to 3-409.

Any person aggrieved by any action of the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation in granting or denying a permit under the terms of sections 3-401 to 3-409 may appeal the action, and the appeal shall be in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

The provisions of sections 3-403 to 3-405 shall not apply to structures hereafter erected under the authority of a license or permit issued by a federal agency or other state agency now having specific statutory jurisdiction over the air space, including authority to prohibit or regulate the height of structures for the promotion of safety in aviation, nor to existing structures. Nothing in sections 3-401 to 3-409 shall be construed to limit or abridge any right, power, or authority to zone property under the provisions of any other law of this state or of the federal government except, that in the event of any conflict between the regulations for height limits of structures, lighting, and marking adopted under the provisions of sections 3-401 to 3-409, and any other regulations applicable to the same area, the more stringent limitation or requirement shall govern and prevail.

All structures outside the corporate limits of cities and villages, exceeding a height of two hundred feet above the surface of the ground, and all structures within the corporate limits of cities and villages exceeding a height of five hundred feet shall be marked and lighted in accordance with rules and regulations adopted and promulgated by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation. The division may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the marking and lighting of such structures in a manner calculated to prevent collisions with such structures by aircraft. It shall be the duty of the persons, firms, and corporations owning, maintaining, or using such structures to provide and maintain such marking and lighting.

(1) A meteorological evaluation tower, the height of which is at least fifty feet above the surface of the ground at point of installation, shall be marked according to subsection (2) of this section. This section applies to a meteorological evaluation tower that is located outside the corporate limits of a city or village.

(2) A meteorological evaluation tower described in subsection (1) of this section shall: (a) Be painted in seven equal-width and alternating bands of aviation orange and white beginning with orange at the top of the tower and ending with orange at the base; (b) have two or more spherical marker balls at least twenty-one inches in diameter that are aviation orange in color and attached to each outer guy wire connected to the tower with the top ball no further than twenty feet from the top wire connection and the remaining ball or balls at or below the midpoint of the tower on the outer guy wires; and (c) have yellow safety sleeves installed on each outer guy wire extending at least fourteen feet above the anchor point of the guy wire.

(3) The owner of a meteorological evaluation tower subject to this section shall, not less than ten business days prior to erecting the tower, register with the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation the name and address of the owner, the height and location of the tower, and any other information that the division deems necessary for aviation safety. The owner of a tower subject to this section shall also report the removal of the tower to the division not more than thirty business days after its removal. The division shall make the information received pursuant to this subsection available to the public within five business days.

(4) The owner of a meteorological evaluation tower described in subsection (1) of this section that was erected prior to May 28, 2015, and which is either lighted, marked with balls at least twenty-one inches in diameter, painted, or modified in some other manner so it is recognizable in clear air during daylight hours from a distance of not less than two thousand feet, shall mark the tower as required by subsection (2) of this section within two years after May 28, 2015, or at such time the tower is taken down for maintenance or other purposes, whichever comes first, except that the owner of a tower erected prior to May 28, 2015, which is not lighted, marked, painted, or modified as described in this subsection shall mark such tower as required by subsection (2) of this section within ninety days after May 28, 2015. The registration requirements of subsection (3) of this section shall be performed by the owner of a tower erected prior to May 28, 2015, within fifteen business days after May 28, 2015.

(5) A material failure to comply with the marking and registration requirements of this section shall be admissible as evidence of negligence on the part of an owner of a meteorological evaluation tower in an action in tort for property damage, bodily injury, or death resulting from an aerial collision with such unmarked or unregistered tower.

(6) The division may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of this section.

Any person, firm, or corporation (1) violating any of the provisions of sections 3-401 to 3-409, (2) submitting false information in the application for a permit, (3) violating any rule or regulation adopted and promulgated by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation pursuant to sections 3-401 to 3-409, (4) failing to do and perform any act required by sections 3-401 to 3-409, or (5) violating the terms of any permit issued pursuant to sections 3-401 to 3-409, shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor. Each day any violation continues or any structure erected in violation of sections 3-401 to 3-409 shall continue in existence shall constitute a separate offense.

In addition to the penalties provided for by section 3-408, the erection and maintenance of any structure in violation of sections 3-401 to 3-409 may be enjoined by any court of competent jurisdiction in an action for that purpose commenced by the Division of Aeronautics of the Department of Transportation or any other interested person. The erection of such structure and permitting the same to stand or remain, in violation of sections 3-401 to 3-409, is hereby declared to be a nuisance and the division, or its authorized agent, is authorized to go upon the premises and abate such nuisance by removing such structure after five days' notice to the interested parties, to be served by mail addressed to them at their last-known place of business or residence. The expense incident to the removal of such structure shall be paid by the owners thereof, and if the division removes such structures as provided in this section, the expense incurred by the division may be recovered from the sale of the structure or its salvage material.

As used in the Cities Airport Authorities Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Authority means an airport authority which shall be a body politic and corporate organized pursuant to section 3-502;

(2) City means any city or village of the State of Nebraska;

(3) Bonds means bonds issued by the authority pursuant to the provisions of the Cities Airport Authorities Act;

(4) Board means the members of the authority;

(5) Mayor and city council means, in the case of a village, the chairperson of the board of trustees and the board of trustees, respectively;

(6) Real property means lands, structures, and interests in land, including lands under water and riparian rights, and any and all things and rights usually included within the term real property, including not only fee simple absolute but also any and all lesser interests, such as easements, rights-of-way, uses, leases, licenses, and all other incorporeal hereditaments and every estate, interest, or right, legal or equitable, pertaining to real property; and

(7) Project means any airport operated by the authority, including all real and personal property, structures, machinery, equipment, and appurtenances or facilities which are part of such airport or used or useful in connection therewith either as ground facilities for the convenience of handling aviation equipment, passengers, and freight or as part of aviation operation, air navigation, and air safety operation.

(1) Any city may create an airport authority to be managed and controlled by a board. The board, when and if appointed, shall have full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all facilities owned or thereafter acquired by such city for the purpose of aviation operation, air navigation, and air safety operation.

(2) The Cities Airport Authorities Act shall not become operative as to any city unless the mayor and city council in their discretion activate the airport authority by the mayor appointing and the council approving the board members as provided in this section. Each such board shall be a body corporate and politic, constituting a public corporation and an agency of the city for which such board is established.

(3) Each board in cities of the primary, first, and second classes and in villages shall consist of five members to be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the city council to serve until their successors elected pursuant to section 32-547 take office. Members of such board shall be residents of the city for which such authority is created. Any vacancy on such board shall be filled by appointment by the mayor, with the approval of the city council, to serve the unexpired portion of the term. A member of such board may be removed from office for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. An action for the removal of such officer may be brought, upon resolution of the city council, in the district court of the county in which such city is located.

(4) Each board in cities of the metropolitan class shall consist of five members who shall be nominated by the mayor and approved by the city council and shall serve for terms of five years. Any vacancy on such board shall be filled, not later than six months after the date of such vacancy, by appointment by the mayor with the approval of the city council, and such appointee shall serve the unexpired portion of the term of the member whose office was vacated. Any member of such board may be removed from office by the mayor, for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, with the consent and approval of the city council.

(5) The members of the board hereby created shall not be entitled to compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses paid or incurred in the performance of the duties imposed upon them by the Cities Airport Authorities Act, to be paid as provided in section 23-1112 for county officers and employees. A majority of the members of the board then in office shall constitute a quorum. The board may delegate to one or more of the members, or to its officers, agents, and employees, such powers and duties as it may deem proper.

(6) The board and its corporate existence shall continue only for a period of twenty years from the date of appointment of the members thereof and thereafter until all its liabilities have been met and its bonds have been paid in full or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged. When all liabilities incurred by the authority of every kind and character have been met and all its bonds have been paid in full or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged, all rights and properties of the authority shall pass to and be vested in the city. The authority shall have and retain full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all projects under its jurisdiction, with the right and duty to charge and collect revenue therefrom, for the benefit of the holders of any of its bonds or other liabilities. Upon the authority's ceasing to exist, all its remaining rights and properties shall pass to and vest in the city.

(1) Any city creating an authority shall by resolution convey or transfer to it any existing airport or any other property of the city for use in connection with a project, including real and personal property owned or leased by the city and used or useful in connection therewith. In case of real property so conveyed, the title thereto shall remain in the city, but the authority shall have the use and occupancy of such real property for so long as its corporate existence shall continue. In the case of personal property so conveyed, the title shall pass to the authority. Any conveyance of an existing airport shall be subject to any leases or agreements duly and validly made by the city affecting such airports or the property so conveyed, except that any such lease or agreement which is inconsistent with the ability of the authority to issue negotiable bonds may be renegotiated by the authority.

(2) Such city may acquire by purchase or condemnation real property in the name of the city for the projects or for the widening of existing roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways, or for new roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways to a project, or partly for such purposes and partly for other city purposes, by purchase or condemnation in the manner provided by law for the acquisition of real property by such city, except that if property is to be acquired outside the zoning jurisdiction of the city creating the authority when such city is of the metropolitan class, approval shall be obtained from the county board of the county where the property is located before the right of eminent domain may be exercised. Such city may also close any roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways as may be necessary or convenient to facilitate the construction or operation of a project.

(3) Contracts may be entered into between the city and an authority, or between other political subdivisions of the State of Nebraska and such city or authority, or between each and any of them, providing for the conveyance of property to such city or authority for use in connection with a project, and for the closing of streets, roads, parkways, avenues, or highways. The amounts, terms, and conditions of payment if any shall be made by such city or authority in connection with the conveyances. The contracts may also contain covenants by such city or such political subdivision, as to the road, street, parkway, avenue, or highway improvements to be made by such city or such political subdivision. Any city council may authorize such contracts between the city and the authority by resolution, and no other authorization on the part of the city for such contracts shall be necessary. All obligations of the city for the payment of money to an authority incurred in carrying out the Cities Airport Authorities Act shall be included in and provided for by each annual or biennial budget of such city thereafter made until fully discharged. In the case of other political subdivisions of the state, such contracts shall be authorized as provided by law.

(4) An authority operating under the act may acquire real property for a project in the name of the city in which it was established at the cost and expense of the authority by purchase or condemnation pursuant to the laws relating to the condemnation of land by cities and subdivision (4) of section 3-504, except that if property is to be acquired outside the zoning jurisdiction of the city creating the authority when such city is of the metropolitan class, approval shall be obtained from the county board of the county where the property is located before the right of eminent domain may be exercised. The authority shall have the use and occupancy of such real property so long as its corporate existence shall continue.

(5) In case an authority shall have the use and occupancy of any real property which it shall determine is no longer required for a project then, if such real property was acquired at the cost and expense of the city, the authority shall have the power to surrender its use and occupancy thereof to the city. If such real property was acquired at the cost and expense of the authority, then the authority shall have power to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of the real property. The authority shall retain the proceeds of sale, rentals, or other money derived from the disposition of such real property for its corporate purposes.

(6) If the authority does not provide insurance coverage for the real property improvements to real property and the real property of which it has the use and occupancy and the city provides insurance coverage for such improvements and property and names the authority as the named insured, the authority shall reimburse the city for purchasing the insurance coverage if reimbursement is requested by the city.

Any authority established under the Cities Airport Authorities Act shall have power:

(1) To sue and be sued;

(2) To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) To acquire, hold, and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes;

(4) To acquire in the name of the city, by purchase or condemnation, real property or rights or easements therein necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes and, except (a) as may otherwise be provided in the act and (b) that if property is to be acquired outside the zoning jurisdiction of the city when such city is a city of the metropolitan class, approval must be obtained from the county board of the county where the property is located before the right of eminent domain may be exercised, to use the same so long as its corporate existence continues. Such power shall not be exercised by authorities of cities of the primary, first, and second classes and of villages created after September 2, 1973, without further approval until such time as at least three members of the authority have been elected. If the exercise of such power is necessary while three or more appointed members remain on the authority of cities of the primary, first, and second classes and of villages, the appointing body shall approve all proceedings under this subdivision;

(5) To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs and, subject to agreements with bondholders, to make rules and regulations for the use of projects and the establishment and collection of rentals, fees, and all other charges for services or commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by such authority. Any person violating such rules shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor;

(6) With the consent of the city, to use the services of agents, employees, and facilities of the city, for which the authority may reimburse the city a proper proportion of the compensation or cost thereof, and also to use the services of the city attorney as legal advisor to the authority;

(7) To appoint officers, agents, and employees and fix their compensation;

(8) To make contracts, leases, and all other instruments necessary or convenient to the corporate purposes of the authority;

(9) To design, construct, maintain, operate, improve, and reconstruct, so long as its corporate existence continues, such projects as are necessary and convenient to the maintenance and development of aviation services to and for the city in which such authority is established, including landing fields, heliports, hangars, shops, passenger and freight terminals, control towers, and all facilities necessary or convenient in connection with any such project, to contract for the construction, operation, or maintenance of any parts thereof or for services to be performed thereon, and to rent parts thereof and grant concessions thereon, all on such terms and conditions as the authority may determine. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12;

(10) To include in such project, subject to zoning restrictions, space and facilities for any or all of the following: Public recreation; business, trade, or other exhibitions; sporting or athletic events; public meetings; conventions; and all other kinds of assemblages and, in order to obtain additional revenue, space and facilities for business and commercial purposes. Whenever the authority deems it to be in the public interest, the authority may lease any such project or any part or parts thereof or contract for the management and operation thereof or any part or parts thereof. Any such lease or contract may be for such period of years as the authority shall determine. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12;

(11) To charge fees, rentals, and other charges for the use of projects under the jurisdiction of such authority subject to and in accordance with such agreement with bondholders as may be made as hereinafter provided. Subject to contracts with bondholders, all fees, rentals, charges, and other revenue derived from any project shall be applied to the payment of operating, administration, and other necessary expenses of the authority properly chargeable to such project and to the payment of the interest on and principal of bonds or for making sinking-fund payments therefor. Subject to contracts with bondholders, the authority may treat one or more projects as a single enterprise with respect to revenue, expenses, the issuance of bonds, maintenance, operation, or other purposes;

(12) To certify annually to the governing body of the city the amount of tax to be levied for airport purposes which the authority requires under its adopted budget statement to be received from taxation, not to exceed three and five-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable valuation of all the taxable property in such city subject to section 77-3443. The governing body may levy and collect the taxes so certified at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected, and the proceeds of such taxes when due and as collected shall be set aside and deposited in the special account or accounts in which other revenue of the authority is deposited. An authority in a city of the first or second class or a village shall have power to certify annually to the governing body of such a city or village an additional amount of tax to be levied for airport purposes, not to exceed three and five-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable value, to be levied, collected, set aside, and deposited as specified in this subdivision, and if negotiable bonds of the authority are thereafter issued, this power shall continue until such bonds are paid in full. When such additional amount of tax is first certified, the governing body may then require, but not thereafter, approval of the same by a majority vote of the governing body or by a majority vote of the electors voting on the same at a general or special election. The additional levy shall be subject to section 77-3443. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to cities of the metropolitan class;

(13) To construct and maintain under, along, over, or across a project, telephone, telegraph, or electric wires and cables, fuel lines, gas mains, water mains, and other mechanical equipment not inconsistent with the appropriate use of such project, to contract for such construction and to lease the right to construct and use the same, or to use the same on such terms for such periods of time and for such consideration as the authority shall determine;

(14) To accept grants, loans, or contributions from the United States, the State of Nebraska, any agency or instrumentality of either of them, or the city in which such authority is established and to expend the proceeds thereof for any corporate purposes;

(15) To incur debt and issue negotiable bonds and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof;

(16) To enter on any lands, waters, and premises for the purposes of making surveys, soundings, and examinations; and

(17) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly conferred on such authorities by the act.

Sections 3-501 to 3-514 shall be full authority for the creation of airport authorities by cities, and for the exercise of the powers therein granted to cities and to such authorities, and no action, proceeding or election shall be required prior to the creation of airport authorities hereunder or to authorize the exercise of any of the powers herein granted, any provision of law or of any city charter to the contrary notwithstanding, and the proceedings of the mayor and council of any city heretofore taken for the creation and establishment of an airport authority are hereby ratified, validated and confirmed.

An airport authority may, and in cities of the primary class shall, in addition to the powers enumerated in section 3-504, encourage, foster, and promote the development of commercial and general aviation for the city which it serves, and advance the interests of such city in aeronautics and in commercial air transportation and its scheduling. An airport authority in cities of the primary class, under direction of the mayor, shall represent the interests of such city in commercial air service hearings, except that representation in the name of the city shall be only by the consent of such city. In cities of the primary class the city council may establish a fund for the purposes of this section by an annual levy of not to exceed three-tenths of one cent on each one hundred dollars which shall be levied and collected upon the same property and in addition to the levy provided in subdivision (12) of section 3-504. The levy in this section shall be subject to section 77-3443.

Officers and employees of any board or department in or of a city may be transferred to the authority established in the city, and shall be eligible for such transfer and appointment without examination to offices and positions under the authority. Officers or employees of such city, who shall have accepted such transfer and who are at the time of such transfer members or beneficiaries of any existing pension or retirement system, shall continue to have the rights, privileges, obligations, and status with respect to such system or systems as are now prescribed by law. In a city of the metropolitan or of the primary class, the authority may enter into an agreement with the city to provide for the continued coverage of officers and employees of the authority, and for the coverage of such officers and employees not formerly employed by the city, under the city's social security system, pension plan, or retirement plan, and shall pay its proportionate cost of such pension or retirement plan and expense of social security coverage.

All income, revenue, receipts, profits, and money of an authority from whatever source derived shall be paid either to the treasurer of the city in which such authority is established as ex officio treasurer of the authority who shall not commingle such money with any other money under his or her control or to the person appointed as treasurer of the airport authority in accordance with section 3-506.01. Such money shall be deposited in a separate bank, capital stock financial institution, or qualifying mutual financial institution account or accounts. Such money shall be withdrawn only by check, draft, or order signed by the treasurer on requisition of the chairperson of the authority or of such other person or persons as the authority may authorize to make such requisitions, approved by the board. The chief auditing officer of the city and his or her legally authorized representatives are hereby authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of such authority, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, leases, sinking funds, and investments and any other matters relating to its financial standing. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such authority may contract with the holders of any of its bonds as to collection, custody, securing, investment, and payment of any money of the authority or any money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure bonds. The authority may carry out any such contract notwithstanding that such contract may be inconsistent with the previous provisions of this section. All banks, capital stock financial institutions, qualifying mutual financial institutions, and trust companies are hereby authorized to give security for such deposits of money of authorities pursuant to the Public Funds Deposit Security Act. Section 77-2366 shall apply to deposits in capital stock financial institutions. Section 77-2365.01 shall apply to deposits in qualifying mutual financial institutions.

(1) An airport authority may appoint a treasurer.

(2) If a treasurer is appointed by the authority, the treasurer of the city in which such authority is established shall no longer serve as ex officio treasurer of the authority.

(3) If a treasurer is appointed, such treasurer shall furnish bond, in an amount to be determined by the authority, running to the authority conditioned upon the faithful performance of such treasurer's duties.

(1) An authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized from time to time to issue its negotiable bonds for any corporate purpose in such amounts as may be required to carry out and fully perform the purposes for which such authority is established. Such authorities shall have power, from time to time and whenever refunding is deemed expedient, to issue bonds in amounts sufficient to refund any bonds, including any premiums payable upon the redemption of the bonds to be refunded, by the issuance of new bonds, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured. It may issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other corporate purpose. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded with such cash adjustments as may be agreed or may be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption, or payment of the bonds to be refunded. All bonds shall be general obligations of the authority issuing the same and shall be payable out of any revenue, income, receipts, profits, or other money of the authority unless the authority expressly provides otherwise in the resolution authorizing issuance in which event the bonds shall be limited obligations of the authority and shall be payable only out of that part of the revenue, income, receipts, profits, or other money of the authority as is specified in such resolution. All bonds issued pursuant to the Cities Airport Authorities Act shall be and are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code subject only to any provisions contained in such bonds for the registration of the principal thereof.

(2) All such bonds shall be authorized by a resolution or resolutions of the board and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places within or without the State of Nebraska, and be subject to such terms of redemption and at such redemption premiums as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The bonds may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the authority shall determine. No proceedings for the issuance of bonds of an authority shall be required other than those required by the act, and the provisions of all other laws and city charters, if any, relative to the terms and conditions for the issuance, payment, redemption, registration, sale, or delivery of bonds of public bodies, corporations, or political subdivisions of this state shall not be applicable to bonds issued by authorities pursuant to the act.

(3) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds or any issue of bonds of an authority may contain covenants and agreements on the part of the authority to protect and safeguard the security and payment of such bonds, which covenants and agreements shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the bonds thereby authorized, as to:

(a) Pledging all or any part of the revenue, income, receipts, profits, and other money derived by the authority issuing such bonds from the operation, management, or sale of property of any or all such projects of the authority to secure the payment of the bonds or of any issue of the bonds;

(b) The rates, rentals, tolls, charges, license fees, and other fees to be charged by the authority, the amounts to be raised in each year for the services and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the authority, and the use and disposition of the revenue of the authority received therefrom;

(c) The setting aside of reserves or sinking funds and the regulation, investment, and disposition thereof;

(d) Limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of any issue of bonds then or thereafter issued may be applied and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of bonds or of any issue of bonds;

(e) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds of the authority, the terms and conditions upon which such additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding or other bonds;

(f) The procedure if any by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;

(g) Limitations on the amount of money derived from any project to be expended for operating, administrative, or other expenses of the authority; and

(h) Any other matters of like or different character which in any way affect the security or protection of bonds of the authority.

(4) An authority shall have power from time to time to issue bond anticipation notes, referred to as notes in the act, and from time to time to issue renewal notes, such notes in any case to mature not later than thirty months from the date of incurring the indebtedness represented thereby in an amount not exceeding the total estimated cost of the project for which the notes are to be issued including issuance expenses. Payment of such notes shall be made from any money or revenue which the authority may have available for such purpose or from the proceeds of the sale of bonds of the authority, or such notes may be exchanged for a like amount of such bonds. The authority may pledge such money or revenue of the authority, subject to prior pledges thereof, if any, for the payment of such notes and may in addition secure the notes in the same manner as provided for bonds in this section. All notes shall be issued and sold in the same manner as bonds, and any authority shall have power to make contracts for the future sale from time to time of notes on terms and conditions stated in such contracts. The authority shall have power to pay such consideration as it shall deem proper for any commitments to purchase notes in the future. Such notes may also be collaterally secured by pledges and deposits with a bank or trust company, in trust for the payment of such notes, of bonds in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of such notes and, in any event, in an amount deemed by the issuing authority sufficient to provide for the payment of the notes in full at the maturity thereof. The authority issuing such notes may provide in the collateral agreement that the notes may be exchanged for bonds held as collateral security for the notes or that the trustee may sell the bonds if the notes are not otherwise paid at maturity and apply the proceeds of such sale to the payment of the notes. The notes may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the authority shall determine.

(5) It is the intention hereof that any pledge of revenue, income, receipts, profits, charges, fees, or other money made by an authority for the payment of bonds shall be valid and binding from the time such pledge is made, that the revenue, income, receipts, profits, charges, fees, and other money so pledged and thereafter received by the authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without the physical delivery thereof or further act, and that the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the authority irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.

(6) Neither the members of a board nor any person executing bonds or notes shall be liable personally thereon or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.

(7) An authority shall have power out of any funds available therefor to purchase bonds or notes of such authority. Any bonds so purchased may be held, canceled, or resold by the authority subject to and in accordance with any agreements with bondholders.

The State of Nebraska does covenant and agree with the holders of bonds issued by an authority that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in an authority to acquire, maintain, construct, reconstruct, and operate projects, to establish and collect such rates, rentals, tolls, charges, license fees, and other fees as may be convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation of such projects and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with holders of bonds of the authority. The state will also not in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders until the bonds together with interest thereon and with interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of the bondholders, are fully met and discharged. The provisions of section 3-239 and the Cities Airport Authorities Act and of the proceedings authorizing bonds thereby shall constitute a contract with the holders of the bonds.

The bonds, notes, and other obligations of an authority shall not be a debt of the State of Nebraska or of the city in which such authority is established, and neither the state nor the city shall be liable thereon, nor shall such bonds be payable out of any funds other than funds of the authority issuing same.

Bonds of authorities are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this state, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, and all other political subdivisions of this state, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the state, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, and other political subdivisions of this state for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of this state is now or may hereafter be authorized.

It is hereby found, determined, and declared that the creation of an authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is for the benefit of the people of the State of Nebraska, for the improvement of their welfare and prosperity, and for the promotion of their transportation, and is a public purpose and a matter of statewide concern, and that aviation projects operated by authorities are essential parts of the public transportation system. The State of Nebraska covenants with the holders of such bonds that authorities shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired by them or under their respective jurisdictions, control, possession, or supervision, or upon the activities of authorities in the operation and maintenance of projects, or upon any charges, fees, revenue, or other income received by authorities except motor vehicle fuel and aviation fuel taxes, and that the bonds and notes of authorities and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation, except for transfer and estate taxes. This section shall constitute a covenant and agreement with the holders of all bonds and notes issued by authorities. This section shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12.

Insofar as the provisions of section 3-239 and the Cities Airport Authorities Act are inconsistent with the provisions of any other act or of any city charter, if any, the provisions of section 3-239 and the Cities Airport Authorities Act shall be controlling.

Sections 3-501 to 3-514 shall be known and may be cited as the Cities Airport Authorities Act.

Any county may acquire by lease, for a term not to exceed thirty years, purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, the necessary land within or without such county for the purpose of establishing an aviation field and to erect thereon such buildings and make such improvements as may be necessary for the purpose of adapting the field to the use of aerial traffic, and may, from time to time, fix and establish a schedule of charges for the use thereof, which charges shall be used in connection with the maintenance and operation of any such field and the activities thereof. The procedure to condemn property shall be exercised in the manner set forth in sections 76-704 to 76-724.

For the purpose of acquiring and improving an aviation field, any such county may issue and sell bonds of such county to be designated aviation field bonds, to provide the necessary funds therefor. Such bonds shall become due in not to exceed twenty years from the date of issuance, and shall draw interest, payable semiannually or annually. Such bonds may not be sold for less than par, and in no case without the proposition of issuing the same having first been submitted to the legal electors of such county at a general or special election held therein, and a majority of the votes cast upon the question of issuing such bonds being in favor thereof. The authority to sell such bonds shall not be limited by any other or special provision of law.

For the purpose of acquiring and improving such aviation field, such county may, in lieu of issuing and selling bonds, levy an annual tax of not to exceed seven cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable value of all the taxable property within such county subject to section 77-3443. The tax shall not be levied or collected until the proposition of levying the same has first been submitted to the legal electors of such county at a general or special election held therein and received a majority of the votes cast upon the question of levying such tax. Such levy shall be authorized for a term not exceeding ten years, and the proposition submitted to the electors shall specify the number of years for which it is proposed to levy such tax. If funds for such purposes are raised by the levy of tax, no part of the funds so accruing shall be used for any other purpose.

It shall not be necessary, in order to acquire the necessary land for an aviation field by lease, to submit the proposition of such acquisition by lease to the legal voters of such county.

For the purpose of the construction, leasing, improvement, maintenance, and management of an aviation field and for the payment of persons employed in the performance of labor in connection therewith, any county may, without a vote of the legal electors, levy an annual tax of not to exceed three and five-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable value of all the taxable property in such county subject to section 77-3443. No part of the funds so levied and collected shall be used for any other purpose.

No airport, landing field, or airdrome shall be acquired by any county through the issue and sale of bonds, or the levy of taxes, until the location and specifications thereof shall have been approved by the appropriate department or agency of the United States Government.

The governing body of any county shall have power to make and enforce such resolutions, rules, and regulations as shall lawfully be made for the control and supervision of any airport, landing field, or airdrome acquired, established, or operated by it, and for the control of aircraft and airmen, but such resolutions, rules, and regulations shall not conflict with the rules and regulations for the navigation of aircraft promulgated by the United States Government. This power shall extend to the space above the lands and waters included within the limits of such county, and to the space above any airport, landing field, or airdrome outside its limits.

The governing body of any county authorized by section 3-601 to acquire an aviation field shall have power to lease or dispose of the same or any portion thereof when the public need will not thereby be injured.

As used in sections 3-611 to 3-621, project shall mean any airport operated by the authority, including all real and personal property, structures, machinery, equipment, and appurtenances or facilities which are part of such airport or used or useful in connection therewith either as ground facilities for the convenience of handling aviation equipment, passengers, and freight, or as part of aviation, air navigation, and air safety operation.

In addition to the powers granted by sections 3-601 to 3-609, any county may create an airport authority. Such authority shall be managed and controlled by a board which shall have full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all facilities owned or thereafter acquired by such county for airport purposes. Each such board shall be a body corporate and politic, constituting a public corporation and an agency of the county for which such board is established. Each board shall consist of five members. The county board creating the authority shall appoint board members to serve until their successors elected pursuant to section 32-548 take office. Members of the board must be residents of the county for which the authority is created. Any vacancy on a board shall be filled by temporary appointment by the county board until a successor can be elected at the next general election. A member of such board may be removed from office for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. An action for removal of such member may be brought, upon resolution by the county board, in the district court of the county in which the authority is located.

The members of the board shall not be entitled to compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses paid or incurred in the performance of the duties imposed upon them by the provisions of sections 3-601 to 3-622 with reimbursement for mileage to be made at the rate provided in section 81-1176. A majority of the members of the board then in office shall constitute a quorum. The board may delegate to one or more of the members, or to its officers, agents, and employees, such powers and duties as it may deem proper. The board and its corporate existence shall continue only for a period of twenty years from the date of appointment of the members thereof and thereafter until all its liabilities have been met and its bonds have been paid in full or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged. When all liabilities incurred by the authority of every kind and character have been met and all its bonds have been paid in full or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged, all rights and properties of the authority shall pass to and be vested in the county. The authority shall have and retain full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all projects under its jurisdiction, with the right and duty to charge and collect revenue therefrom, for the benefit of the holders of any of its bonds or other liabilities. Upon the authority's ceasing to exist, all its remaining rights and properties shall pass to and vest in the county.

The board may enter into leases for nonaviation purposes for periods longer than the corporate existence of the board for a maximum period of twenty years. Such leases shall be subject to the approval of the county at the time the leases are entered into. At the conclusion of the corporate existence of the board, such leases shall pass to the control of the county.

The board may enter into leases for nonaviation purposes with the State of Nebraska or any political subdivision for land and land improvements. Such leases may be entered into for a maximum of forty years. At the conclusion of the corporate existence of the board, such leases shall pass to the control of the county.

(1) Any county creating an authority shall by resolution or resolutions, convey or transfer to it any existing airport or any other property of the county for use in connection with a project, including real and personal property owned or leased by the county and used or useful in connection therewith. In case of real property so conveyed, the title thereto shall remain in the county, but the authority shall have the use and occupancy thereof for so long as its corporate existence shall continue. In the case of personal property so conveyed, the title shall pass to the authority. Any conveyance of an existing airport shall be subject to any leases or agreements duly and validly made by the county affecting such airport or the property so conveyed; Provided, that any such lease or agreement which is inconsistent with the ability of the authority to issue negotiable bonds may be renegotiated by the authority.

(2) Such county may acquire by purchase or condemnation real property in the name of the county for the projects or for the widening of existing roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways, or for new roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways to a project, or partly for such purposes and partly for other county purposes, by purchase or condemnation in the manner provided by law for the acquisition of real property by such county. Such county may also close any roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways as may be necessary or convenient to facilitate the construction or operation of a project.

(3) Contracts may be entered into between the county and an authority, or between other political subdivisions of the State of Nebraska and such county or authority, or between each and any of them, providing for the conveyance of property to such county or authority for use in connection with a project, and for the closing of streets, roads, parkways, avenues, or highways. The amounts, terms, and conditions of payment if any shall be made by such county or authority in connection with such conveyances. Such contracts may also contain covenants by such county, or such political subdivision, as to the road, street, parkway, avenue, or highway improvements to be made by such county or such political subdivision. Any county board may authorize such contracts between the county and the authority by resolution, and no other authorization on the part of such county for such contracts shall be necessary. All obligations of such county for the payment of money to an authority incurred in carrying out the provisions of sections 3-601 to 3-622 shall be included in and provided for by each annual budget of such county thereafter made until fully discharged. In the case of other political subdivisions of the state, such contracts shall be authorized as provided by law.

(4) An authority operating under the provisions of sections 3-601 to 3-622 may acquire real property for a project in the name of the county in which it was established at the cost and expense of the authority by purchase or condemnation pursuant to the laws relating to the condemnation of land by counties and subdivision (4) of section 3-613. The authority shall have the use and occupancy of such real property so long as its corporate existence shall continue.

(5) In case an authority shall have the use and occupancy of any real property which it shall determine is no longer required for a project then, if such real property was acquired at the cost and expense of the county, the authority shall have the power to surrender its use and occupancy thereof to the county. If such real property was acquired at the cost and expense of the authority, then the authority shall have power to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of such real property. Such authority shall retain the proceeds of sale, rentals, or other money derived from the disposition thereof for its corporate purposes.

Any authority established under sections 3-601 to 3-622 shall have power:

(1) To sue and be sued;

(2) To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) To acquire, hold, and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes;

(4) To acquire in the name of the county, by purchase or condemnation, real property or rights or easements therein necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes and, except as may otherwise be provided in such sections, to use the same so long as its corporate existence continues. Such power shall not be exercised by authorities created after September 2, 1973, without further approval until such time as three or more members of the authority have been elected. If the exercise of such power is necessary while three or more appointed members remain on the authority, the appointing body shall approve all proceedings under this subdivision;

(5) To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs and, subject to agreements with bondholders, to make rules and regulations for the use of projects and the establishment and collection of rentals, fees, and all other charges for services or commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by such authority. Any person violating such rules shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor;

(6) With the consent of the county, to use the services of agents, employees, and facilities of the county, for which the authority may reimburse the county a proper proportion of the compensation or cost thereof, and also to use the services of the county attorney as legal advisor to the authority;

(7) To appoint officers, agents, and employees and fix their compensation;

(8) To make contracts, leases, and all other instruments necessary or convenient to the corporate purposes of the authority;

(9) To design, construct, maintain, operate, improve, and reconstruct, so long as its corporate existence continues, such projects as are necessary and convenient to the maintenance and development of aviation services to and for the county in which such authority is established, including landing fields, heliports, hangars, shops, passenger and freight terminals, control towers, and all facilities necessary or convenient in connection with any such project, to contract for the construction, operation, or maintenance of any parts thereof or for services to be performed thereon, and to rent parts thereof and grant concessions thereon, all on such terms and conditions as the authority may determine. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12;

(10) To include in such project, subject to zoning restrictions, space and facilities for any or all of the following: Public recreation; business, trade, or other exhibitions; sporting or athletic events; public meetings; conventions; and all other kinds of assemblages and, in order to obtain additional revenue, space and facilities for business and commercial purposes. Whenever the authority deems it to be in the public interest, the authority may lease any such project or any part or parts thereof or contract for the management and operation thereof or any part or parts thereof. Any such lease or contract may be for such period of years as the authority shall determine. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12;

(11) To charge fees, rentals, and other charges for the use of projects under the jurisdiction of such authority subject to and in accordance with such agreement with bondholders as may be made as hereinafter provided. Subject to contracts with bondholders, all fees, rentals, charges, and other revenue derived from any project shall be applied to the payment of operating, administration, and other necessary expenses of the authority properly chargeable to such project and to the payment of the interest on and principal of bonds or for making sinking-fund payments therefor. Subject to contracts with bondholders, the authority may treat one or more projects as a single enterprise with respect to revenue, expenses, the issuance of bonds, maintenance, operation, or other purposes;

(12) To annually request of the county board the amount of tax to be levied for airport purposes subject to section 77-3443, not to exceed three and five-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable valuation of all the taxable property in such county. Property tax levies for bonds issued by the authority pursuant to section 3-617 are not included in the levy limits established by this subdivision. The governing body shall levy and collect the taxes so requested at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected, and the proceeds of such taxes when due and as collected shall be set aside and deposited in the special account or accounts in which other revenue of the authority is deposited;

(13) To construct and maintain under, along, over, or across a project, telephone, telegraph, or electric wires and cables, fuel lines, gas mains, water mains, and other mechanical equipment not inconsistent with the appropriate use of such project, to contract for such construction and to lease the right to construct and use the same, or to use the same on such terms for such period of time and for such consideration as the authority shall determine;

(14) To accept grants, loans, or contributions from the United States, the State of Nebraska, any agency or instrumentality of either of them, or the county in which such authority is established and to expend the proceeds thereof for any corporate purposes;

(15) To incur debt and issue negotiable bonds and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof;

(16) To enter on any lands, waters, and premises for the purposes of making surveys, soundings, and examinations; and

(17) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly conferred on such authorities by sections 3-601 to 3-622.

An airport authority may in addition to the powers enumerated in section 3-613, encourage, foster, and promote the development of commercial and general aviation for the county which it serves, and advance the interests of such county in aeronautics and in commercial air transportation and its scheduling.

Officers and employees of any board or department in or of a county may be transferred to the authority established in the county, and shall be eligible for such transfer and appointment without examination to offices and positions under the authority. Officers or employees of such county, who shall have accepted such transfer and who are at the time of such transfer members or beneficiaries of any existing pension or retirement system, shall continue to have the rights, privileges, obligations, and status with respect to such system or systems as are now prescribed by law.

All income, revenue, receipts, profits, and money of an authority from whatever source derived shall be paid to the treasurer of the authority who shall not commingle such money with any other money under his or her control. Such money shall be deposited in a separate bank, capital stock financial institution, or qualifying mutual financial institution account or accounts. Such money shall be withdrawn only by check, draft, or order signed by such treasurer on requisition of the chairperson of the authority or of such other person or persons as the authority may authorize to make such requisitions, approved by the board. The chief auditing officer of the county and his or her legally authorized representatives are hereby authorized and empowered from time to time to examine the accounts and books of such authority, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, leases, sinking funds, and investments and any other matters relating to its financial standing. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such authority may contract with the holders of any of its bonds as to collection, custody, securing, investment, and payment of any money of the authority or any money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure bonds. The authority may carry out any such contract notwithstanding that such contract may be inconsistent with the previous provisions of this section. All banks, capital stock financial institutions, qualifying mutual financial institutions, and trust companies are hereby authorized to give security for such deposits of money of authorities pursuant to the Public Funds Deposit Security Act. Section 77-2366 shall apply to deposits in capital stock financial institutions. Section 77-2365.01 shall apply to deposits in qualifying mutual financial institutions.

(1) An authority shall have the power and is hereby authorized from time to time to issue its negotiable bonds for any corporate purpose in such amounts as may be required to carry out and fully perform the purposes for which such authority is established. Such authorities shall have power, from time to time and whenever refunding is deemed expedient, to issue bonds in amounts sufficient to refund any bonds, including any premiums payable upon the redemption of the bonds to be refunded, by the issuance of new bonds, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured. It may issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other corporate purpose. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded with such cash adjustments as may be agreed, or may be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption, or payment of the bonds to be refunded. All bonds shall be general obligations of the authority issuing the same and shall be payable out of any revenue, income, receipts, profits, or other money of the authority, unless the authority shall expressly provide otherwise in the resolution authorizing their issuance, in which event the bonds shall be limited obligations of the authority issuing the same and shall be payable only out of that part of the revenue, income, receipts, profits, or other money of the authority as shall be specified by the authority in such resolution. All bonds issued pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-601 to 3-622 shall be and are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code, subject only to any provisions contained in such bonds for the registration of the principal thereof.

(2) All such bonds shall be authorized by a resolution or resolutions of the board and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places within or without the State of Nebraska, and be subject to such terms of redemption and at such redemption premiums as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The bonds may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the authority shall determine. No proceedings for the issuance of bonds of an authority shall be required other than those required by the provisions of sections 3-601 to 3-622, and the provisions of all other laws, if any, relative to the terms and conditions for the issuance, payment, redemption, registration, sale, or delivery of bonds of public bodies, corporations, or political subdivisions of this state shall not be applicable to bonds issued by authorities pursuant to sections 3-601 to 3-622.

(3) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds or any issue of bonds of an authority may contain covenants and agreements on the part of the authority to protect and safeguard the security and payment of such bonds, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the bonds thereby authorized, as to:

(a) Pledging all or any part of the revenue, income, receipts, profits, and other money derived by the authority issuing such bonds from the operation, management, or sale of property of any or all such projects of the authority to secure the payment of the bonds or of any issue of the bonds;

(b) The rates, rentals, tolls, charges, license fees, and other fees to be charged by the authority and the amounts to be raised in each year for the services and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the authority, and the use and disposition of the revenue of the authority received therefrom;

(c) The setting aside of reserves or sinking funds and the regulation, investment, and disposition thereof;

(d) Limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of any issue of bonds then or thereafter issued may be applied, and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of bonds, or of any issue of bonds;

(e) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds of the authority, the terms and conditions upon which such additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding or other bonds;

(f) The procedure if any by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;

(g) Limitations on the amount of money derived from any project to be expended for operating, administrative, or other expenses of the authority; and

(h) Any other matters, of like or different character, which in any way affect the security or protection of bonds of the authority.

(4) An authority shall have power from time to time to issue bond anticipation notes, referred to as notes herein, and from time to time to issue renewal notes, such notes in any case to mature not later than thirty months from the date of incurring the indebtedness represented thereby in an amount not exceeding the total estimated cost of the project for which the notes are to be issued including issuance expenses. Payment of such notes shall be made from any money or revenue which the authority may have available for such purpose or from the proceeds of the sale of bonds of the authority, or such notes may be exchanged for a like amount of such bonds. The authority may pledge such money or revenue of the authority, subject to prior pledges thereof, if any, for the payment of such notes, and may in addition secure the notes in the same manner as herein provided for bonds. All notes shall be issued and sold in the same manner as bonds, and any authority shall have power to make contracts for the future sale from time to time of notes on terms and conditions stated in such contracts, and the authority shall have power to pay such consideration as it shall deem proper for any commitments to purchase notes in the future. Such notes may also be collaterally secured by pledges and deposits with a bank or trust company, in trust for the payment of such notes, of bonds in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of such notes and, in any event, in an amount deemed by the issuing authority sufficient to provide for the payment of the notes in full at the maturity thereof. The authority issuing such notes may provide in the collateral agreement that the notes may be exchanged for bonds held as collateral security for the notes, or that the trustee may sell the bonds if the notes are not otherwise paid at maturity, and apply the proceeds of such sale to the payment of the notes. The notes may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the authority shall determine.

(5) It is the intention hereof that any pledge of revenue, income, receipts, profits, charges, fees, or other money made by an authority for the payment of bonds shall be valid and binding from the time such pledge is made, that the revenue, income, receipts, profits, charges, fees, and other money so pledged and thereafter received by the authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without the physical delivery thereof or further act, and that the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the authority irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.

(6) Neither the members of a board nor any person executing bonds or notes shall be liable personally thereon or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.

(7) An authority shall have power out of any funds available therefor to purchase bonds or notes of such authority. Any bonds so purchased may be held, canceled, or resold by the authority subject to and in accordance with any agreements with bondholders.

The State of Nebraska does covenant and agree with the holders of bonds issued by an authority that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in an authority to acquire, maintain, construct, reconstruct, and operate projects, to establish and collect such rates, rentals, tolls, charges, license fees, and other fees as may be convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation of such projects and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with holders of bonds of the authority. The state will also not in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders until the bonds together with interest thereon and with interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of the bondholders, are fully met and discharged. The provisions of sections 3-601 to 3-622 and of the proceedings authorizing bonds thereby shall constitute a contract with the holders of such bonds.

The bonds, notes, and other obligations of an authority shall not be a debt of the State of Nebraska or of the county in which such authority is established, and neither the state nor the county shall be liable thereon, nor shall such bonds be payable out of any funds other than funds of the authority issuing the same.

Bonds of authorities are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this state, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, and all other political subdivisions of this state, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks, and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the state, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, and other political subdivisions of this state for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of this state is now or may hereafter be authorized.

It is hereby found, determined, and declared that the creation of an authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is for the benefit of the people of the State of Nebraska, for the improvement of their welfare and prosperity, and for the promotion of their transportation, and is a public purpose and a matter of statewide concern, and that projects operated by authorities are essential parts of the public transportation system. The State of Nebraska covenants with the holders of bonds, issued under the provisions of sections 3-610 to 3-621, that authorities shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired by them or under their respective jurisdictions, control, possession, or supervision, or upon the activities of authorities in the operation and maintenance of projects, or upon any charges, fees, revenue, or other income received by authorities except motor vehicle fuel and aviation fuel taxes, and that the bonds and notes of authorities and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation, except for transfer and estate taxes. This section shall constitute a covenant and agreement with the holders of all bonds and notes issued by authorities. This section shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12.

Sections 3-610 to 3-621 shall be full authority for the creation of airport authorities by counties, and for the exercise of powers therein granted to counties and to such authorities, and no action, proceeding or election shall be required prior to the creation of such airport authorities other than those provided for in sections 3-610 to 3-621.

For purposes of the Joint Airport Authorities Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) Authority shall mean a joint airport authority which shall be a body politic and corporate organized pursuant to the act and shall be deemed to embrace the geographical area included within each municipality joining in its organization or thereafter becoming associated therewith as provided in the act;

(2) Political subdivision shall mean any county, city, or village of this state, any airport authority created by any county, city, or village pursuant to law, or any joint airport authority;

(3) Governing body, in the case of a county, shall mean the chairperson and board of commissioners or supervisors thereof, as the case may be, in the case of a city, shall mean the mayor and council thereof, in the case of a village, shall mean the chairperson and board of trustees thereof, and, in the case of an airport authority or a joint airport authority, shall mean the governing board thereof;

(4) Agreement shall mean an agreement entered into pursuant to section 3-702;

(5) Bonds shall mean bonds issued by the joint authority pursuant to the act;

(6) Board shall mean the governing body of the joint authority;

(7) Real property shall mean lands, structures, and interests in land, including lands under water and riparian rights, and any and all things and rights usually included within the term real property, including not only fee simple absolute but also any and all lesser interests, such as easements, rights-of-way, uses, leases, licenses, and all other incorporeal hereditaments and every estate, interest, or right, legal or equitable, pertaining to real property;

(8) Project shall mean any airport leased, constructed, owned, and operated by the joint authority, including all real and personal property, structures, machinery, equipment, and appurtenances or facilities which are part of such airport or used or useful in connection therewith either as ground facilities for the convenience of handling aviation equipment, passengers, and freight or as part of aviation operation, air navigation, and air safety operation;

(9) General election shall mean the statewide general election specified in section 32-403; and

(10) Primary election shall mean the statewide primary election specified in section 32-401.

Any political subdivision otherwise authorized by law to own or operate an airport is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with any other municipality or combination of municipalities pursuant to the provisions of the Interlocal Cooperation Act, with respect to the creation of a joint airport authority of the political subdivisions concerned. Such joint authority shall be governed by a five-member board having full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all facilities specified in such agreement, whether then in existence or to be thereafter acquired, and having to do with aviation, air navigation, and air safety.

The agreement shall specify, in addition to those things required by section 13-804, (1) the date upon which the initial board is to organize, (2) the geographic boundaries or limits of the districts into which the joint authority shall be divided, of which there may be no more than five, from which the members of the initial board shall be appointed and from which their successors shall be elected, (3) the number of board members to be initially appointed, and thereafter elected, from each district designated pursuant to subdivision (2) of this section, and (4) the method by which the five members of the initial board shall be appointed and the duration of their respective terms of office. The limits of each district may be changed only upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole membership of the board. Each member of the board shall be a registered voter and reside within the district from which he or she is appointed or elected. The terms of office of the members of the initial board shall expire at such time as their successors shall have been elected and qualified pursuant to section 32-549. Vacancies on the board, other than those resulting from expiration of a term of office, may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board. Any member so appointed shall serve until a successor is elected at the next general election to serve the unexpired portion of the term if any.

The members of the board shall not be entitled to compensation for their services, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses paid or incurred in the performance of the duties imposed upon them by the provisions of sections 3-701 to 3-716 with reimbursement to be made in the same manner as provided in section 23-1112 for county officers and employees. A majority of the members of the board then in office shall constitute a quorum. The board may delegate to one or more of its members, or to its officers, agents, and employees, such powers and duties as it may deem proper. The joint authority and its corporate existence shall continue only for a period of thirty years from the date of its initial organization and thereafter until all its liabilities have been met and its bonds have been paid in full or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged or arrangements for such payment or discharge duly made and provided for. When all liabilities incurred by the joint authority of every kind and character have been met and all its bonds have been paid in full, or such liabilities and bonds have otherwise been discharged or arrangements for such payment or discharge duly made and provided for, all rights and properties of the joint authority shall pass to and be vested in such public body as the board may deem advisable and in the best public interest, and the board may make such agreements and take such actions as it shall determine upon with respect thereto. Provision for ultimate disposition of the rights and properties of the joint authority may also be set forth in the agreement pursuant to which the joint authority is organized, and any such provisions shall be controlling. The joint authority shall have and retain full and exclusive jurisdiction and control over all projects under its jurisdiction, with the right and duty to charge and collect revenue therefrom, for the benefit of the holders of any of its bonds or other liabilities.

(1) Any political subdivision participating in the creation of a joint authority may, by resolution or resolutions, convey or transfer to it in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, any existing airport or any other property of such political subdivision for use in connection with a project, including real and personal property owned or leased by such political subdivision and used or useful in connection therewith. The title to any such property shall pass to the joint authority. Any conveyance of an existing airport shall be subject to any leases or agreements duly and validly made by the political subdivision affecting such airports or the property so conveyed, but any such lease or agreement which is inconsistent with the ability of the joint authority to issue negotiable bonds may be renegotiated by the authority.

(2) Any county, city, or village participating in the creation of a joint authority may acquire by purchase or condemnation real property in its name for the project or for the widening of existing roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways, or for new roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways to a project, or partly for such purposes, by purchase or condemnation in the manner provided in sections 76-704 to 76-724. Such county, city, or village may also close any roads, streets, parkways, avenues, or highways as may be necessary or convenient to facilitate the construction or operation of a project.

(3) Contracts may be entered into between any political subdivision and a joint authority, or between other public bodies of the State of Nebraska and such political subdivision or joint authority, or between each and any of them, providing for the conveyance of property to such political subdivision or joint authority for use in connection with a project, and for the closing of streets, roads, parkways, avenues, or highways. The amounts, terms, and conditions of payment, if any, shall be prescribed by such political subdivision or joint authority in connection with such conveyances. Such contracts may also contain covenants by such political subdivision or such public body as to the road, street, parkway, avenue, or highway improvements to be made by such political subdivision or such public body. The governing body of any political subdivision may authorize such contracts between such political subdivision and the joint authority by resolution, and no other authorization on the part of such political subdivision for such contracts shall be necessary. All obligations of any county, city, or village for the payment of money to a joint authority incurred in carrying out the provisions of the Joint Airport Authorities Act shall be included in and provided for by each annual or biennial budget of any county, city, or village thereafter made until fully discharged. In the case of other public bodies of the state, such contracts shall be authorized as provided by law.

(4) A joint authority operating under the provisions of the Joint Airport Authorities Act may acquire real property for a project in its own name at the cost and expense of the joint authority by purchase or condemnation pursuant to the provisions of sections 76-704 to 76-724 and subdivision (4) of section 3-707. The joint authority shall have the use and occupancy of such real property for so long as its corporate existence shall continue.

(5) If a joint authority shall have the use and occupancy of any real property which it shall determine is no longer required for a project the joint authority shall have power to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose thereof. Such joint authority shall retain the proceeds of sale, rentals, or other money derived from the disposition thereof for its corporate purposes.

Any joint authority established under the Joint Airport Authorities Act shall have power:

(1) To sue and be sued;

(2) To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure;

(3) To acquire, hold, and dispose of personal property for its corporate purposes;

(4) To acquire, by purchase or condemnation, real property or rights or easements therein necessary or convenient for its corporate purposes and, except as may otherwise be provided in the act, to use the same so long as its corporate existence continues. Such power shall not be exercised by authorities created after September 2, 1973, without further approval until such time as three or more members of the authority have been elected. If the exercise of such power is necessary while three or more appointed members remain on the authority, the appointing body shall approve all proceedings under this subdivision;

(5) To make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs and, subject to agreements with bondholders, to make rules and regulations for the use of projects and the establishment and collection of rentals, fees, and all other charges for services or commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by such joint authority;

(6) To appoint officers, agents, and employees and fix their compensation;

(7) To make contracts, leases, and all other instruments necessary or convenient to the corporate purposes of the joint authority;

(8) To design, construct, maintain, operate, improve, and reconstruct, so long as its corporate existence continues, such projects as are necessary and convenient to the maintenance and development of aviation services to and for the political subdivisions by which such joint authority was established, including landing fields, heliports, hangars, shops, passenger and freight terminals, control towers, and all facilities necessary or convenient in connection with any such project, to contract for the construction, operation, or maintenance of any parts thereof or for services to be performed thereon, and to rent parts thereof and grant concessions thereon, all on such terms and conditions as the joint authority may determine. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12;

(9) To include in such project, subject to zoning restrictions, space and facilities for any or all of the following: Public recreation; business, trade, or other exhibitions; sporting or athletic events; public meetings; conventions; and all other kinds of assemblages and, in order to obtain additional revenue, space and facilities for business and commercial purposes. Whenever the joint authority deems it to be in the public interest, it may lease any such project or any part or parts thereof or contract for the management and operation thereof or any part or parts thereof. Any such lease or contract may be for such period of years as the joint authority shall determine. This subdivision shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a lessee to pay taxes if taxes are due under sections 77-202, 77-202.11, and 77-202.12;

(10) To charge fees, rentals, and other charges for the use of projects under its jurisdiction subject to and in accordance with such agreements with bondholders as may be made as provided in the act. Subject to contracts with bondholders, all fees, rentals, charges, and other revenue derived from any project shall be applied to the payment of operating, administration, and other necessary expenses of the joint authority properly chargeable to such project and to the payment of the interest on and principal of bonds or for making sinking-fund payments therefor. Subject to contracts with bondholders, the joint authority may treat one or more projects as a single enterprise with respect to revenue, expenses, the issuance of bonds, maintenance, operation, or other purposes;

(11) To certify annually to each tax-levying body the amount of tax to be levied for airport purposes subject to section 77-3443, not to exceed three and five-tenths cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable valuation of all of the taxable property therein, to insure that all of the taxable property within each county, city, and village which has become interested in a joint airport authority, directly or indirectly, as set forth in section 3-702, whether at the time of the authority's initial organization or thereafter, becomes subject to taxation for the purposes of such authority. Whenever a city or village so interested in a joint authority is situated within a county which is likewise interested in the same joint authority, the joint authority shall, in order to avoid the possibility of double taxation, certify the tax only to the tax-levying body of the county and shall not certify any tax to the tax-levying body of such city or village. Such tax-levying bodies shall request the county board to levy and collect the taxes so certified at the same time and in the same manner as other taxes of such county, city, or village, as the case may be, are levied and collected, and the proceeds of such taxes as collected shall be set aside and deposited in the special account or accounts in which other revenue of the joint authority is deposited;

(12) To covenant in any resolution or other instrument pursuant to which it issues any of its bonds or other obligations that the joint authority will, for so long as any such bonds or obligations and the interest thereon remain outstanding and unpaid, annually certify to each tax-levying body referred to in subdivision (11) of this section the maximum tax which the joint authority is, at the time of issuing such bonds or other obligations, authorized to so certify and that it will, in the event of any change in the method of assessment, so certify such tax as will raise the same amount in dollars as such maximum tax would have raised at the time such bonds or other obligations were issued;

(13) To pledge for the security of the principal of any bonds or other obligations issued by the joint authority and the interest thereon any revenue derived by the joint authority from taxation;

(14) To construct and maintain under, along, over, or across a project, telephone, telegraph, or electric wires and cables, fuel lines, gas mains, water mains, and other mechanical equipment not inconsistent with the appropriate use of such project, to contract for such construction and to lease the right to construct and use the same, or to use the same on such terms, for such periods of time, and for such consideration as the joint authority shall determine;

(15) To accept grants, loans, or contributions from the United States, the State of Nebraska, or any agency or instrumentality of either of them and to expend the proceeds thereof for any corporate purposes;

(16) To incur debt and issue negotiable bonds and to provide for the rights of the holders thereof;

(17) To enter on any lands, waters, and premises for the purposes of making surveys, soundings, and examinations; and

(18) To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly conferred by the act.

A joint airport authority shall, in addition to the powers enumerated in section 3-707, encourage, foster, and promote the development of commercial and general aviation for the area which it serves, and advance the interest of such area in aeronautics and in commercial air transportation and its scheduling. A joint airport authority may represent the interest of such area in commercial air service hearings.

All income, revenue, receipts, profits, and money of a joint authority, from whatever source derived, shall be paid to the treasurer of the joint authority who shall not commingle such money with any other money under his or her control. Such money shall be deposited in a separate bank, capital stock financial institution, or qualifying mutual financial institution account or accounts. Such money shall be withdrawn only by check, draft, or order signed by the treasurer on requisition of the chairperson of the joint authority or of such other person or persons as the joint authority may authorize to make such requisitions, approved by the board. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, such joint authority may contract with the holders of any of its bonds as to collection, custody, securing, investment, and payment of any money of the joint authority or any money held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or in any way to secure bonds. The joint authority may carry out any such contract notwithstanding that such contract may be inconsistent with the previous provisions of this section. All banks, capital stock financial institutions, qualifying mutual financial institutions, and trust companies are hereby authorized to give security for such deposits of money of joint authorities pursuant to the Public Funds Deposit Security Act. Section 77-2366 shall apply to deposits in capital stock financial institutions. Section 77-2365.01 shall apply to deposits in qualifying mutual financial institutions.

(1) A joint authority may from time to time issue its negotiable bonds for any corporate purpose in such amounts as may be required to carry out and fully perform the purposes for which such joint authority is established. Such authority may, from time to time and whenever refunding is deemed expedient, issue bonds in amounts sufficient to refund any bonds, including any premiums payable upon the redemption of the bonds to be refunded, by the issuance of new bonds, whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured. It may issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other corporate purpose. The refunding bonds may be exchanged for the bonds to be refunded with such cash adjustments as may be agreed, or may be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption, or payment of the bonds to be refunded. All bonds shall be general obligations of the joint authority issuing the same and shall be payable out of any revenue, income, receipts, profits, or other money of the joint authority, unless the joint authority shall expressly provide otherwise in the resolution authorizing their issuance, in which event the bonds shall be limited obligations of the joint authority issuing the same and shall be payable only out of that part of the revenue, income, receipts, profits, or other money of the joint authority as shall be specified by the joint authority in such resolution. All bonds and appurtenant interest coupons, if any, issued pursuant to the provisions of sections 3-701 to 3-716 shall be and are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code, subject only to any provisions contained in such bonds for the registration of the principal and interest thereof.

(2) All such bonds shall be authorized by resolution or resolutions of the board and shall bear such date or dates, mature at such time or times, bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations, be in such form either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places within or without this state, and be subject to such terms of redemption and at such redemption premiums as such resolution or resolutions may provide. The bonds may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the joint authority shall determine. No proceedings for the issuance of bonds of a joint authority shall be required other than those required by the provisions of sections 3-701 to 3-716, and the provisions of all other laws and city charters, if any, relative to the terms and conditions for the issuance, payment, redemption, registration, sale, or delivery of bonds of public bodies, corporations, or political subdivisions of this state shall not be applicable to bonds issued by joint airport authorities pursuant to sections 3-701 to 3-716.

(3) Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds or any issue of bonds of a joint authority may contain covenants and agreements on the part of the joint authority to protect and safeguard the security and payment of such bonds, which shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the bonds thereby authorized, as to:

(a) Pledging all or any part of the revenue, income, receipts, profits, and other money derived by the joint authority issuing such bonds from the operation, management, or sale of property of any or all such projects of the joint authority to secure the payment of the bonds or of any issue of the bonds;

(b) The rates, rentals, tolls, charges, license fees, and other fees to be charged by the joint authority and the amounts to be raised in each year for the services and commodities sold, furnished, or supplied by the joint authority, and the use and disposition of the revenue of the joint authority received therefrom;

(c) The setting aside of reserves or sinking funds and the regulation, investment, and disposition thereof;

(d) Limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of any issue of bonds then or thereafter issued may be applied, and pledging such proceeds to secure the payment of bonds or of any issue of bonds;

(e) Limitations on the issuance of additional bonds of the joint authority, the terms and conditions upon which such additional bonds may be issued and secured, and the refunding of outstanding or other bonds;

(f) The procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given;

(g) Limitations on the amount of money derived from any project to be expended for operating, administrative, or other expenses of the joint authority; and

(h) Any other matters, of like or different character, which in any way affect the security or protection of bonds of the joint authority.

(4) A joint authority may from time to time issue bond anticipation notes, referred to in this subsection as notes, and from time to time issue renewal notes, such notes in any case to mature not later than thirty months from the date of incurring the indebtedness represented thereby in an amount not exceeding the total estimated cost of the project for which the notes are to be issued including issuance expenses. Payment of such notes shall be made from any money or revenue which the joint authority may have available for such purpose or from the proceeds of the sale of bonds of the joint authority, or such notes may be exchanged for a like amount of such bonds. The authority may pledge such money or revenue of the joint authority, subject to prior pledges thereof, if any, for the payment of such notes, and may in addition secure the notes in the same manner as provided for bonds. All notes shall be issued and sold in the same manner as bonds, and any joint authority may make contracts for the future sale from time to time of notes on terms and conditions stated in such contracts, and pay such consideration as it shall deem proper for any commitments to purchase notes in the future. Such notes may also be collaterally secured by pledges and deposits with a bank or trust company, in trust for the payment of such notes, of bonds in an aggregate amount at least equal to the amount of such notes and, in any event, in an amount deemed by the issuing joint authority sufficient to provide for the payment of the notes in full at the maturity thereof. The joint authority issuing such notes may provide in the collateral agreement that the notes may be exchanged for bonds held as collateral security for the notes, or that the trustee may sell the bonds if the notes are not otherwise paid at maturity, and apply the proceeds of such sale to the payment of the notes. The notes may be sold at public or private sale for such price or prices as the authority shall determine.

(5) It is the intention of sections 3-701 to 3-716 that any pledge of revenue, income, receipts, profits, charges, fees, or other money made by a joint authority for the payment of bonds shall be valid and binding from the time such pledge is made, that the revenue, income, receipts, profits, charges, fees, and other money so pledged and thereafter received by the joint authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without the physical delivery thereof or further act, and that the lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having subsequently arising claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the joint authority irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.

(6) Neither the members of a board nor any person executing bonds or notes shall be liable personally thereon or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.

(7) A joint authority may, out of any funds available therefor, purchase bonds or notes of such joint authority. Any bonds so purchased may be held, canceled, or resold by the joint authority subject to and in accordance with any agreements with bondholders.

The State of Nebraska does hereby covenant and agree with the holders of bonds issued by a joint authority that the state will not limit or alter the rights hereby vested in a joint authority to acquire, maintain, construct, reconstruct, and operate projects, to establish and collect such rates, rentals, tolls, charges, license fees, and other fees as may be convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation of such projects and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of bonds of the joint authority. The state will also not in any way impair the rights and remedies of the bondholders until the bonds together with interest thereon and with interest on any unpaid installments of interest and all costs and expenses in connection with any action or proceedings by or on behalf of the bondholders are fully met and discharged. The provisions of sections 3-701 to 3-716 and of the proceedings authorizing bonds thereby shall constitute a contract with the holders of such bonds.

The bonds, notes, and other obligations of a joint authority shall not be a debt of the State of Nebraska or of the political subdivisions creating or otherwise interested in such joint authority, and neither the state nor any such political subdivision shall be liable thereon, nor shall such bonds be payable out of any funds other than funds of the joint authority issuing the same.

Bonds of joint airport authorities are hereby made securities in which all public officers and bodies of this state, all municipal subdivisions and all other political subdivisions of this state, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, all banks, bankers, trust companies, savings banks and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, building and loan associations, investment companies, and other persons carrying on a banking business, all administrators, guardians, executors, trustees, and other fiduciaries, and all other persons whatsoever who are now or may hereafter be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the state, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital, in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are also hereby made securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of this state, all municipalities and municipal subdivisions, and other political subdivisions of this state for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of this state is now or may hereafter be authorized.

It is hereby found, determined, and declared that the creation of a joint authority and the carrying out of its corporate purposes is for the benefit of the people of the State of Nebraska, for the improvement of their welfare and prosperity, and for the promotion of their transportation, and is a public purpose and a matter of statewide concern, that aviation projects operated by joint authorities are essential parts of the public transportation system. The State of Nebraska covenants with the holders of such bonds that joint authorities shall be required to pay no taxes or assessments upon any of the property acquired by them or under their respective jurisdictions, control, possession, or supervision to the extent such property is used for a public purpose, or upon the activities of joint authorities in the operation and maintenance of projects, or upon any charges, fees, revenue, or other income received by authorities except motor vehicle fuel and aviation fuel taxes, and that the bonds and notes of joint authorities and the income therefrom shall at all times be exempt from taxation, except for transfer and estate taxes. This section shall constitute a covenant and agreement with the holders of all bonds and notes issued by authorities.

Insofar as the provisions of sections 3-701 to 3-716 are inconsistent with the provisions of any other act or of any city charter, if any, the provisions of sections 3-701 to 3-716 shall be controlling.

Sections 3-701 to 3-716 may be cited as the Joint Airport Authorities Act.