CHAPTER 6. WABASH RIVER HERITAGE CORRIDOR COMMISSION - Indiana Statutes

IC 14-13-6
     Chapter 6. Wabash River Heritage Corridor Commission

IC 14-13-6-1
Applicability of chapter
     Sec. 1. This chapter applies only to those counties that contain a part of the corridor.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-2
"Commission" defined
     Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "commission" refers to the Wabash River heritage corridor commission established by this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-3
"Corridor" defined
     Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "corridor" refers to the Wabash River heritage corridor.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-4
"Wabash River" defined
     Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "Wabash River" includes the following:
        (1) The Little River.
        (2) The portage between the Little River and the Maumee River.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-5
"Wabash River heritage corridor" defined
     Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "Wabash River heritage corridor" means the strip of land in Indiana abutting:
        (1) the Wabash River;
        (2) the Little River; and
        (3) the portage between the Little River and the Maumee River.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-6
Establishment of commission
     Sec. 6. The Wabash River heritage corridor commission is established.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-7
Members
     Sec. 7. The members of the commission are the following:
        (1) The director or the director's designee.         (2) One (1) individual appointed by the county executive of each county that:
            (A) contains a part of the corridor; and
            (B) chooses to support the activities of the commission by resolution adopted by the county executive.
        (3) The director of the Indiana department of transportation, or the director's designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
        (4) The director of the division of historic preservation and archaeology of the department of natural resources, or the director's designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
        (5) The director of the department of environmental management, or the director's designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
        (6) The director of the office of tourism development or the director's designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
        (7) The president of the Indiana economic development corporation or the president's designee, who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.135-1997, SEC.3; P.L.229-2005, SEC.13.

IC 14-13-6-8
Duties of counties appointing members
     Sec. 8. Each county that appoints a member to the commission shall do the following:
        (1) Send a copy of the resolution to the director.
        (2) Inform the director of the name of the county's appointee when the appointment is made.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-9
Term of members; eligibility for reappointment
     Sec. 9. (a) The term of an appointed member of the commission is two (2) years.
    (b) A member of the commission may be reappointed.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-10
Filling of vacancies
     Sec. 10. A vacancy on the commission shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as an original appointment.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-11
Designated member
     Sec. 11. If a member of the commission is unable to attend a meeting of the commission, the member may designate an individual to act in the member's place at the meeting.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.
IC 14-13-6-12
Designated director
     Sec. 12. The director may designate an individual to act on the director's behalf under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-13
Compensation and expenses
     Sec. 13. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a member of the commission appointed under section 7(2) of this chapter is not entitled to a salary per diem.
    (b) While away from the member's home and regular place of business in the performance of services for the commission, a member of the commission appointed under section 7(2) of this chapter is entitled to reimbursement for:
        (1) travel expenses, as provided under IC 4-13-1-4; and
        (2) other expenses actually incurred in connection with the member's duties;
as provided in the state policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency.
    (c) A member of the commission appointed under section 7(2) of this chapter shall be reimbursed for other reasonable expenses that the member incurs in the performance of the member's duties under this chapter.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6. Amended by P.L.135-1997, SEC.4.

IC 14-13-6-14
Officers
     Sec. 14. The commission shall select a president and vice president. The director shall act as secretary of the commission.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-15
Meetings
     Sec. 15. The commission shall meet:
        (1) as the commission determines; or
        (2) upon the call of the president or the director.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-16
Promotion of conservation and development
     Sec. 16. (a) The commission shall promote the conservation and development of the natural, cultural, and recreational resources in the corridor by the following:
        (1) The exchange of information.
        (2) The establishment of common goals.
        (3) Cooperative action of the people and governmental units along the corridor.
    (b) The commission does not have any power concerning the

following:
        (1) Land use control.
        (2) The Wabash River.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-17
Quorum
     Sec. 17. A majority of the members appointed under section 7(2) of this chapter constitutes a quorum.
As added by P.L.135-1997, SEC.5.

IC 14-13-6-18
Bylaws
     Sec. 18. The commission may adopt bylaws that the commission considers necessary for carrying out the functions of the commission under this chapter.
As added by P.L.135-1997, SEC.6.

IC 14-13-6-19
Wabash River heritage corridor commission fund
     Sec. 19. (a) The Wabash River heritage corridor commission fund is established for the purpose of paying:
        (1) reimbursement of the expenses of members under section 13 of this chapter;
        (2) other administrative costs and expenses reasonably incurred under this chapter, including expenses for publications and postage; and
        (3) costs incurred in fulfilling the directives of the Wabash River heritage corridor commission master plan, including multicounty projects and marketing and educational tools such as video tape productions, signs, and promotional literature.
    (b) The fund shall be administered by the director under the direction of the commission.
    (c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund.
    (d) The sources of money for the fund are:
        (1) appropriations made to the fund; and
        (2) any other funds obtained by the commission under section 22 of this chapter.
    (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
As added by P.L.135-1997, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.118-2009, SEC.1.

IC 14-13-6-20
Use of fund
     Sec. 20. The commission may use the Wabash River heritage corridor commission fund to pay:         (1) reimbursement of the expenses of members under section 13 of this chapter;
        (2) other administrative costs and expenses reasonably incurred under this chapter, including expenses for publications and postage; and
        (3) costs incurred in fulfilling the directives of the Wabash River heritage corridor commission master plan, including multicounty projects and marketing and educational tools such as video tape productions, signs, and promotional literature.
However, the commission may not use money in the fund for the upper Wabash River basin commission established by IC 14-30-4-6.
As added by P.L.135-1997, SEC.8. Amended by P.L.35-2001, SEC.6; P.L.118-2009, SEC.2.

IC 14-13-6-21
Administrative support services
     Sec. 21. Upon request from the commission, the director shall provide the commission with reasonable administrative support services to aid in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.
As added by P.L.135-1997, SEC.9.

IC 14-13-6-22
Powers of commission; handling of funds received
     Sec. 22. (a) The commission is authorized to do the following:
        (1) Hold public hearings.
        (2) Request the presence and participation at a commission meeting of representatives of any governmental or private entity that has an interest in natural resources, tourism, historic preservation, archaeology, or environmental issues.
        (3) Enter into contracts, within the limit of available funds, with individuals, organizations, and institutions for services that further the purposes of this chapter.
        (4) Enter into contracts, within the limit of available funds, with local and regional nonprofit corporations and associations for cooperative endeavors that further the purposes of this chapter.
        (5) Enter with governmental and private entities into cooperative agreements that further the purposes of this chapter.
        (6) Receive appropriations of federal funds.
        (7) Accept gifts, contributions, and bequests of funds from any source.
        (8) Apply for, receive, and disburse funds available from the state or federal government in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, and enter into any agreements that may be required as a condition of obtaining the funds.
        (9) Enter into any agreement and perform any act that is necessary to carrying out the duties of the commission and the purposes of this chapter.
    (b) The following conditions apply to the handling and disbursement of any funds that the commission receives under subsection (a)(8):         (1) The department shall provide accounting services pertaining to the funds.
        (2) The commission may appoint an individual to act as treasurer of the commission for purposes of the handling and disbursement of the funds.
        (3) All expenditures must be reviewed by the commission at a meeting of the commission.
        (4) A claim against the funds may not be paid without the signature of the director or the director's designee.
As added by P.L.135-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.27-2005, SEC.1.

IC 14-13-6-23
Fund established; administration; expenses
     Sec. 23. (a) The Wabash River heritage corridor fund is established for the purpose of:
        (1) providing grants to aid the sustainable development of property under the Wabash River heritage corridor commission master plan and purposes of the commission; and
        (2) paying costs incurred in fulfilling the directives of the Wabash River heritage corridor commission master plan, including multicounty projects.
However, the commission may not use money in the fund for the upper Wabash River basin commission established by IC 14-30-4-6.
    (b) The fund shall be administered by the director under the direction of the commission.
    (c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from money in the fund.
    (d) The fund consists of the following:
        (1) Appropriations made by the general assembly.
        (2) Interest as provided in subsection (e).
        (3) Funds deposited under IC 14-38-1-13(d).
        (4) Money donated to the fund.
        (5) Money transferred to the fund from other funds.
    (e) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that accrues from these investments shall be deposited in the fund.
    (f) Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to the state general fund.
    (g) Money in the fund is annually appropriated to the department of natural resources for its use in fulfilling the purposes of this section.
As added by P.L.118-2009, SEC.3. Amended by P.L.69-2009, SEC.2.