7-14-2805. Establishment and operation of public ferry or wharf by county upon its own motion. (1) Any county of the state may own and establish and the board of county commissioners of any county of the state may operate and manage free or toll ferries and wharves for the use of the public and may employ one or more ferrymen to operate such free or toll ferries and wharves.
     (2) While such ferries or wharves are so owned by any county and operated and managed by such board, such operation shall be and is hereby expressly declared to be a governmental function.
     (3) The board may also lease any ferries or wharves owned by such county to a company, firm, or individual to be operated for the use of the public. Said company, firm, or individual shall give bond, in an amount deemed sufficient by the board, conditioned for the careful and business-like operation of such ferry or wharf in accordance with law and the regulations of said board. While such ferry or wharf is so operated by a lessee of said county, such operation is expressly declared to be the private function of such lessee.

     History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 33, L. 1909; re-en. Sec. 4480, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 4480, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 38, L. 1943; R.C.M. 1947, 16-1119.