85-7-2162. Powers of district commissioners to acquire and manage tax sale lands. (1) In addition to the powers heretofore granted to irrigation districts, the commissioners of every irrigation district established and organized under and by virtue of the laws of the state of Montana shall have power to:
     (a) purchase lands within their respective districts heretofore sold and conveyed to the county for nonpayment of taxes and assessments, purchase certificates of tax sales of such land when struck off to the county, take title thereto for their district;
     (b) own, manage, operate, lease, sell, and dispose of the same for the use and benefit of their respective districts upon such terms as shall, in the judgment of the board of commissioners of such irrigation district, be deemed most advantageous to the district;
     (c) sue and be sued in reference to said lands in the name of their respective irrigation districts; commence, maintain, and prosecute suits to quiet title to said lands and any and all other suits in equity or actions at law with reference thereto, the same as might be done by any other individual or corporate owners of such lands; and
     (d) do any and all other acts or things necessary or beneficial for their respective districts in connection with such lands.
     (2) Such lands shall be first offered for sale at public sale and the commissioners may reject any and all bids thereon, if in their judgment such bids are insufficient. No such lands shall be sold at private sale at a price less than the highest bid therefor at the public sale at which such lands are offered for sale, and if no bid is received for said land when said land is offered at public sale, the commissioners may then sell the same in such manner and at such price and upon such terms as in their judgment shall be for the best interests of said district.
     (3) The board of commissioners of any irrigation district shall be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to do any and all things necessary to carry out the provisions and intentions of 85-7-2157 through 85-7-2164.

     History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 89, L. 1925; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 36, L. 1933; re-en. Sec. 7248.6, R.C.M. 1935; R.C.M. 1947, 89-1827.