§45-2-222. Lease of oil, gas, and mineral rights.

(a) On roads where Baldwin County owns the oil, gas, and mineral rights, the Baldwin County Commission is authorized to lease the oil, gas, and mineral rights on the right-of-way of the county roads on a competitive basis in the same manner as provided by the competitive bid laws applying to county purchases.

(b)(1) Any funds accruing from the leasing of the oil, gas, and mineral rights of the county road system as provided in this section shall be used to build and maintain public boat launching ramps in the Mobile North River Delta Region of Baldwin County from the Bay Bridge North to the Baldwin County line.

(2) After one such ramp is built such funds may be used to construct, repair, or maintain public launching ramps in any part of Baldwin County, to provide for the acquisition of property for and the construction, repair, and maintenance of public parks, recreational areas, water access areas, and access roads thereto within the county, upon official acceptance at the discretion of the county commission. Provided, however, the county commission shall first cause the fund to be restored to the balance, determined by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, before transfer of revenues for other purposes; thereafter, the fund shall maintain a balance of at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000), including interest, in the fund designated for construction of roads to public parks.

(Act 79-623, p. 1105, §§1, 2; Act 85-580, p. 893, §1; Act 90-658, p. 1275, 1; Act 2004-483, §1.)