Public Acts of 1977 Chapter 258

SECTION 1. The Tennessee Department of Conservation shall formulate and adopt a system for the proper development, preservation, and administration of all lands belonging to the State of Tennessee known as the site of Fort Loudoun consisting of approximately 11.05 acres of land located in the Second Civil District of Monroe County, Tennessee, and being the same property referred to in Chapter 127, Public Acts of 1933, which property was conveyed to the State of Tennessee by the National Society of Colonial Dames by deed recorded in W. D. Book 45, p. 174 and from J. C. Anderson and wife Sadie, by deed recorded in W. D. Book 45, p. 176, and by Mrs. Annie C. Hutchinson, by deed recorded in W. D. Book 45, p. 179, and by Bert H. Anderson and others by deed recorded in W. D. Book 70, page 535, all recorded in the Register’s Office for Monroe County, at Madisonville, Tennessee. The Commissioner of Conservation shall have authority and the duty to make rules and regulations pursuant to the Tennessee Administrative Procedures Act and to promulgate the same for the management and control of said property so as to preserve it as a perpetual memorial to the officers and men who constituted the Garrison of said Fort Loudoun.  

SECTION 2. The Department of Conservation shall have full power and acquire by gift, devise or purchase, areas, properties, lands, or any estate or interest therein, which in the judgement of the department will enhance the public enjoyment of Fort Loudoun and which will further the objective of preserving it as a perpetual memorial. Provided, that such authority of acquisition shall be within the limits of any appropriation which may be made by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee for the purchase of such properties, and the Department of Conservation shall have no power to purchase or contract for the purchase of any property beyond the amount contained in such appropriation.  

SECTION 3. The Department of Conservation is authorized to receive by bequest, gift, or otherwise, money or other personal property for the purpose of this Act, to be held and used under the provisions of Section 2 of this Act.  

SECTION 4. In order to advise and assist the Department of Conservation in the preparation of rules and regulations for the effectuation of the purposes and provisions of this Chapter, there is hereby created and established an advisory board to be known as the Fort Loudoun Board of Trustees. Said Board shall consist of nine (9) members, including the Commissioner of Conservation and the President of the Fort Loudoun Association, an association incorporated under the law of Tennessee as a corporation for the general welfare, who shall be ex-officio members of said board, and seven (7) members, four (4) of whom shall be citizens and residents of the Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee, two (2) of whom shall be citizens and residents of the Middle Grand Division of the State, and one (1) of whom shall be a citizen and resident of the Western Grand Division of the State. The said seven (7) members initially appointed shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of fifteen (15) names submitted by the Board of Directors of the Fort Loudoun Association. Two members shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year, two members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, two members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, and one shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years and thereafter each member shall serve a term of four (4) years and each shall hold office until his successor is duly appointed. Succeeding board members shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of nominations of twice the number to be appoint, submitted by the Fort Loudoun Association. The Commissioner of Conservation shall serve as Chairman of the Board and the president of the Fort Loudoun Association shall serve as secretary to the Board which shall meet at least once annually at a time and place determined by the Board. A quorum shall consist of five (5) members of the Board. The Board members shall be paid those travel expenses reasonable and necessary to attend meetings of the Board. In no event shall such expenses be reimbursed for amounts greater than those set forth in the comprehensive travel regulations as promulgated by the Commissioner of Finance and Administration and approved by the Attorney General and Reporter.  

SECTION 5. No admission fee shall be charged for entrance into the park or the site of Fort Loudoun, but fees may be charged for any concessionary services, food services, fishing, boating, or any other activities for which fees are customarily charged in other state parks.  

SECTION 6. Chapter 127 of the Public Acts of 1933 is repealed.  

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

PASSED: May 3, 1977.