§ 9-11. Valley Electric Membership Corporation

(a) Franchise granted; duration. The right[,] privilege and franchise for the period of ninety-nine (99) years from the date this section takes effect be and the same are hereby granted to Valley Electric Membership Corporation, the successors, and assigns, to erect[,] construct, [and] maintain a line or lines or poles, wires and structures for the transmission and distribution of electric power over the hereafter described public roads and state highways within the Parish of Natchitoches, Louisiana, for the purpose of distributing, supplying and selling electricity for light, heat, power, and other purposes, including the right to erect, construct, and maintain towers, wires, cables, guy wires, stubs, anchors, and braces, and all other necessary and proper fixtures and appliances in[,] on, along, over, under and across the said public roads and state highways, or any one or more of them, within the Parish of Natchitoches, Louisiana (not within the limits of any incorporated city, town or village), as follows:

All state highways within the Parish of Natchitoches, Louisiana, designated in Act 95 of the extra session of 1921, and all amendments thereto.

All other state highways and public roads and streets outside of the corporate limits of any incorporated city[,] town or village within the parish.

(b) State requirements; indemnity. The location and/or relocation of all poles and structures of state highways shall be made subject to the approval of the state highway engineer; and on public roads not constructing [sic] a part of the state highway system, said poles and structures shall not at any time interfere with the use, repairs, maintenance or drainage of said state highways. Any expense incurred by the Louisiana highway commission and the police jury in connection with the location and construction of poles or other structures, pursuant to this grant, shall be borne by the grantee.

The grant of these rights, privileges and franchises on state highways within the parish in subject to the written approval of the Louisiana highway engineer, and on public roads not constructing a part of the state highway system, the said poles and structures [are] not to interfere in any manner, and it is stipulated that no work on said highways done pursuant to these grants, rights and privileges shall be in any manner contrary to or in conflict with existing laws of the state, or rules and regulations of the Louisiana highway commission. Grantee shall protect and save harmless grantor from any and all claims arising from operations heretofore.

(c) Maintenance; safety; clearance. Grantee, its successors and assigns, shall at all times maintain such line or lines in good condition, and comply with all reasonable safety requirements in the operation thereof. All wires crossing said state highways or public roads shall[,] at all times, clear the surface thereof twenty-two (22) feet.

(d) Exercise of franchise. The rights, privileges, and franchises herein granted may be exercised at the option of the grantee, the successors and assigns, at such time or times, and upon such of the state highways and public roads, hereinabove described as in its judgment may from time to time seem proper.

(e) Nonexclusive; effective date. This section and the rights, privileges and franchises herein granted, are not exclusive, and shall become effective from and after the passage, and its formal acceptance in writing by the grantee.

(Ord. of 8-4-37, §§ I—VI)

refstatelaw

Electric cooperative franchises, R.S. 12:403, 12:415, 12:421.