The governing authorities of any municipality which now owns and operates any system or systems, but which has not adopted and set up a public utility commission as provided in Section 21-27-13, and the public utility commission of such municipalities that have adopted and set up a public utility commission as provided in said section, are authorized and vested with the authority to microfilm, photograph, photostat, or otherwise reproduce records of the municipally-owned utilities of such municipality. However, the destruction or disposal of any books containing the minutes of any municipal board or of any municipal public utility commission, contracts in effect, real estate deeds, or records showing the date of acquisition, depreciation, or disposition of capital assets, is not hereby authorized.