36-6-201. Authority to lease or otherwise contract.
The governing body of any county, city, town or school district authorized to acquire and hold real property, may, upon determining that such action will be in the best interests of such county, city, town or school district, lease any lands owned in fee by such county, city, town or school district, for the exploration for and development and production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons, and otherwise contract for such exploration, development and production, upon such terms as such governing body may determine and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this act; providing the exploration for, development and production of oil, gas or other hydrocarbons shall in no way interfere with the public use of said lands or the purpose for which said lands were acquired.