256.653.  President and secretary to be elected, qualifications, terms — commission's powers and duties. — 1.  The commission members shall, at their first meeting, choose one of their number president of the commission, and elect some suitable person secretary, who shall serve until his successor is appointed and qualified, and who shall be a resident of the county or counties in which the district is situated and may or may not be a member of the commission.

  2.  The commission may adopt a seal with a suitable device, and shall keep a record of all its proceedings, which shall be open to the inspection of all interested parties.

  3.  Any action by the commission shall be by majority vote, and each commissioner shall have one vote.

  4.  The commission shall:

  (1)  Monitor the quality and quantity of ground and surface water in the district;

  (2)  Implement a cooperative agreement with the department of natural resources to share information obtained under the provisions of sections 256.614 and 256.615 and any other information under sections 256.600 to 256.637 applicable to the collection of any fees established by the commission under section 256.655.  Any information obtained by the department which identifies a test hole or a monitoring irrigation well which was drilled in the exploration of minerals shall remain confidential and shall not be released by the department to the commission;

  (3)  Require all water users in the district with irrigation wells measuring six inches or greater in diameter to annually report usage and number and location of irrigation wells.  The department of natural resources shall provide, to the district, copies of water usage and irrigation well location reports received under the drinking water program, chapter 640 or section 256.410, from all users within the district within fifteen working days of receipt of such reports;

  (4)  Review and comment on the state water plan and any revisions thereto;

  (5)  Develop water management plans for the district in consultation with the department of natural resources and the state water plan advisory board, after public notice and hearings thereon.

  5.  The commission may:

  (1)  Hold such other hearings as may be necessary;

  (2)  Classify ground and surface water consistent with any classification system employed by the department of natural resources or any other recognized classification system approved by the commission;

  (3)  Initiate water studies in the district;

  (4)  Establish criteria for evaluating the need for irrigation well spacing requirements, criteria for assessing water quality and recommendations for steps to be taken if water quality or quantity deteriorates or if water quality or quantity is threatened;

  (5)  Contract with public and private entities;

  (6)  Accept grants and other funds and budget for same;

  (7)  Adopt rules after public notice and hearings thereon;

  (8)  Represent the district before state and federal agencies.

  6.  Nothing in subsections 4 to 6 of this section shall be construed to limit the powers, duties or authority of the well installation board as provided in sections 256.600 to 256.640.