(a) With the approval of the Department of Welfare as to suitability and of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace as to the amount of money to be expended, and upon such notice as the court may require, to acquire, by purchase or the right of eminent domain, lands and buildings for the care of dependents and for farms, taking title in the name of the county institution district; or, with the approval of the Department of Welfare as to suitability, to acquire by lease from any body politic and corporate organized under the Municipality Authorities Act of 1945¹or any other public agency created under the laws of Pennsylvania, land, buildings and all necessary furnishings and equipment thereof for the care of dependents;

(b) To erect, equip, maintain, repair, alter and add to institutions for the care of dependents, and to equip, maintain, cultivate and improve farms, using their produce for the support of dependents. Any plan for the erection or substantial alteration of an institution must be approved as to suitability by the Department of Welfare and as to the amount of money to be expended by the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace;

(c) With the approval of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace, upon such notice as the court may require, to sell or lease real property of the institution district;

(d) To pay the other necessary expenses of the institution district;

(e) In counties of the third to eighth classes to take by gift, grant, devise or bequest, any money or property, real, personal or mixed, for the benefit of the institution district.

(e) To sell surplus farm products and other personal property deemed to be to the best interest of the institution district. Where the commissioner shall approve by resolution or ordinance a sale of such property, they shall estimate the sale value of the entire lot to be disposed of. If the value is estimated at two hundred dollars ($200) or more, the entire lot shall be advertised for sale, once in at least two newspapers of the county, not less than ten days prior to the date fixed for opening of bids, and such date shall be announced in the advertisement. The property advertised shall be sold to the best responsible bidder. This clause shall not be mandatory where property is to be traded in or exchanged for new or other property. If the value of the property to be sold is estimated at less than two hundred dollars, ($200) advertising for bids shall not be required, but at least two bids, in writing, must be received and the property shall be sold to the best responsible bidder.