(a) The Lamar County Water Coordinating and Fire Prevention Authority shall be governed by a board of directors. All powers of the authority shall be exercised by the board or pursuant to its authorization.
(b) The initial board of directors shall consist of the three citizens appointed to incorporate the authority and four other directors to be appointed within 45 days after the date the authority is incorporated as follows:
(1) The incorporator appointed by the Lamar County Commission shall serve an initial term of two years.
(2) The Lamar County Rescue Squad Association shall appoint one member from their association who shall serve an initial term of one year.
(3) The Lamar County Firefighters Association shall appoint one member from their association who shall serve an initial term of one year.
(4) With each incorporated municipality regardless of size having one vote in the selection, the elected mayors of all incorporated municipalities in Lamar County shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of two years.
(5) The chairs of the water authorities in Lamar County shall appoint one director who shall serve an initial term of two years.
(6) The incorporator appointed by the senator shall serve an initial term of three years and shall be chair of the board of directors during his or her initial term of office.
(7) The incorporator appointed by the member of the House of Representatives shall serve an initial term of three years.
(8) The county engineer shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of the board of directors.
(c) In the event an appointment is not made within 45 days after the date of incorporation, the Governor shall have the authority to make such appointment.
(d) As soon as may be practicable after the organization of the authority, an election shall be held by the board of directors to elect a vice-chair and a secretary-treasurer. After the initial term of three years for the chair, the board of directors shall elect a chair who shall serve two year terms. No chair shall serve more than two consecutive terms.
(e) Upon the expiration of the initial terms, directors shall serve a term of three years and vacancies shall be filled by the respective appointing authority that made the initial appointment. In the event of a vacancy in office due to death, disability, resignation, or impeachment, the unexpired term of such office shall be filled by appointment by the respective appointing authority making the initial appointment. No officer of the state or of any county or municipality, during his or her tenure as such officer, shall be eligible to serve as a director.
(f) Each director appointed shall be a duly qualified elector of that county and shall be a resident of and the owner of real property in that part of the service area of the authority which lies within that county. Directors shall not be eligible to serve for more than two consecutive terms. Each director shall be compensated in an amount not to exceed ten dollars ($10) per meeting attended but not to exceed one hundred twenty dollars ($120) per year. In addition, each director shall be entitled to a twenty-five dollar ($25) per diem expense allowance for each day spent on official business of the authority in the performance of his or her duties.
(g) If any director of the authority is absent from three consecutive, called, or scheduled meetings, he or she shall be removed from office and terminated as a member of the authority. Within 45 days after his or her removal, the appointing authority of such director shall make a replacement appointment. Upon failure of the appointing authority to make such replacement appointment within 45 days, the Governor shall appoint a director.
(h) Any director of the authority may be impeached and removed from office in the same manner and on the same grounds provided by Section 175 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901 and the general laws of the state for impeachment and removal of the officers mentioned in Section 175.
(i) The Lamar County Commission shall provide office space and staff for the authority.
Last modified: May 3, 2021