§45-17-92. Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

(a) This section shall apply only in Colbert County.

(b) The following words and terms as used in this section, shall have the meanings hereby ascribed to them: "the bureau" means the public corporation for which this section provides; "the board" means the board of directors of the authority for which this section provides.

(c)(1) There is hereby established in the county a public corporation for the purposes herein specified, which corporation shall be vested with the powers conferred upon it by this section. The public corporation is at times hereinafter referred to as "the bureau."

(2) Subject to the conditions and qualifications hereinafter stated, the name of the corporation shall be the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau.

(d)(1) The bureau shall be authorized and empowered to conduct programs, including but not limited to programs of information and publicity designed to attract conventions and tourism to all of Colbert County. The bureau shall be authorized to conduct such programs in Alabama and elsewhere, and to expend its funds in the furtherance of such programs in Alabama and elsewhere.

(2) The bureau may enter into contracts with any person, firm, corporation, or association to carry out the purposes set forth in this section. No contract entered into by the authority shall bind the state or any county or municipality of the state.

(3) The bureau shall have the power to sue and be sued; to acquire property and rights of interests in property by gift, lease, or purchase; to appoint officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, and to fix their compensation; to have a seal and alter the same at pleasure; to make bylaws for the management and regulation of its affairs; to make contracts, and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient to lease or purchase and own real or personal property to be used for the furtherance of the purposes for the accomplishment of which the authority is created; to accept or receive gifts, bequests, and devises; to borrow money and execute notes and other evidence of indebtedness which may be required by the lender, and pledge anticipated revenue or income to secure payment of any such loan; and to do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the powers expressly given herein.

(4) For the aforesaid purpose the bureau shall be authorized to use and apply the proceeds of any taxes which the Legislature provides which shall be payable to the bureau for the promotion of all Colbert County as a convention center and all such places located in Colbert County, Alabama, which from time to time offer to visitors and tourists something of interest. Specifically, the proceeds of the privilege or license tax levied by Part 2 of Article 24 of this chapter shall be paid by the director of revenue to the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau. All unexpended proceeds of the privilege or license tax previously collected pursuant to that part shall be the property of the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau to be used and applied for the aforesaid purposes.

(e)(1) The affairs of the bureau shall be managed by the board of directors, herein called "the board" which shall consist of seven members first appointed for staggered terms as follows: Three members will serve a term of three years; two members will serve a term of two years; and two members will serve a term of one year.

(2) The seven members shall first be appointed as follows: The governing body of the City of Tuscumbia shall appoint one member to a three-year term and one member to a one-year term; the governing body of the City of Sheffield shall appoint one member to a three-year term and one member to a two-year term; the governing body of the City of Muscle Shoals shall appoint one member to a three-year term and one member to a one-year term; and the governing body of Colbert County shall appoint one member to a two-year term. Thereafter, all members will serve a three-year term or until their successors are appointed and shall serve no more than three consecutive terms until after the lapse of one year. The term of office of approximately one-third of the members shall expire at each annual meeting of the board.

(3) Each of the seven members shall be a resident of Colbert County at the time of his or her appointment. In the event a member ceases to reside in Colbert County during his or her tenure on the board, such member's appointment shall terminate immediately.

(4) The provisions set forth below shall govern the filling of any vacancy occurring in any one or more of the seven directorships. A directorship shall be deemed to be vacant in the event that any person designated as a director, as provided above, for any reason fails to attend three monthly board meetings in succession. In the event a vacancy in the directorship occurs, such vacancy shall be filled by the city or county authority which first made the appointment.

(5) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties for the bureau.

(f)(1) The power of the bureau shall be vested in and exercised by the board subject to the provisions of this section.

(2) The board shall be authorized to employ agents, employees, officers, consultants, and attorneys and to secure such services and assistance as the board deems necessary to enable it to conduct and engage in the activities and purposes for which this bureau is created.

(3) The board may delegate to one or more of its members, employees, agents, or officers, such duties as it deems proper.

(4) The board shall elect a chairman and a vice chairman of the board. The vice chairman shall serve as chairman in the event of the chairman's absence. The board shall also elect a treasurer and a secretary.

(5) The board shall provide by resolution for the dates on which the chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, and secretary shall be elected, which resolution shall specify the term or period for which each of the officers last named shall serve.

(6) The treasurer shall act as custodian of all funds from whatever sources derived received by such officer.

(7) The treasurer of the bureau shall execute a fidelity bond with a company authorized to write such bonds in the State of Alabama being surety thereon, which bond shall be in an amount approved by the board.

(8) Contracts of the bureau shall be executed in the name of the bureau by the chairman of the board and attested by the secretary of the bureau.

(Act 87-254, p. 356, §§1-6.)