§45-25-71.02. Composition of commission; powers, duties, and authorities.

(a) The DeKalb County Commission is continued as currently constituted. The DeKalb County Commission shall continue to be composed of four members elected as provided in Section 45-25-70.01 and a president elected from the county at large. The president shall serve a term concurrent with the term of the members of the county commission as provided by law.

(b)(l) The President of the DeKalb County Commission shall be the presiding officer of the commission and shall have the same power and authority as other members of the commission in passing upon all questions and discussions and may vote on all business that comes before the commission. The president shall also have any other authority provided by the law for the chair of a county commission in this state.

(2) The President of DeKalb County Commission, before entering into the duties of the office, shall make and enter into a surety bond in an amount not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50.000) or a greater amount as may be fixed by the county commission, payable to DeKalb County, conditioned for the faithful discharge and performance of the duties of the office, and for the faithful accounting of all monies or property of the county, which may come under his or her authority, possession, or custody. The bond shall be executed by a surety company authorized and qualified to do business in the State of Alabama approved by the commission. The premiums shall be paid by the county.

(c) The president or another person or persons as determined and given authority by the county commission shall act as purchasing agent or authority for the purchase and requisition approval for all purchases for DeKalb County or of any division under the administrative budgetary control of the county commission. The authority for purchases shall be subject to the competitive bid law and shall be restricted by any budget limitations as provided in the last budget or budget amendment passed by the commission. The person or persons having authority to approve purchases may withhold approval for any purchase until approval is granted by the county commission at a meeting of the commission.

(d) The President of the DeKalb County Commission shall be the county treasurer, fiscal agent, and legal custodian of funds. The president shall sign or otherwise cause his or her facsimile signature to be affixed to all warrants drawn on the county treasury, on all orders for payment or any other disbursement of monies or funds of DeKalb County, or on any other instruments obligating the DeKalb County Commission. The authority and requirement for a signature as provided in this subsection shall be required unless it is determined that so doing would be illegal or otherwise in conflict with laws or regulations of this state or of the county commission.

(e) The DeKalb County Commission may name another member or person to operate in the capacity or authority of the president in the event of an emergency situation when the president is unable or unavailable to affix his or her signature or give the authority required by this section and delay would cause harm to the continued operation of the county government. The person named shall serve until the president becomes available or until another individual is legally appointed to the position.

(Act 2000-360, p. 564, §§1-5.)