§45-5-141.20. Powers and duties; annual dues; board of trustees; referendum election.

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

(b) A district for the delivery of fire and emergency medical services may be formed in any unincorporated area of the county pursuant to this section subject to the approval of a majority of the qualified electors who vote at a referendum election for that purpose in the proposed district and for the approval of the mandatory annual dues of the district.

(c) In order to call for a referendum election for the formation of a district, a petition signed by not less than 20 percent of the registered voters who reside in the proposed district shall be presented to the county commission and the Judge of Probate of Blount County. The petition shall contain an accurate legal description of the proposed area and shall state the name of the proposed district. The petition for the establishment of a district shall be accompanied by a request for the establishment of mandatory annual dues for the district. The petition and the legal description of the proposed district shall be recorded in the office of the judge of probate.

(d) Upon the receipt of a petition meeting the requirements of this section, the judge of probate of a county shall order an election on the formation of the district for the delivery of fire and emergency medical services. The referendum election shall be held in conjunction with the next regularly scheduled county election at least 30 days after the receipt of a petition or the judge of probate may call for a special election in a proposed district in which case the district or proposed district shall be responsible for the costs of the election.

(e) In the event mandatory annual dues are approved pursuant to this section, the dues shall become effective on the first day of the next month following approval and shall be paid within the calendar year of approval. Thereafter, dues shall be due and payable each calendar year. After the first year, the board of trustees may set a three-to-five-month period during each calendar year when dues may be paid without penalty.

(f) Mandatory annual dues for a district may not be increased for a period of six years after the approval of mandatory annual dues. Any increase in the amount of mandatory annual dues shall not be effective until after the approval at a referendum election held for that purpose in the same manner as the approval of the formation of a district. The amount of any increase submitted shall be approved by the board of trustees of the district.

(g)(1) After the formation of a district pursuant to this section, additional land or territory that is contiguous to the district may be added to the district by petition of the land owner or all land owners to the board of trustees of the district and approval by the board. Upon approval, there shall be a 90-day waiting period before the addition is final. Mandatory annual dues for the land or territory for the year shall be due and payable at the end of the 90-day period after approval.

(2) An unincorporated area with 50 or more residences, businesses, and churches shall be added to a district if the area to be annexed is contiguous to the district and upon submission to the judge of probate of a legal description of the area to be annexed, a petition signed by not less than 20 percent of the registered voters residing within the proposed area to be annexed, and a letter of acceptance from the board of trustees of the district to which the area seeks annexation. Upon fulfillment of the aforementioned requirements, the judge of probate shall order an election to vote on the annexation at the next county election or shall call for a special election, in which case the district shall be responsible for the costs of the special election. The following statement shall appear on the ballot for any election for annexation of an area into a district which has mandatory annual dues: "Do you favor the annexation of ______ into the ______ Fire and Emergency Medical Services District and the collection of mandatory annual dues of ______ to be assessed annually on each residence, business, and church within the boundaries of the annexed area? Yes ______ No ______." Upon approval by a majority of the qualified electors who vote at the annexation election, the area shall be annexed to the district and shall be subject to the provisions of this section.

(h) Each district formed pursuant to this section shall be governed by a local board of trustees consisting of five members appointed by the Blount County Commission. The initial members shall be appointed from a list of seven persons provided by the organization providing services in the district.

(i) Initial members of the board of trustees or directors of a district shall be appointed by the county commission so that the terms of the board shall be staggered as follows: One member shall be appointed for a one-year term, one for a two-year term, one for a three-year term, one for a four-year term, and one for a five-year term. When the term of any member of the initial board expires, the county commission shall appoint one member to fill the position from a list of three names provided by the organization providing services in the district. After the initial members, the term for members of the board of trustees or directors shall be five years. There shall be no term limits. Members of the board shall serve until a successor is appointed. The members of the board shall elect one member to serve as chair of the board on an annual basis. In the event a position on the board becomes vacant, the remaining board members shall elect a replacement to serve for the unexpired term of the member whose position is vacant.

(j)(1) The board of trustees or directors for the district formed under this section shall have the following powers and duties: To mail annual billing notices; to collect mandatory annual dues; to charge up to 10 percent of annual dues as late fees; to add attorney's fees, if applicable, to the amount due; to place liens on property for nonpayment of dues; to budget and borrow monies for the district; to spend monies given to or borrowed by the district, or generated from mandatory annual dues collected under this section, for, but not limited to, fire suppression, fire prevention, fire education, fire inspection, fire investigation, fire or emergency medical services training, supplies directly related to the operation of the fire service or emergency medical services; to provide fire stations, capital improvements, fire or emergency medical services equipment, insurance on fire or emergency medical services-related activities; to pay professional licenses, fees, subscriptions, dues, and salaries; to employ or relieve the fire chief, and determine whether the fire chief or the personnel of the district are compensated or noncompensated employees of the district; and to make policies governing the district.

(2) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses in the performance of their duties.

(k) The board of trustees shall appoint the fire chief of the district with full authority over employing the district's personnel, whether compensated or noncompensated. The fire chief shall have the authority to make rules governing the operation of the district; to be the fire marshal of the district or to appoint a fire marshal for the district; and to prepare a budget for the operation of the district including a budget for new fire and emergency medical service equipment.

(l) The board of trustees may consider any local individual benevolent request that is related to the waiver or partial waiver of the district's mandatory annual dues. Each benevolent request application shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the board of trustees.

(m) The district formed under this section shall constitute a nonprofit public corporation, which shall have the power to do any and all acts or things necessary and convenient for carrying out the purposes for which it is created, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) To have a seal and alter the seal at pleasure.

(2) To acquire, hold, and dispose of property, real and personal, tangible and intangible, or interest therein and pay therefor in cash or on credit, and to secure and procure payment for all or any part of the purchase price thereof on such terms and conditions as the board shall determine.

(3) To negotiate and enter into contract with residents, businesses, or churches in areas outside the district, including areas outside the county, or with other districts to furnish fire or emergency medical services, or both, and to charge fees for the service.

(4) To employ agents, servants, and attorneys.

(5) To perform any and all of the foregoing acts and to do any and all of the foregoing things under, through, or by means of its own officers, agents, and employees, or by contracts with any federal, state, county, or municipal agency.

(6) To merge with one or more existing fire districts. Any merger agreement may be negotiated between the boards of trustees or directors of the fire districts. After approval by the boards of trustees, the merger shall be subject to review and approval by the county commission. Prior to the meeting of the county commission to consider approval, notice of the merger agreement as approved by the boards of trustees of both districts shall be published in the legal section of a newspaper published in the county once a week for four consecutive weeks. The merger shall become effective 90 days after approval by the county commission.

(n) A district shall be exempt from all taxes levied by any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, license, utility, and excise taxes imposed in respect of the privilege of engaging in any of the activities of the district. The district shall be exempt from any fees, taxes, or costs relating to its incorporation, the amendment of its certificate of incorporation, or the recording of any document in the office of the judge or probate of the county.

(o) A district formed under this section shall provide at least basic emergency medical services, and if possible, advanced life support medical rescue.

(p) The board of trustees of the district shall publish in the local newspaper a statement of income and expenditures 45 days after the end of the district's fiscal year. The first board shall designate the fiscal year of the newly formed district. All funds generated pursuant to this section are public in nature and the records of the district shall be open for public view upon request during normal business hours.

(q)(1) A district formed pursuant to this section may contract with a municipality in the county to provide fire or emergency medical services to the municipality.

(2) If a municipality's fire or emergency medical services are provided by a fire and emergency medical service, prior to formation of a fire and emergency medical services district with mandatory fire dues, the mayor and council shall, by resolution, petition the judge of probate to order a referendum election for that purpose, to be held in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(3) If a municipality has formed a fire and emergency medical services district pursuant to this section, but the mayor and council seek to contract for these services, they shall, by resolution, request an election be held for that purpose. The following statement shall appear on the ballot: "Do you favor the City/Town of ______ joining the ______ Fire and Emergency Medical Services District and the collection of mandatory annual dues of ______ to be assessed annually on each residence, business, and church in the present and future boundaries of the City/Town of ______? Yes ______ No ______." The referendum shall be approved by a majority of the qualified electors who vote at the election.

(4) A municipality may provide permanent funding for fire and emergency medical services whether or not its service is part of the municipal government and whether or not it provides fire and emergency medical services to residences, businesses, and churches beyond the municipal limits and jurisdiction.

(5) In the event a mayor and council of a municipality decide, by resolution, to form a fire and emergency medical services district pursuant to this section, and the district will include an area outside the municipal boundaries, the registered voters in the area outside the municipality shall be included in any municipal election for the formation of the district. If the voters by majority approve the formation of the district, then all of the fire and emergency medical service duties and responsibilities formerly assigned to the county governing body to perform for the unincorporated area of the county to be included in the new fire and emergency medical services district shall be assigned to the municipal governing body.

(6) Each residence, business, and church shall have 90 days within which to contract for services. A contract shall be for any length of time not to exceed six years, with a 90-day grace period upon expiration of the contract within which the contract may be renewed. The form and terms of the contract shall have been previously approved by the county attorney for the county in which the residence, business, or church contracting for the services is located. Either party to the contract may terminate the contract by written notice to the other party at least one year prior to termination. Each contract shall be recorded in the probate office of the county in which the residence, business, or church is located.

(r) If any portion of a district formed under this section becomes incorporated as a town or city or is annexed into a town or city, the residents, businesses, and churches of the incorporated area shall be considered thereafter in the town or city rather than the district, but shall continue to be liable for the mandatory annual dues of the district for four years.

(s) The board of trustees and any persons providing any fire or emergency medical services in the district shall not be considered to be employees, servants, or agents of the county or the county commission. The county, county commission, or any employee of the county shall not be liable in any capacity for the actions of the board of trustees or any personnel performing any function of the district.

(t)(1) The following statement shall appear on the ballot for any referendum election for the formation of a district and the amount of mandatory annual dues:

"Do you favor the formation of a district to be known as the ______ Fire and Emergency Medical Services District and the collection of mandatory annual dues of ______ to be assessed annually on each residence, business, and church in the boundaries of the district? Yes ______ No ______."

(2) The following statement shall appear on the ballot for any referendum election for the amount of mandatory annual dues of a district:

"Do you favor mandatory annual dues in the ______ Fire and Emergency Medical Services District in the amount of ______ ? Yes ______ No ______."

(u) If a majority of the votes at a referendum are affirmative, a district may be formed pursuant to this section and mandatory annual dues may be collected in the amount approved. If a majority of the votes cast at a referendum are negative, another referendum on the formation of a district in the same area or setting the amount of mandatory annual dues may be called by the Judge of Probate of Blount County upon the request of the board of trustees or directors of the fire district or the persons proposing the fire district be established if the referendum can be scheduled at the next general election and the general election is at least six months and not more than one year from the negative vote. No more than two referendums may be held in any two-year period.

(v) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the mandatory annual dues authorized to be collected pursuant to this section shall be assessed on each residence, business, or church in the district. Any dues that are delinquent shall constitute a lien on the property and may be recorded in the office of the judge of probate of the county.

(Act 93-712, p. 1386, §§1-22; Act 97-612, p. 1073, §1; Act 2003-373, p. 1058, §1.)