§ 122-227. Governing board, powers and duties.

(a)

The governing board shall be the Board of County Commissioners. The business affairs of the district shall be administered and conducted by the board. It shall have the authority as prescribed in F.S. § 125.01(1)(q), including the authority to establish, equip, operate and maintain a fire department, ambulance service and rescue service within the district. The board shall buy, lease, sell, exchange or otherwise acquire and dispose of firefighting equipment and other property, real, personal or mixed, that it may from time to time deem necessary to prevent and extinguish fire or provide ambulance and rescue services within the district. This shall include, but is not limited to, the authority to provide water, water supply, water stations and other necessary buildings; accept gifts or donations of equipment or money for the use of the district; and to do all things necessary to provide for an adequate water supply, for prevention and proper fire protection for the district. The board shall have the authority to extend its services outside the district under a mutual aid agreement with another district or to residents not receiving fire, ambulance or rescue services from another source. The board shall have the power to hire and fire necessary personnel, to investigate for fire and safety hazards and to promulgate rules and regulations for the prevention of fire and for fire control in the district.

(b)

The board shall appoint a committee of from three to five electors residing within the district to serve staggered terms of two years each to hold meetings at such time and places as it shall determine for the purpose of advising the board regarding the affairs of the district. At least one of the committee members who lives within the city limits of Everglades City shall represent the city's interest in the affairs of the district. Such representative shall be named by the mayor and approved by City Council of the City of Everglades and be confirmed by the Board of County Commissioners, as governing body.

(c)

The advisory committee shall annually prepare a tentative district budget and estimate the funds, their purpose and the ad valorem taxes necessary to carry out the provisions of this article for the following fiscal year as prescribed by F.S. ch. 129.

(d)

Upon adoption of the district budget by the board it shall cause the budget to be recorded in the board minutes and shall cause to be levied on all property within the district a millage sufficient to fund the budget not exceeding four mills in any one year to be assessed and collected as though county taxes.

(e)

The Board of County Commissioners shall:

(1)

Cause to be issued all warrants for service, equipment, materials and other expenses incurred by the district.

(2)

On or before the end of each fiscal year prepare an annual report of the receipts and expenditures of the district to the governing board as required by F.S. § 218.20 et seq.

(Ord. No. 75-6, § 1(2); Ord. No. 78-3, § 1; Ord. No. 81-41, § 1; Ord. No. 82-76, § 1; Ord. No. 87-70, § 1; Ord. No. 92-100, § 1)

State law reference

Board of county commissioners to be governing body of unit, F.S. § 125.01(2).