87.615.  Retired firefighters or their beneficiaries not covered by retirement system may be employed by certain cities as consultants, duties, compensation (St. Joseph). — 1.  Any firefighter who has retired or who retires and was not or is not a member of the retirement system governed by sections 70.600 to 70.755 and any beneficiary of any such firefighter shall, upon application to any city with a population of at least seventy thousand located in a county of the first classification without a charter form of government, be made, constitutionally appointed, and employed by the city as a special consultant on the problems of retirement and upon request of the city council, shall give opinions and be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to requests of the city council.  As compensation for the services required by this section, the city may directly compensate the retired firefighter or beneficiary thereof in an amount established by ordinance of the city.  Such amount of additional compensation may be paid directly by the city to each qualified retiree or beneficiary and shall not be considered employer contributions to the local government retirement system nor benefits paid therefrom.

  2.  Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, beginning August 29, 2001, any beneficiary of a firefighter who had retired or who retires and was not or is not a member of the retirement system governed by sections 70.600 to 70.755 shall upon application to any city with a population of at least seventy thousand located in a county of the first classification without a charter form of government, be made, constitutionally appointed, and employed by the city as a special consultant on the problems of retirement and upon request of the city council, shall give opinions and be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to request of the city council.  As compensation for the services required by this section, the city may directly compensate the beneficiary thereof by continuing the death benefit payment upon remarriage of the beneficiary.  Such amount of compensation may be paid directly by the city to each qualifying special consultant and shall not be considered employer contributions to the local government employees retirement system nor benefits paid therefrom.