190.309.  Emergency telephone board, powers and duties — members of the board, appointment, terms — personnel — officers — rules — removal of members — vacancies — nepotism prohibited. — 1.  Any county may establish an "Emergency Telephone Service 911 Board", referred to in this section as the "board".  The powers and duties of the board may be defined by order or ordinance of the county.  Such powers shall include, but not be limited to:

  (1)  Planning a 911 system;

  (2)  Coordinating and supervising the implementation, upgrading, or maintenance of the system, including the establishment of equipment specifications and coding systems;

  (3)  Receiving moneys from any emergency telephone service tax levy authorized by the governing body of the county pursuant to section 190.305, and authorizing disbursements from such moneys collected;

  (4)  Hiring any staff necessary for the implementation or upgrade of the system.

  2.  Members of the board shall be appointed by the governing body of the county, and shall be known as the board of directors of the emergency service telephone 911 board.  The governing body shall appoint eleven persons to the board.  At least six of such members shall represent public safety agencies, except in any county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than twenty-six thousand nine hundred but fewer than twenty-seven thousand inhabitants, which shall have at least seven members representing the following public safety agencies:

  (1)  County sheriff;

  (2)  County presiding commissioner;

  (3)  Chief of police of the county seat of the county;

  (4)  Mayor of the county seat of the county;

  (5)  President of the fire association of the county;

  (6)  Chief executive officer of the memorial hospital located in the county seat of the county; and

  (7)  Director of emergency services of the memorial hospital located in the county seat of the county.  

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At least nine of the board members shall be residents of the county described in subsection 1 of this section or a county adjoining such county.  All board members shall be appointed to serve for a term of three years, except that of the first board appointed, five members shall be appointed for one-year terms, three members for two-year terms and three members for three-year terms.  Board members may be reappointed.  The members of the board shall not receive compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.

  3.  The administrative control and management of the county emergency telephone 911 service shall rest solely with the board, and the board shall employ all necessary personnel, fix their compensation, and provide suitable quarters and equipment for the operation of the facility from funds made available for this purpose.  Employees of the board shall be eligible for membership in the Missouri local government employees' retirement system pursuant to sections 70.600 to 70.755.

  4.  The board may contract to provide services relating in whole or in part to emergency telephone 911 service and for such purpose may expend the tax funds or other funds.

  5.  The board shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, treasurer, and such other officers as it deems necessary for its membership.  Before taking office, the treasurer shall furnish a surety bond, in an amount to be determined and in a form to be approved by the board, for the faithful performance of the treasurer's duties and faithful accounting of all moneys that may come into the treasurer's hands.  The treasurer shall enter into the surety bond with a surety company authorized to do business in Missouri, and the cost of such bond shall be paid by the board.

  6.  The board shall set rules for establishment and operation of the emergency 911 system, and shall do all other things necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 190.300 to 190.320.

  7.  The board may contract with any not-for-profit corporation including any corporation which is incorporated for the purpose of implementing the provisions of sections 190.300 to 190.320.

  8.  The board may accept any gift of property or money for the use and benefit of the emergency telephone 911 service in the county, and the board is authorized to sell or exchange any such property which the board believes would be to the benefit of the service so long as the proceeds are used exclusively for emergency telephone services.  The board shall have exclusive control of all gifts, property or money the board may accept; of all interest or other proceeds which may accrue from the investment of such gifts or money or from the sale of such property; of all tax revenues collected by the county on behalf of the emergency telephone 911 services; and of all other funds granted, appropriated, or loaned to the board by the federal government, the state, or its political subdivisions so long as these resources are used solely to benefit the emergency telephone service in the county.

  9.  Any board member may, following notice and an opportunity to be heard, be removed from office by a majority vote of the other members of the board for any of the following grounds:

  (1)  Failure to attend five consecutive meetings, without good cause;

  (2)  Conduct prejudicial to the good order and efficient operation of the emergency telephone service; or

  (3)  Neglect of duty.

  10.  The chairman of the board shall preside at such removal hearing, unless the chairman is the person sought to be removed, in which case the hearing shall be presided over by another member elected by the majority vote of the other board members.  All interested parties may present testimony and arguments at such hearing, and the witnesses shall be sworn by oath or affirmation before testifying.  Any interested party may, at his or her own expense, record the proceedings.

  11.  Vacancies on the board occasioned by removals, resignations or otherwise shall be reported by the board chairman to the governing body of the county and shall be filled in like manner as original appointments; except that, if the vacancy occurs during an unexpired term, the appointment shall be for only the unexpired portion of that term.

  12.  Individual board members shall not be eligible for employment by the board within twelve months of termination of service as a member of the board.

  13.  No person shall be employed by the board who is related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity to any member of the board.