(A) The Fiscal Court enacts this section which shall be known and may be cited as the “Barren County Emergency Management Ordinance”.
(B) (1) There is hereby created the County Office of Emergency Management, in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chs. 39A to 39F, which shall serve in the interest of public safety within the territorial boundaries of the county.
(2) The County Office of Emergency Management shall develop, implement, and maintain the local comprehensive emergency management program for the county in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chs. 39A to 39F, the comprehensive emergency management program requirements of the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management, the provisions of the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Plan, administrative regulations promulgated by the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management, and the resolutions, orders, or ordinances of the Fiscal Court.
(3) The County Office of Emergency Management shall be an organizational unit of county government attached to the Office of the County Judge/Executive and shall have primary jurisdiction, responsibility, and authority for all matters pertaining to the comprehensive emergency management program and disaster and emergency response of the county.
(4) The County Office of Emergency Management shall meet all requirements of a local emergency management agency as defined in KRS Chs. 39A to 39F, and shall be the administrative branch of the County Disaster and Emergency Services organization established pursuant to KRS Chs. 39A to 39F.
(5) The County Judge/Executive shall designate and include a separate Office of Emergency Management budget until classification with each annual county budget and all financial matters of the County Office of Emergency Management shall be handled through the County Treasury and uniform budget system.
(C) (1) The County Judge/Executive, within 30 days of assuming office, shall appoint a County Emergency Management Director in accordance with the provisions of KRS Ch. 39B, and shall immediately notify the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management of the appointment.
(2) The County Emergency Management Director, appointed pursuant to this section, shall be sworn by oath to the Office of the Emergency Management Director immediately upon appointment, and shall serve at the pleasure of the County Judge/Executive, but shall serve no longer than four consecutive years without reappointment and, as a minimum, shall meet all the qualification requirements specified in KRS Chs. 39A to 39F.
(D) The County Emergency Management Director shall have and exercise all the powers, authorities, rights, and duties as specified in KRS Chs. 39A to 39F, and in the orders or ordinances of the Fiscal Court, to include the following:
(1) To represent the County Judge/Executive on all matters pertaining to the comprehensive emergency management program and the disaster and emergency response of the county;
(2) To be the executive head and chief administrative officer to the County Office of Emergency Management and direct, control, supervise, and manage the development, preparation, organization, administration, operation, implementation, and maintenance of the comprehensive emergency management program of the county, and to coordinate all disaster and emergency response of the county;
(3) To develop, update, and maintain the County Emergency Operations Plan in compliance with the provisions of KRS Chs. 39A to 39F;
(4) To establish, maintain, and coordinate or direct the County Disaster and Emergency Operations Plan, the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Plan, and the provisions of KRS Chs. 39A to 39F;
(5) To notify the County Judge/Executive and the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management immediately to the occurrence, or threatened or impending occurrence of any emergency, disaster, or catastrophic incident or situation; and provide in such notice an assessment of possible or actual damages or threats to life, health, safety, property, or the environment; and to recommend any emergency actions or orders which should be executed;
(6) To be the chief advisor to, and the primary on-scene representative of, the County Judge/Executive in the event of any emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe within the county;
(7) To respond and have full access to the scenes of an emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe, and immediately investigate, analyze, or assess the nature, scope, or seriousness of all situations; coordinate the establishment and operation of an incident command or management system; execute the provisions of the County Emergency Operations Plan; activate the County Emergency Operations Center or on-scene command post; convene meetings, gather information, and conduct briefings; notify the County Judge/Executive and the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management immediately of the nature, scope, or seriousness of any emergency situation and provide information on all on-going response actions being taken in association with the incident; provide any assistance requested, as deemed necessary or appropriate; and take any actions to fully expedite and coordinate the disaster and emergency response of all local public or private agencies, departments, units, or individuals;
(8) To take or direct immediate actions to protect public safety at the direction of the County Judge/Executive during any declared emergency or disaster;
(9) To act as an official representative of the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management when specifically requested by the Commonwealth Director;
(10) To report directly to the County Judge/Executive and act in an official policy-making capacity when carrying out all duties of the Office of Emergency Management Director;
(11) To have full signatory authority, in accordance with the county administrative code; for execution of all contracts, agreements, or other official documents pertaining to the administration, organization, and operation of the County Office of Emergency Management and the local comprehensive emergency management program;
(12) To direct all paid or volunteer employees, staff, assistance, or other workers of the County Office of Emergency Management, and supervise any operating units and personnel associated with it which are officially appointed and affiliated with the County Disaster and Emergency Services organization pursuant to the provisions of KRS Chs. 39A to 39F;
(13) To prepare and submit regular or scheduled program activity reports to the area manager of the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management and the County Judge/Executive;
(14) To execute bonds in the amount as determined by the County Judge/Executive, when directed by the County Judge/Executive;
(15) To prepare and submit the County Judge/Executive, on an annual basis by March 1, a program and agency budget request for the County Office of Emergency Management;
(16) To prepare and submit to the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management, on an annual basis by July 15, a fiscal year program paper and budget request for the County Office of Emergency Management;
(17) To enroll and be a registered member of an Emergency Management Association;
(18) To perform the duties of, or appoint with the approval of the Fiscal Court, the County Search and Rescue Coordinator pursuant to provisions of KRS Ch. 39F; and
(19) To perform all administrative, organizational, or operational tasks required pursuant to KRS Chs. 39A or 39F, the administrative regulations of the commonwealth, the Commonwealth Emergency Operations Plan, or program guidance issued by the Commonwealth Division of Emergency Management; and to carry out all other emergency management-related duties as required by the resolutions, orders, or ordinances of the Fiscal Court, the executive orders of the County Judge/Executive, and the provisions of the County Emergency Operations Plan.
(E) The section shall be in full force and effect from and after its approval, adoption, and publication.
(Ord. 321, passed 6-15-1999; Ord. 324, passed - -; Ord. 486, passed 10-20-2009) Penalty, see § 31.99