(A) County Recreational Park System generally. The County Fiscal Court hereby creates a Park System for the benefit of all its citizens, including those of cities within the county that may already have a Park Department.
(B) Purpose. The purpose for the creation of the Park System is to use the real estate already owned by the county, or to purchase the necessary real estate for the construction of parks to meet the educational and recreational goals; including vocational and recreational programs for its citizens; and to advance the educational, vocational, and recreational opportunities for citizens of all ages of the county.
(C) Governing body.
(1) The Park System shall be administered by a Board of Directors appointed by the County Judge/Executive with the approval of the Fiscal Court. Ultimately, the supervision and control of the Board shall rest with the Court. The Board shall consist of seven members and the County Judge/Executive, or his or her designee ex-officio. Each member of the Board shall have equal voting power.
(2) The Board shall have general control and management of such programs and services as it deems necessary for the promotion of the objectives of this section subject, always, to the state and county administrative code.
(3) The Board shall have the authority to accept funds from both public and private sources, apply for grants, employ personnel, make purchases, and do all things necessary and proper to carry out the full intent and purposes of this section. Any funds from whatever source, including its source, accepted by the Board shall promptly be remitted to the County Treasurer. The Court reserves the right to hire and fire any and all personnel and employees.
(4) The Board shall select from its own members a slate of officers which shall consist of a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, who will become the Chair-Elect. It shall be the responsibility of the Chairperson to conduct the meetings of the Board and appoint any necessary committees. An Executive Committee may be selected by the Board of Directors and will be composed of Board members and the Executive Director of the cooperative. Other committees shall be established at the discretion of the Board. Minutes of the Board will comply with KRS 61.805 through 61.850.
(5) The Board shall select an Executive Director of the Park System, approved by the Court, who will be the executive agent of the Board but shall not be a member of the Board. The Executive Director will have general supervision, subject to the control of the Board, over the activities and operations of the Park System and will be responsible for the everyday management of the business affairs of said Park System. The Executive Director will prepare, under the direction of the Board, all rules, regulations, by-laws, and statements of policy for approval and adoption by the Board. The Executive Director will submit to the Board, recommendations in regard to personnel management and shall otherwise conduct the affairs of the Park System as directed by the Board.
(6) The Executive Director will prepare a balanced budget for the fiscal year for approval by the Board. The Executive Director shall keep a full and complete account of all funds in such manner and make such reports concerning them as is required by the Board or Court. The Executive Director shall preserve all records relating to the transactions along with all funds in his or her hands and all accounts and records due for proper audit and furnish a copy to the County Treasurer.
(7) The County Treasurer is hereby designated as Treasurer for the Park System and its Board. The Treasurer shall issue his or her check on the depositor for payment of all legal claims which have been duly authorized for payment in accordance with Court rules and the statutory rules and regulations for public funds.
(8) The Board shall also select a Secretary who is not a member of the Board. The Secretary shall keep the minutes, records, and documents of the Board and perform other duties imposed upon him or her by the Board.
(D) Meetings.
(1) The Board of Directors shall have not less than one meeting every two months at a place and time designated by the Board of Directors. The Directors of the Park System or Chairperson of the Board of Directors may call special meetings as deemed necessary by properly notifying members of the Board. Proper notification shall be by written notice not less than 24 hours preceding the meeting.
(2) All meetings shall comply with the Open Meetings Act.
(3) A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and motions can be favorably passed by a simple majority vote of those present.
(4) Any Board member who is absent from three consecutive regularly scheduled meetings may be considered removed as a Board member. The County Judge/Executive, with approval of the County Fiscal Court, may fill the vacancies.
(E) Park System employees. The Board of Directors, subject to the approval of the Court, will employ, upon recommendation of the Executive Director, the personnel necessary for the efficient and practical operation of the Park System. Job descriptions and salaries of Park System employees will be recommended by the Executive Director for approval by the Board which shall be submitted to the County Treasurer for approval. Employees of the Park System are entitled to the same fringe benefits as employees of the fiscal agent.
(F) Financial responsibility. The Board of Directors shall have responsibility for the receipts, recommended disbursements, and accountability to the County Treasurer of any funds for the execution of this section.
(G) Cost of program and services. The costs of programs and services will be paid by the county from its yearly budget or from contributions, grants, and fees as authorized by the Court each year, and no later than April 1 of each year, the Board shall submit a requested budget to the Court for the coming fiscal year.
(H) Effective date. This section shall become effective upon its due passage by the Fiscal Court as required by law.
(Ord. 371, passed 2-5-2002; Ord. 526, passed 10-23-2012)