(A) Davidson County may establish, organize, equip, support, and maintain a Fire Department; may prescribe the duties of that Fire Department; may provide financial assistance to incorporated volunteer Fire Departments; may contract for firefighting or prevention services with one or more counties, cities, or other units of local government or with an agency of the state government, or with one or more incorporated volunteer Fire Departments; and may for these purposes appropriate funds not otherwise limited as to use by law. The Davidson County Board of Commissioners may also designate fire districts or parts of existing districts and prescribe the boundaries thereof for purpose of insurance grading, fire service districts, and response districts.
(B) A contract for services with entities prescribed hereinabove shall not exceed five years in duration. Parties to said contracts shall be notified at least 180 calendar days prior to the expiration of any current contract for services of the need to either prepare a new contract for services to be considered by the Davidson County Board of Commissioners or prepare a transition plan for alternative service delivery following expiration or termination of the contract in effect at the time. Draft contract documents shall be duly submitted for review not less than 120 calendar days prior to the expiration of any current contract for services. The Board of Commissioners may authorize an extension upon showing cause for additional time to prepare a proposed draft contract. Failure by a party under the contract shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and subject to penalties as provided herein unless notice of intent not to enter into a subsequent contract is received by the Office of the Davidson County Clerk on or before the due date for draft contract document submittal described above.
(C) In the event of a merger and/or dissolution of any one or more entities under contract with Davidson County as prescribed hereinabove, said merger and/or dissolution shall not become effective without having first been approved by the Davidson County Board of Commissioners. Failure to receive approval of such merger and/or dissolution shall result in the forfeiture of assets acquired and/or funded through the County's distribution of public monies as provided in § 98.111.
(Ord. passed 6-22-21)