(A) Establishment and composition. A Hospital Board is hereby established. The Board shall be composed of seven members, one of whom shall be a member of the Council whose term shall be limited to his or her term of office on the Council. The other six members shall serve staggered three-year terms.
(B) Organization, meetings and officers. The Board shall elect from its membership a President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer annually, and may adopt the rules and regulations as it deems necessary. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and shall sign, with the Secretary, all contracts, orders and other documents to be executed by the Board. The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or disability of that officer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a full, true and complete record of all monies received and disbursed by the Board. The Board may prescribe additional powers and duties for its officers as may be consistent with the provisions of this section. Vacancies in any of the offices shall be filled for the unexpired term of the vacating officer.
(C) Powers and duties. The Hospital Board shall have charge of the maintenance, control and administration of any hospital owned by the city. The Board shall hire a Superintendent and all other necessary employees, and fix and pay their compensation. The Board shall fix the fees and charges for the use of the hospital and make contracts with the county and other governmental subdivisions for the care and hospitalization of indigent cases. The Board may purchase necessary equipment, apparatus and supplies, but all purchases must be in accordance with the City Charter, but it shall not have the authority to construct additional buildings or structures. The Board shall keep financial and other records as may be required by the Council and shall report the same at times and in a manner as the Council may prescribe.
(D) Funds, accounting and payment of accounts. All earnings of the Municipal Hospital, together with all contributions and other funds procured for the maintenance and improvement of the Hospital shall be paid into a Municipal Hospital Fund. Disbursements from this Fund shall be made only by checks signed by the Mayor and countersigned by the Hospital Administrator and Chairperson of the Hospital Board of Directors, pursuant to an order of the Hospital Board approved by a majority of its members, and signed by its Chairperson and Secretary-Treasurer, or, if the disbursement is made in payment of principal of bonds or interest on bonds issued for hospital purposes, pursuant to an order approved by a majority of the members of the Council. No disbursements shall be made from the funds, except in payment of costs, expenses and indebtedness incurred in the maintenance, operation, equipment, repair and construction of the Municipal Hospital, except that the Council may in its discretion transfer any accumulated surplus in the Fund to any other fund. The Hospital Board shall keep an accurate account of all monies received and disbursed from the Fund, and of all outstanding credits and liabilities of the Hospital. The fiscal year of the Municipal Hospital Fund shall commence on January 1 of each year. As soon as practicable, after the close of the fiscal year of the city, the Board shall file with the City Manager a report containing the complete record of hospital earnings, expenditures, assets, liabilities, property and a general summary of its business transactions for the previous fiscal year. The Hospital Board shall also render a monthly operating statement to the Council.
(E) Removal from Board. The Council may, by a majority vote, remove for cause, any member of the Board, and appoint a new Board member for the unexpired term of the member so removed.
(F) Payment responsibilities and collection. In addition to the powers herein above granted, including those noted in divisions (C) and (D) hereof, the Hospital Board, or its designated employees and agents, shall be granted the authority to enter into such contracts as necessary with third parties for the providing of services by the hospital, to include the provisions of ambulance services and related fees and expenses, to include, but not necessarily be limited to, the establishment of contracts with various townships, counties and other political subdivisions, organizations and individuals and entities as it deems appropriate and to establish such fees as it deems appropriate for the providing of such services. Further, unless otherwise prohibited by law, in addition to all other legal rights and remedies it may have for collection of fees and expenses for such services, labor and material provided, the Hospital Board may certify to the City Council and the City Council, through its normal administrative process, shall certify to the appropriate county auditor for collection by special assessment such unpaid fees and expenses against the appropriate party requesting or provided with such services. It is further provided that if deemed appropriate by the City Council, and as may otherwise be required by law, the city may levy a tax or other charges for emergency services provided outside the corporate limits. Charges for such emergency services may be collected by either imposition of a tax levy or special assessment pursuant to the provisions of M.S. §§ 471.476 and 415.01(2), with reference to §§ 366.011 and 366.012. The amount to be charged for such emergency services shall be designated by resolution of the City Council adopted from time to time.
(2003 Code, § 2.56) (Ord. 171, passed 7-21-2014)