(A) The DISASTER MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR, hereafter “the Coordinator”, means the administrative head of the county’s Department of Disaster Management, and shall be appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. The Coordinator shall serve at the will of the Board of County Commissioners.
(B) The Coordinator shall, with respect to county disaster management:
(1) Coordinate, supervise, and direct the effort of the Department of Disaster Management of the county for the accomplishment of the purposes of this subchapter and as may be directed by the Board of County Commissioners;
(2) Coordinate and direct, in conjunction with the County Sheriff, or other county-elected officials and agencies, the mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery of all county agencies during the disaster. Nothing herein shall been deemed to grant or authorize the Coordinator to exercise any supervisory or command authority over any deputies or employees of county public officials, or equipment goods or materials of said offices, which shall, at all times, remain under the authority and direction of the respective public official;
(3) Represent the Office of Disaster Management in all dealings with public or private agencies pertaining to Disaster Management, and act as a liaison between county and other governmental and non-governmental emergency or disaster management and response agencies;
(4) Coordinate the preparation and implementation of county plans and programs for disaster management, which are consistent with national and state plans and programs;
(5) Provide for updating and testing of the county’s Disaster Operations Plan and training of county personnel for damage assessment, damage survey, and radiological monitoring;
(6) Coordinate all requests from local governments for disaster services;
(7) With the prior approval of the Board of County Commissioners, accept the services of volunteers for the purposes of disaster management on behalf of the county on such terms and conditions as designated by the Board of County Commissioners. The Coordinator shall have no authority to employ or contract with any person or entity on behalf of the county except with the express prior authorization of the Board of County Commissioners; and
(8) Execute all others duties of Coordinator as may otherwise be designated by the Board of County Commissioners, as may be permitted by law.
(C) However, nothing in this subchapter shall be deemed or construed to:
(1) Interfere with the course or conduct of a labor dispute, except that actions otherwise authorized by this act or other laws may be taken when necessary to forestall or mitigate imminent or existing danger to public health or safety;
(2) Interfere with the dissemination of news or comment on public affairs;
(3) Affect or limit the jurisdiction or responsibilities of police forces, sheriffs or their deputies, fire fighting forces, local emergency medical service (EMS) agencies licensed by the state’s Department of Health and Welfare EMS Bureau, units of the armed forces of the country, or of any personnel thereof, when on active duty;
(4) Grant any authority to the Coordinator to take, appropriate, or commandeer any public or private property from its rightful owner or possessor for the purposes of disaster management; or
(5) Adopt or consent to adopt any plaits or programs, including state or federal plans or programs, relating to disaster management without separate consideration and approval of the Board of County Commissioners.
(Ord. 47, passed 2-14-2005)