(A) Establishment.
(1) There is hereby created the Woodford County Emergency Management Agency, in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chapters 39A through 39F, consisting of a Director and other employees of the Agency as shall be deemed necessary by the Woodford County Judge/Executive and the Woodford County Fiscal Court, which shall serve in the interest of public safety within the territorial boundaries of Woodford County.
(2) The Emergency Management Agency shall:
(a) Exist as an organizational unit of county government attached to the Judge/Executive’s office, 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;
(b) Develop, implement, and maintain the local comprehensive emergency management program for the county in accordance with: KRS Chapters 39A to 39F; the comprehensive emergency management program requirements of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management; the provisions of the Kentucky Emergency Operations Plan; administrative regulations promulgated by the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management; and the resolutions, orders and/or ordinances of the Fiscal Court; and
(c) Meet all requirements of a local emergency management agency as defined in KRS Chapters 39A to 39F, and shall be the administrative branch of the Disaster and Emergency Services organization established pursuant to KRS Chapters 39A to 39F.
(3) The Judge/Executive shall designate and include a separate Emergency Management Agency budget unit classification within each annual budget, and all financial matters of the Emergency Management Agency shall be handled through the county treasury and uniform budget system.
(B) Duties of Emergency Management Director.
(1) Within 30 days of assuming office following his/her election, the County Judge/Executive shall appoint a County Emergency Management Director in accordance with the provisions of KRS Chapter 39B, and shall immediately notify the Kentucky 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 Emergency Management Director immediately upon appointment, and shall serve at the pleasure of the Judge/Executive, but shall serve no longer than four (4) consecutive years without reappointment and, at a minimum, shall meet all the qualification requirements specified in KRS Chapters 39A to 39F.
(3) The County Emergency Management Director shall have and shall exercise all the powers, authorities, rights, and duties as specified in KRS Chapters 39A to 39F, and in the orders or ordinances of the Fiscal Court to include the following:
(a) Represent the Judge/Executive on all matters pertaining to the comprehensive emergency program and the disaster and emergency response of the county;
(b) Be the Executive Head and Chief Administrative Officer of the Emergency Management Agency, and shall direct, control, supervise, and manage the development, preparation, organization, administration, operations, implementation, and maintenance of the comprehensive emergency management program of the county, and shall coordinate all disaster and emergency responses of the county;
(c) Develop, update, and maintain the Woodford County Emergency Operations Plan in compliance with the provisions of KRS Chapters 39A to 39F;
(d) Establish, maintain, and coordinate or direct the Woodford County Disaster and Emergency Services organization in accordance with the provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan, and the provisions of KRS Chapter 39A to 39F;
(e) Notify the Judge/Executive and the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management immediately of the occurrences, 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 damage or threats to life, health, safety, property, or the environment, and recommend any emergency actions or orders which should be executed;
(f) Be the chief advisor to, and the primary on-scene representative of, the Judge/Executive in the event of any emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe within the county;
(g) Respond and have full access to the scenes of an emergency, declared emergency, disaster, or catastrophe, and immediately investigate, analyze, or access 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 Emergency Operations Plan; activate the Woodford County Emergency Operations Center or on-scene command post; convene meetings, gather information, and conduct briefings; notify the Judge/Executive and the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management immediately of the nature, scope, or seriousness of any emergency situation and provide information on all ongoing 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;
(h) Take or direct immediate actions to protect public safety at the direction of the Judge/Executive during any declared emergency or disaster;
(i) Act as an official representative of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management when specifically requested by the State Director;
(j) Report directly to the Judge/Executive and act in an official policymaking capacity when carrying out all duties of the Office of Emergency Management Director;
(k) Have full signatory authority, in accordance with, and as permitted in, the county administrative code, for execution of all contracts, agreements, or other official documents pertaining to the administration, organizations, and operation of the Emergency Management Agency and the local comprehensive emergency management program;
(l) Direct all paid or volunteer employees, staff assistants, or other workers of the Emergency Management Agency, and supervise any operating units and personnel associated with it which are officially appointed and affiliated with the Disaster and Emergency Services organization pursuant to the provisions of KRS Chapter 39A to 39F;
(m) Prepare and submit regular or scheduled program activity reports to the area manager of the Division of Emergency Management and the Judge/Executive:
(n) Execute bond in the amount as determined by the Judge/Executive, when directed by the Judge/Executive;
(o) Prepare and submit to the Judge/Executive, on an annual basis by March 1, a fiscal year program paper and budget request for the Office of Emergency Management;
(p) Enroll in, and be a registered member of, the Kentucky Emergency Management Association or other professional association related to the industry;
(q) Perform the duties of, or appoint with the approval of the Fiscal Court, the Woodford County Search and Rescue Coordinator pursuant to the provisions of KRS Chapter 39F; and
(r) Perform all administrative, organizational, or operations tasks required pursuant to KRS Chapters 39A to 39F, Kentucky Administrative Regulations, the Kentucky Emergency Operations Plan, or program guidance issued by the state Division of Emergency Management; and carry out all other emergency management-related duties as required by resolutions, orders, or ordinances of the Fiscal Court, the executive orders of the Judge/Executive, and the provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan.
(C) Interlocal agreement. The interlocal agreement between the Midway City Government, Versailles City Government, and the Woodford County Fiscal Court to provide Emergency Management Agency services to the areas within the corporate limits of Midway and Versailles is hereby adopted and made a part hereto by reference as if set out in full herein. A copy is available to the public upon open records request through the Woodford County Judge/Executive’s office.
(D) Penalty. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section, or any lawful orders, rules or regulations promulgated pursuant to it, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Violators of this section may be issued a citation by the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office, Versailles Police Department, Kentucky State Police, or by a duly authorized official. Any of the aforesaid may also seek to procure a criminal summons through the Woodford County Attorney’s Office, rather than issue a citation.
(Ord. 2023-19, passed 1-9-2024)