(A) There is hereby created and established a special tax district within York County, South Carolina, to be known as Bethel Rural Fire District, which shall include and be comprised of territory in York County embraced within the certain area shown and described on the map of Bethel Rural Fire District in Appendix D of the Bethel Zoning Code.
(B) Bethel Rural Fire District is created and established for the purpose and function of providing rural fire protection services therein, and Council is hereby authorized to exercise all powers and to perform all duties necessary to the proper rendering of rural fire protection services therein.
(C) (1) There is hereby created and established a Board of Rural Fire Control for Bethel Rural Fire District, and Bethel Rural Fire District shall be managed and operated by such Board of Rural Fire Control. The Board of Rural Fire Control of Bethel Rural Fire District shall consist of five members appointed by the County Council, who must be residents of the area encompassed within Bethel Rural Fire District.
(2) The members of the Board of Rural Fire Control for Bethel Rural Fire District shall be appointed to their initial terms as follows: one member shall serve for a term of four years; one member shall serve for a term of three years; one member shall serve for a term of two years; and two members shall serve for terms of one year. Successors shall be appointed for terms of four years. Any member whose term expires shall continue to serve until such time as a successor is duly appointed and qualified. The five members, upon being appointed and qualified, shall take office at which time the terms shall commence and expire as indicated upon the certificate of each member. Any member of the Bethel Board of Rural Fire Control shall be eligible for reappointment. The members of the Bethel Board of Rural Fire Control shall serve without compensation or pay. The Bethel Board of Rural Fire Control shall annually elect a chairman, a vice-chairman, a secretary, a treasurer and such other officers as it deems necessary. The Board of Fire Control shall meet no less frequently than quarterly, and at such other times as called by the chairman or upon written request of a majority of the members. No more than two volunteer firefighters may serve at any one time as members of the Board of Rural Fire Control for Bethel Rural Fire District.
(3) Any member who shall be absent for 50% or more of the meetings of the Board during any calendar year shall be deemed to have forfeited his membership on the Board and shall be removed without further action by the Board or the York County Council. It shall be the responsibility of the Board's secretary to notify the Board, the offending member and the York County Council of such absences, removal, and vacancy, and the County Council shall fill the vacancy created thereby in the manner of the original appointment for the unexpired term of such member.
(D) The Bethel Board of Rural Fire Control for Bethel Rural Fire District is hereby authorized to exercise such powers with respect to the governance and functions of the Bethel Rural Fire District as shall not be inconsistent with the general policies established by the Council, and pursuant to that authority shall be empowered to:
(1) Buy such fire-fighting equipment as the Board deems necessary for the purpose of controlling fires within the funds allocated or made available to the Board for such purposes;
(2) Select the sites within the service area of the Bethel Rural Fire District where fire-fighting equipment owned by the Bethel Rural Fire District shall be kept;
(3) Employ all necessary personnel and fix their compensation;
(4) Procure and supervise the training of firemen to ensure that the equipment shall be utilized for the best interests of Bethel Rural Fire District;
(5) Be responsible for the upkeep, maintenance and repair of trucks and other fire-fighting and related equipment, and to that end, shall, as frequently as necessary, inspect such equipment;
(6) Promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to ensure that the equipment is being used to the best advantage of the service area;
(7) Construct, if necessary, buildings to house the equipment authorized herein;
(8) Purchase, lease, hold and dispose of real and personal property in the name of the County for the exclusive use of Bethel Rural Fire District; provided, however, that any such conveyance, lease or purchase of real property shall be by the Council and in accordance with the provisions of S.C. Code §§ 4-9-10 et seq., as amended;
(9) Subject to Council approval, cooperate or enter into contracts or agreements with any public or private agency which results in improved services or the receipt of financial aid in carrying out the functions of Bethel Rural Fire District;
(10) Annually, as part of the budgetary process, submit to the Council a budget for the ensuing fiscal year adequate to fund the operation and maintenance of the Bethel Rural Fire District, listing all funds which the Board of Fire Control anticipates will be needed and available for the operation of the Bethel Rural Fire District. All funds appropriated, earned, granted or donated to Bethel Rural Fire District, including all funds appropriated by the Council, shall be deposited and expended as provided in this subchapter. All funds appropriated, earned, granted or donated to the Bethel Rural Fire District shall be used exclusively for providing rural fire protection and related services;
(11) Review and audit all financial procedures relating to Bethel Rural Fire District, which audits shall conform to the practices and procedures established by the Council;
(12) Annually submit to the Council the amount of millage that will be sought to levy for the upcoming fiscal year within the limits of the maximum amount of millage established by law; and
(13) Annually file a detailed report of its operations and expenditures for the previous fiscal year with the Council.
(Ord. 3609, passed 7-20-09; Am. Ord. 3611, passed 11-21-11; Am. Ord. 1017, passed 3-20-17; Am. Ord. 6218, passed 12-17-18; Am. Ord. 1122, passed 2-21-22)