2006 Utah Code - 17A-2-615 — Association to encourage uniformity and coordination of programs -- Contracts between two or more fire protection districts.

     17A-2-615.   Association to encourage uniformity and coordination of programs -- Contracts between two or more fire protection districts.
     (1) In addition to the powers stated in Section 17A-2-611, a fire protection district organized under this part may contract with any fire protection district, or with any town, city or municipal corporation or governmental agency or private person or persons to consolidate or cooperate for mutual fire fighting protection and prevention purposes; or, for mutual fire fighting, protection and prevention purposes only, may annex or become annexed to any city or town or governmental agency already provided with fire fighting and protection equipment and fire protection service upon terms which may be mutually agreed upon. Any city, town, municipal corporation or governmental agency may contract with a fire protection district established and maintained under the provisions of this part for the purpose of affording such district fire fighting and protection equipment and service or fire prevention facilities, and in so contracting the district, city, town, municipal corporation or other governmental agency shall be deemed for all purposes to act within its governmental capacity. Any fire protection district established and maintained under the provisions of this part, or any city, town, municipal corporation or other governmental agency is hereby authorized to contract with any person, firm or corporation for the purpose of affording fire fighting, protection or fire prevention facilities to such person, firm or corporation and such contractual relation shall be deemed for all purposes to be within the governmental power of such fire protection district, city, town, municipal corporation, or other governmental agency;
     (2) In addition to the powers stated in Section 17A-2-611, fire protection districts situated in different counties may contract to operate jointly in carrying out the objects of their creation. Contracts for joint operation may provide for joint ownership of property and equipment, and may authorize a joint board of trustees of the contracting districts to manage the affairs of the joint operations; to employ and discharge the necessary agents and employees and fix their respective wages and salaries; to provide and designate a suitable place within the districts or at some place in which any of the contracting districts is situated as near as possible to said districts, as a regular meeting place for the joint board; to incur the necessary expenses and direct the payment therefor from the funds of the contracting districts in such proportions as the joint boards shall determine; and to do all things as may in the judgment of the joint board, be required to carry out the joint operations of the contracting districts.
     The joint board shall consist of the members of the boards of the contracting districts and a majority of the membership of each district board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of the business of the joint board. The members of the boards of trustees of the contracting districts shall organize a joint board annually in January after the second Monday thereof, elect a chair and appoint a secretary for the ensuing year. Any member of the board of any contracting district may act as secretary of the joint board or the joint board may appoint such other person as the joint board may determine. The joint board shall prepare the annual budget for the joint operation of the contracting districts and shall determine the share of revenues for the joint operation to be raised by each district and the share of the expense of joint operation to be paid by each district in the ensuing year, and the secretary of the joint board shall certify and deliver within the time required by Section 17A-2-617 hereof, a copy of such annual budget to the county clerk of each county involved and to each of the contracting districts, showing the part of the budget to be raised by each contracting district, each contracting district shall then include that part of the budget to be raised by such district within the budget prepared and submitted to the county

legislative body in accordance with Section 17A-2-617.
     Contracts for joint operation of fire districts, as herein authorized, shall run from year to year and as of January 1st may be terminated by written notice of the board of trustees of any contracting district to the other contracting district or districts on or before July 1st and the contract for joint operations shall terminate on January 1st following: Provided, that all obligations of the joint operations must be paid or definitely arranged for before contract termination and no notice of termination shall relieve any contracting district of its unpaid obligation incurred under the contract for joint operation.
     (3) To encourage uniformity and coordination of fire protection district operation programs, the board of trustees of two or more fire protection districts may form an association thereof for the purpose of securing data and information of value in fighting and in preventing fires; hold and attend meetings thereof; and promote more economical and efficient operation of the associated fire protection districts. The trustees of fire protection districts so associated shall adopt articles of association, select a chair and secretary and such other officers as they may determine, and may employ and discharge such agents and employees as the officers consider convenient to carry out the purposes of the association.
     (4) Two or more fire protection districts may contract with each other and such a district may contract with a city or county or the state supervisor of forestry or any association approved by the supervisor for the joint leasing, ownership, maintenance and operation of all necessary and proper apparatus, facilities, machinery, and equipment for the elimination of fire hazards and for the protection of life and property against fire within the contracting districts, and of real property, improvements and fixtures thereon suitable and convenient for the housing, repairing and caring for, such apparatus, facilities, machinery and equipment, and may contribute their agreed proportion of the cost and expense thereof.
     Such contracts shall be executed by the board of trustees of the contracting districts and, when the contract is between such districts, the terms and conditions thereof shall be carried out by the boards of trustees acting jointly.

Amended by Chapter 254, 2000 General Session