Ind. Code § 36-8-11-12 – Board of fire trustees; appointment; terms of office; vacancies

(a) This section does not apply to the appointment of a governing board under section 12.5 of this chapter.
(b) Within thirty (30) days after the ordinance or resolution establishing the district becomes final, the county legislative body shall appoint a board of fire trustees. The trustees must be qualified by knowledge and experience in matters pertaining to fire protection and related activities in the district. A person who:
1. (1) is a party to a contract with the district;
2. (2) is a member, an employee, a director, or a shareholder of any corporation or association that has a contract with the district; or
3. (3) does not reside in the district;
  may not be appointed or serve as a trustee. The legislative body shall appoint one (1) trustee from each township or part of a township contained in the district and one (1) trustee from each municipality contained in the district. If the number of trustees selected by this method is an even number, the legislative body shall appoint one (1) additional trustee so that the number of trustees is always an odd number. If the requirements of this section do not provide at least three
4. (3) trustees, the legislative body shall make additional appointments so that there is a minimum of three (3) trustees.
(c) The original trustees shall be appointed as follows:
1. (1) One (1) for a term of one (1) year.
2. (2) One (1) for a term of two (2) years.
3. (3) One (1) for a term of three (3) years.
4. (4) All others for a term of four (4) years.
  The terms expire on the first Monday of January of the year their appointments expire. As the terms expire, each new appointment is for a term of four (4) years.
(d) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the county legislative body shall appoint a trustee with the qualifications specified in subsection
(b) for the unexpired term.
(e) On December 31, 2026, the term of any person serving as a trustee who does not reside in the district for which the person serves as a trustee is terminated. The county legislative body shall make new appointments as soon as possible after December 31, 2026, to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 19-1-45-14.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.63. Amended by P.L.63-1991, SEC.5; P.L.236-2023, SEC.197; P.L.157-2026, SEC.271.