This section creates the Escambia County Industrial Development Authority and sets who appoints its members, their residency and office-holding limits, and a funding condition for extra non-voting members.
For the purpose of promoting industry and trade and to assist the county commission or other like governing bodies in Escambia County in their pursuits thereof, there is created an Industrial Development Authority for Escambia County which shall be composed of members as provided in this section. No member of the authority shall hold an elected office. Except as otherwise provided in this section, all members of the authority shall be residents and qualified electors of Escambia County. (1) Five members of the authority shall be appointed by the Escambia County Commission. All appointments of successors to these five members shall be made by the Escambia County Commission, from a list submitted by the House of Representatives member whose district encompasses the majority of Escambia County. If successors are not appointed within 90 days after the expiration of the members’ terms, the House of Representatives member whose district encompasses the majority of Escambia County shall appoint the successors, and all members shall serve until their successors are appointed. The members of the authority appointed by the Escambia County Commission or the House of Representatives member whose district encompasses the majority of Escambia County shall serve for terms of four years. Vacancies in the positions of these five members shall be filled in the same manner as the original five members are appointed, but any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term. (2) The governing bodies of Brewton and Atmore shall each appoint two members of the authority. The governing bodies of Flomaton and East Brewton shall each appoint one member of the authority. The members of the authority appointed by the governing bodies of Brewton, Atmore, Flomaton, and East Brewton shall serve for terms of three years. Successors to these six members shall be appointed in the same manner as the original six members are appointed, so long as the governing bodies financially support the Industrial Development Authority of Escambia County. All members shall serve until their successors are appointed. Vacancies in the positions of these six members shall be filled in the same manner as the original six members are appointed, but any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve only for the unexpired portion of the term. At the completion of any three-year term, or in the case of a vacancy, if a governing body has chosen not to financially support the Industrial Development Authority of Escambia County, its appointees shall be appointed in the same manner as those in subdivision (1). (3) The Escambia County Commission may authorize additional non-voting ex officio members who are not required to be residents or electors of the county to be appointed by an entity that requests to participate in the authority provided the entity contributes not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) each year for the operation of the authority.