96.176 Board to control plant -- Employees -- Rates and practices -- Engineer -- Contract. (1) Upon and after a board has been appointed and qualified, the said board shall have charge of the exclusive supervision, management and control of the operation, maintenance and extension of the electric and water plant. (2) All powers of the municipality to operate, maintain, improve and extend, and to furnish electric and water service, shall be exercised on behalf of the municipality by the board. The board shall employ all employees, fix their duties and compensation, and shall determine programs and make all determinations as to the operation, maintenance, improvement and extension of the electric and water plant, shall determine and fix the rates to be charged for the classes of service rendered, shall determine all financial practices, shall establish rules and regulations such as it deems necessary or appropriate to govern the operation of the plant and the furnishing of electric and water service, and shall collect all moneys from the operation, maintenance, improvement and extension of the electric and water plant and the furnishing of electric and water service and disburse same in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter provided. (3) The board in the operation of such system may, in its discretion, engage the services of a professional engineer, qualified by education, training and experience in the operation, maintenance, improvement and extension of electric and water systems, as supervising engineer, upon terms and conditions of service such as may be satisfactory to the board. The employment of any such engineer shall be by written contract, which shall specify the services to be rendered by such person, and the compensation to be paid. Any such contract may be terminated upon sixty (60) days' notice by either party. The board may, in its discretion, require of such person so engaged a bond, in a sum to be determined and approved by the board, conditioned upon his faithful performance of the services to be rendered by him under and by virtue of such employment. A copy of any such contract shall be filed in the office of the city clerk. (4) A copy of the schedule of the current rates and charges in effect from time to time, and a copy of all rules and regulations of the board relating to electric and water service shall be kept on public file at the main and all branch offices of the electric and water plant board and also in the office of the municipal clerk. (5) All contracts shall be let by the board, and all contracts for the purchase of materials, equipment and supplies in excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) shall be let only after competitive bidding; provided, however, when any materials, equipment or supplies be not available in the open market, such materials, equipment and supplies may be purchased without competitive bidding. All contracts shall be in the corporate name of the board, and shall be signed by the chairman or vice chairman of the board, and attested by the secretary or treasurer of the board. The board shall make and keep or cause to be made and kept full and proper books and records. Effective: June 17, 1978 History: Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 238, sec. 1, effective June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1956 Ky. Acts ch. 209, sec. 1. -- Amended 1952 Ky. Acts ch. 44, secs. 1 and 2. -- Created 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 212, sec. 8.