35.01 ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE. A volunteer Fire Department is hereby established to prevent and extinguish fires and to protect lives and property against fires, to promote fire prevention and fire safety, and to answer all emergency calls for which there is no other established agency.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 364.16)

35.02 GOVERNING BOARD. In accordance with the agreement between the City and the trustees of Riverside Township, a Governing Board is hereby established to have jurisdiction over the operation and maintenance of the fire trucks and equipment. The Governing Board shall consist of four persons, two to be appointed from the Council and two to be appointed from the Township trustees. Such Governing Board shall elect its own Chairperson to preside over the meetings, but who shall continue to serve as a member of said Governing Board and vote regularly on matters before it. The said joint board shall approve expenses of operation, repairs to equipment, and the purchase of small equipment, and also the general policy of the Fire Department. However, any expenditures in excess of $2,500.00 for either repair or purchase of new equipment shall first be submitted to and approved by both the Council and the Township trustees.

35.03 BYLAWS. The company shall adopt a constitution and bylaws, as they may deem calculated to accomplish the object hereby contemplated and such constitution and bylaws and any change or amendment to such constitution and bylaws, before being effective, must be approved by the Governing Board.

35.04 TRAINING. All members of the department shall meet the minimum training standards established by the State Fire Marshal and attend and actively participate in regular or special training drills or programs as directed by the Fire Chief. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 100B.2[4])

35.05 FIRE CHIEF. The Fire Chief shall be elected by the firefighters and approved by the Governing Board as regulated by the constitution.

35.06 FIRE CHIEF’S DUTIES. The Fire Chief’s duties shall be strictly in accordance with the constitution of the Fire Department.

35.07 VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS. Any citizen of the City and Riverside Township who is in sound mind and body and who has attained the age of 21 years, and who is in good repute in the community, shall be eligible for election to membership.

35.08 FIREFIGHTER’S DUTIES. The duties of a volunteer firefighter shall be strictly in accordance with the constitution of the Fire Department.

35.09 ACCIDENTAL INJURY INSURANCE. The Council shall contract to insure the City against liability for worker’s compensation and against statutory liability for the costs of hospitalization, nursing, and medical attention for volunteer firefighters injured in the performance of their duties as firefighters whether within or outside the corporate limits of the City. All volunteer firefighters shall be covered by the contract.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 85.2, 85.61, and Sec. 410.18)

35.10 LIABILITY INSURANCE. The Council shall contract to insure against liability of the City or members of the department for injuries, death, or property damage arising out of and resulting from the performance of departmental duties within or outside the corporate limits of the City.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 670.2 and 517A.1)

35.11 FIRES OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP. The department shall answer calls to fires and other emergencies outside the City and Riverside Township if the Fire Chief has made mutual aid agreements with other communities in accordance with the constitution, and if the Fire Chief determines such emergency exists and that such action will not endanger persons or property within the City limits and Riverside Township.

35.12 AUTHORITY TO CITE VIOLATIONS. Fire officials acting under the authority of Chapter 100 of the Code of Iowa may issue citations in accordance to Chapter 805 of the Code of Iowa, for violations of State and/or local fire safety regulations. (Code of Iowa, Sec. 100.41)

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