1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to taxation; authorizing the creation of an Isanti Area Joint Operating 
1.3 	Fire District. 
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. ISANTI AREA JOINT OPERATING FIRE DISTRICT.
 1.6 		Subdivision 1.Agreement. The city of Isanti together with one or more of the towns 
1.7 	of Athens, Stanford, Bradford, Isanti, and Oxford may, by action of their city council and 
1.8 	town boards, establish the Isanti Area Joint Operating Fire District. The district shall 
1.9 	provide fire protection services throughout its territory and may exercise all the powers of 
1.10 	the city and towns that relate to fire protection anywhere within its territory. Any other 
1.11 	contiguous town or statutory city may join the district with the agreement of the cities 
1.12 	and towns that comprise the district at the time of its application to join by majority vote 
1.13 	of the district board. Action to join the district may be taken by the city council or town 
1.14 	board of the city or town.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Membership. The district board shall consist of one elected member 
1.16 	appointed by the city council or town board of each city or town in the district. One 
1.17 	additional member shall also be appointed by the Isanti Fire District Board, which must be 
1.18 	the chief of the Isanti Fire District or the chief's designee. Each member appointed by the 
1.19 	city council or town board has individual voting authority. The chief of the Isanti Fire 
1.20 	District shall provide advice only and does not have individual voting authority.
1.21 		Subd. 3.Officers. The fire district shall elect from among its voting members a 
1.22 	chair and vice-chair. The chair shall act as the presiding officer at all fire district meetings 
1.23 	unless the chair is not present, in which case the vice-chair shall preside.
2.1 		Subd. 4.Terms. Members shall serve one-year terms ending the first Monday in 
2.2 	January. Vacancies on the board must be filled in the same manner as the appointment 
2.3 	of its original members.
2.4 		Subd. 5.Meetings. The fire district shall hold monthly meetings at a time and 
2.5 	location to be set by the fire district, with notice provided under Minnesota Statutes, 
2.6 	section 13D.04. The district may, by resolution, determine to hold more or fewer meetings, 
2.7 	or to change the location or time of meetings.
2.8 		Subd. 6.Tax. The fire district may impose a property tax on real property located 
2.9 	within the district in an amount sufficient to discharge its operating expenses and debt 
2.10 	payable in each year. The tax must be disregarded in the calculation of any levies or 
2.11 	limits on levies provided by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 275, or any other law. A city or 
2.12 	town that joins the district may not incur expenses or debt for fire protection services for 
2.13 	territory included in the district.
2.14 		Subd. 7.Withdrawal. Upon two years' notice, a city or town may withdraw from 
2.15 	the fire district. Its territory shall remain subject to taxation for debt incurred prior to 
2.16 	its withdrawal.