The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Appointing body.
A member empowered by this article to appoint voting representatives to the Public Health Board.
Director.
Chief administrative officer of the city-county public health district.
Health authority.
The physician appointed to administer state and local laws relating to public health.
Local public health district (LPHD).
The Wichita Falls/Wichita County Local Public Health District.
Member.
The city, the county, or any other eligible government entity which may be admitted to the local public health district at a future date, and includes both operating and contributing members, but does not include government entities who merely contract with the local public health district for services.
Physician.
A person licensed to practice medicine by the state board of medical examiners.
Public board of health.
The Advisory Board of the local public health district.
Representative.
A person appointed to serve on the advisory Public Board of Health for the local public health district.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-76; 2001 Code, sec. 58-26)
There is created the Wichita Falls-Wichita County Public Health District, which shall be referred to as “the local public health district.”
(1966 Code, sec. 18-74; 2001 Code, sec. 58-27)
The agreement in this article is made in accordance with and pursuant to the Local Public Health Reorganization Act of 1983, Texas Health and Safety Code sec. 121.001 et seq. If there is any ambiguity or conflict, the terms and provisions of that act shall govern so far as is applicable.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-75; 2001 Code, sec. 58-28)
(a) 
The budget of the public health district shall be prepared and administered by the city manager with the advice of the director/health authority and the Public Board of Health.
(b) 
The public health district shall be operated primarily by the city, except as provided in the agreement in this article. All personnel shall be appointed by the city manager according to the city’s personnel procedures.
(c) 
The local public health district shall have the power to provide services for nonmembers by contract, provided that any contract shall have been approved by the city council.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-77; 2001 Code, sec. 58-29)
(a) 
Appointment of a director of the local public health district shall be made by the city manager, who shall seek and receive advice from the members of the public health district and the Public Board of Health before any appointment.
(b) 
The director shall perform all duties as specified in Texas Health and Safety Code sec. 121.001 et seq., and shall be subject to all requirements and rules of Texas Health and Safety Code sec. 121.001 et seq.
(c) 
The director may be removed from office pursuant to the personnel procedures applicable to city employees.
(d) 
The director shall seek the advice of the local Public Board of Health and the health authority in the performance of his duties.
(e) 
The director shall perform all management and supervisory functions pertaining to the local public health district as so directed by the city manager, except for those functions which are required by state law to be performed by a physician.
(1966 Code, secs. 18-79, 18-80; 2001 Code, sec. 58-30)
(a) 
The cost of operating the city-county public health district shall be prorated between or among its members as may be separately negotiated and approved by the governing bodies from time to time with the objective that each member pays in direct proportion to the cost of providing specific services to that member.
(b) 
The director of the local public health district shall provide information necessary to the members in order that they may anticipate contributions which will be required from them for the next fiscal year.
(c) 
Services for which proportionate contributions will be required will be determined by considering the cost of providing staff salaries, supplies, office quarters, health and clinic centers, health services and facilities, maintenance, travel, and such other factors as may be included by mutual agreement of the members.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-81; 2001 Code, sec. 58-31)
(a) 
Generally.
The public health district shall charge fees to persons who receive public health services. However, no person shall be denied public health services because of his inability to pay for services, and the public health district shall make provisions for a reduced fee or no fee for persons unable to pay for the services in whole or in part.
(b) 
Authority to be set; annual adjustments.
The city manager is hereby authorized to set fees for clinic services provided by the Health Department and make annual adjustments as authorized by the state administrative code.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-82; 2001 Code, sec. 58-32; Ordinance 74-2000, sec. 1, adopted 7/5/00)
(a) 
Other qualified government entities within the county may apply to become a member of the local public health district. The governing body of each member government entity shall review the application. If a majority of the governing body of each member government entity approves the application, the governmental entity may be admitted to membership upon such terms as are acceptable to the applicants and members.
(b) 
If a participating governmental agency decides to withdraw from the public health district, it shall give six months’ notice, in writing, to the governing body of each member. Upon the expiration of six months, this agreement then shall no longer bind the withdrawing member; however, the fiscal responsibility will be encumbered to the end of the local public health district’s fiscal year, which is October 1 of each year.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-83; 2001 Code, sec. 58-33)
Agreements made pursuant to this article may be modified at the request of a member, subject to the approval of all members of the local public health district, provided the changes are in accordance with the state Board of Health guidelines and the Local Public Health Reorganization Act.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-85; 2001 Code, sec. 58-34)
(a) 
The cooperative agreement made pursuant to this article shall be approved by the governing bodies of the city and the county and shall be signed by the appropriate officers of the city and county.
(b) 
Modification of the cooperative agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective upon the approval of the governing body of each member.
(c) 
A copy of the cooperative agreement and any subsequent modifications shall be included in the minutes of the governing body of each member and shall be filed with the county clerk, the city clerk, and with the state Department of Health.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-86; 2001 Code, sec. 58-35)
Provided that the governing bodies of each member of the local public health district so request by appropriate action, the city may apply to the governor’s office for designation as operator of the city-county public health district and may request a single audit or coordinated audits by all state agencies from which the public health district receives funds.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-87; 2001 Code, sec. 58-36)
The city manager is authorized to enter into a contract with the county upon the terms and conditions set forth in this article.
(1966 Code, sec. 18-88; 2001 Code, sec. 58-37)