(a) Each board shall consist of five (5) members unless there is an expansion of the board to provide services outside the county which created it.
(b)
(1) The initial members shall be appointed by the county judge of the creating county for terms of one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), and five (5) years, respectively.
(2) When a rural waterworks facilities board is created to assume the operations of an existing nonprofit corporation that provides water or sewer service, the county judge shall appoint the initial members from a list of nominees provided by the nonprofit corporation's board of directors.
(3) Successor members shall be elected by a majority of the board or by alternative member selection as set forth in § 14-238-124 for terms of five (5) years.
(4) Each member shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
(5) A member shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself.
(c) Each member shall qualify by taking and filing with the clerk of the county creating the board his or her oath of office in which he or she shall swear to support the United States Constitution and the Arkansas Constitution and to discharge faithfully his or her duties in the manner provided by law.
(d) In the event of a vacancy in the membership of the board, however caused, a majority of the board shall elect a successor member to serve the unexpired term.
(e) The members of the board shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
(f) Any member of the board may be removed for misfeasance, malfeasance, or willful neglect of duty by the county judge of the county which created the board, after reasonable notice of and an opportunity to be heard concerning the alleged grounds for removal.
(g)
(1)
(A) If the jurisdiction of a board, pursuant to interlocal agreements, expands to provide services outside the boundaries of the county from which it obtains power, then not more than two (2) additional members per county may be added pursuant to the terms of any relevant interlocal agreement.
(B) These members shall initially be appointed by the county judge of the noncreating county and shall serve for a term agreed upon in the interlocal agreement, provided that the term shall not exceed five (5) years.
(2)
(A) The other provisions of this section shall apply to these additional members.
(B) Provided, no additional member shall be eligible to serve as chair of the board.