Minnesota Statutes Counties, County Officers, Regional Authorities (Ch. 370-403) § 403.39. Regional radio boards

Subdivision 1. Establishment. Notwithstanding the provisions ofsection 471.59, subdivision 1, requiring commonality of powers, two or more counties or a city and one or more counties within a region defined in the statewide radio board's project plan undersection 403.36, through action of their governing bodies, by adoption of a joint powers agreement that complies withsection 471.59, subdivisions 1to5, may establish a regional radio board to implement, maintain, and operate regional and local improvements to the statewide, shared, trunked radio and communication system provided for insection 403.36. Where the governing bodies of the participating units of government of a regional radio board have approved an amendment to the regional radio board's joint powers agreement authorizing the incorporation of a federally recognized Indian tribe into the joint powers agreement, the federally recognized Indian tribe may be incorporated into the joint powers agreement upon the adoption of the joint powers agreement by the tribe's governing body. Membership in a regional radio board shall include one county commissioner appointed by each respective county board party to the joint powers agreement and an elected official from any city party to the joint powers agreement, and may include additional members whose qualifications are specified in the joint powers agreement.

Subd. 2. Powers. In addition to the powers enumerated insection 471.59, a regional radio board, as necessary and convenient to implement regional and local improvements to the statewide, shared, trunked radio and communication system provided for insection 403.36, has the following powers:

Subd. 3. Relationship to local governments. Where a regional radio board has been established in accordance with this section, local governments and other public entities eligible underCode of Federal Regulations, title 47, part 90, to operate upon a statewide, shared public safety radio and communication system within the region covered by the regional radio board must coordinate its implementation through one of the parties to the joint powers agreement. For purposes of grants made available by the Department of Public Safety, a regional radio board is entitled to apply for, receive, and administer grants on behalf of one or more public safety entities operating within the counties who are a party to the joint powers agreement.

Subd. 4.Scope. Nothing in this section shall limit a regional radio board organized undersection 471.59from expanding the scope of the joint powers agreement to include the joint or cooperative exercise of powers consistent withsection 471.59related to other public safety purposes which may include the joint and cooperative exercise of powers among less than all members of the regional radio board. An amendment to the joint powers agreement expanding the scope of the agreement must be approved by the governing bodies of each of the members of the regional radio board.