(a) The authority shall consist of 11 members as provided in this subsection. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Webster County shall serve as a member and chairman of the authority, and he shall appoint six other members of the authority, who shall be qualified voters and residents of Webster County. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Stewart County shall serve as a member of the authority, and he shall appoint one other member of the authority, who shall be a qualified voter and resident of Stewart County. The chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Marion County shall serve as a member of the authority, and he shall appoint one other member of the authority, who shall be a qualified voter and resident of Marion County.

(b) The terms of office of the chairmen of the boards of county commissioners shall be concurrent with their terms of office as chairmen of the boards of county commissioners in their respective counties.

(c) The original appointive members shall serve for terms of office as follows: the members of the authority appointed from Stewart County and Marion County and two of the members appointed from Webster County shall each serve for terms of office of four years. Four of the members appointed to the authority from Webster County shall be appointed for two years. When making the appointments of the initial members from Webster County, the chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Webster County shall designate which members shall serve the two-year terms and which shall serve the four-year terms.

(d) After the expiration of the initial terms, all terms of office of appointive members shall be for four years. The members of the authority shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified.

(e) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term, and appointments to fill vacancies shall be made in the same manner as the original appointments.

(f) The authority shall elect one of its members as vice-chairman. It shall also elect a secretary and a treasurer who need not be members. The office of secretary and treasurer may be combined in one person.

(g) The authority may make such bylaws for its government as is deemed necessary, but it is under no duty to do so.

(h) Any seven members of the authority shall constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business; and a majority vote of those present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be sufficient to do and perform any action permitted by this part. No vacancy on the authority shall impair the right of a quorum to transact any and all business which may properly come before the authority.

(i) The members shall receive no compensation for their services, but all members shall be entitled to be reimbursed for actual expenses, including travel and any other expenses, incurred while in the performance of their duties. Employees of the authority shall receive reasonable compensation, to be determined by the members of the authority, for their services.