(a)

(1) The West Tennessee River basin authority, under the administrative control of the department of environment and conservation, shall be governed and directed by a board of directors consisting of the following members:

(A) The county mayor of each county electing to participate in the authority shall be a member of the board or, if the county mayor recommends, the county legislative body may select a member of the county legislative body or another citizen of the county to serve instead of the county mayor;

(B) The commissioner of agriculture or a designee;

(C) One (1) member who is a supervisor of a soil conservation district in the participating counties, as established under the Soil Conservation Districts Law, compiled in title 43, chapter 14, part 2, to be appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by interested soil conservation groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Association of Soil Conservation Districts. The term of this member shall coincide with the supervisor's term of office;

(D) Two (2) members of the house of representatives representing part of the area to which this part applies, to serve on the board during that representative's term of office, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives from different political parties unless all members representing part of the area only belong to one (1) political party then the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two (2) members from that political party;

(E) Two (2) members of the senate representing part of the area to which this part applies, to serve on the board during that senator's term of office, to be appointed by the speaker of the senate from different political parties unless all members representing part of the area only belong to one (1) political party then the speaker of the senate shall appoint two (2) members from that political party;

(F) The commissioner of environment and conservation or a designee;

(G) The executive director of the wildlife resources agency or a designee;

(H) One (1) member who is a resident of a participating county appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by interested forestry groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Forestry Association;

(I) One (1) member who is a resident of a participating county appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by interested conservation groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Wildlife Federation; and

(J) One (1) member who is a resident of a participating county appointed by the governor from a list of nominees submitted by interested farm business groups including, but not limited to, the Tennessee Farm Bureau.

(2) The governor shall consult with the interested groups described in subdivision (a)(1) to determine qualified persons to fill the positions on the board.

(b) Annually, at its first meeting of the year, the board shall elect a chair, vice chair and a secretary-treasurer and shall set a regular time and place for meetings of the board.

(c) Members of the board shall serve without compensation except reimbursement as provided by state travel regulations for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(d) The terms of the members of the board that are appointed by the governor pursuant to subsection (a) shall be six (6) years. Such members shall serve until a successor is appointed.