1. (1) The authority shall be governed by an elected seven-member board of directors, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection. The seven directors shall be elected at large by the qualified voters of the county at the first municipal election following the creation of the authority, provided that, the authority is created at a time prior to such election sufficient to allow the notice requirement of section 115.125 to be met. Otherwise, the directors shall be elected at the following municipal election. The two directors receiving the highest total number of votes shall serve terms of six years. From among the remaining directors, the three receiving the next highest total number of votes shall be elected for terms of four years. The remaining directors shall be elected for terms of two years. Thereafter, all directors shall serve terms of four years. All directors shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. None shall hold any other public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, if the number of candidates is no greater than the number of directors to be elected, no election shall be held, and the candidate or candidates shall assume the responsibilities of their offices at the same time and in the same manner as if they had been elected.

(2) In any first class county which does not have a charter form of government and which adjoins a first class county having a charter form of government and not containing all or part of a city with a population of more than three hundred thousand, and not more than one second class county, the authority shall be governed by a five-member board of directors. Such directors shall be elected as provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection, except that, the two directors receiving the highest total number of votes shall serve terms of six years. From among the remaining directors, the two receiving the highest total number of votes shall be elected for terms of four years and the remaining director shall serve a term of two years. Thereafter, all directors shall serve terms of four years. All directors shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified. None shall hold any other public office.

2. Directors shall not be compensated for services, but shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties from funds of the authority.

3. The board of directors shall meet and organize within sixty days after the election, and shall select one member to be chairman and another to be vice chairman, which officers shall be selected every two years.

4. In any county which has adopted the provisions of sections 305.300 to 305.333 prior to May 6, 1986, an election of directors shall be conducted as provided in this section. All directors appointed under prior law shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified.