(a) A hospital authority may be created whenever a city council or a county board of commissioners finds and adopts a resolution finding that it is in the interest of the public health and welfare to create a hospital authority.

(b) After the adoption of a resolution creating a hospital authority, the mayor or the chairman of the county board of commissioners shall appoint commissioners in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131E-18

(c) The commissioners shall be a public body and a body corporate and politic upon the completion of the procedures described in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131E-19 (1943, c. 780, s. 4; 1971, c. 799; 1983, c. 775, s. 1.)