§ 82-1324.25. Annexation of additional territory - Petition.

Two or more districts organized under this act may be consolidated into a single district by complying with the procedures prescribed in this section.

The proposal for consolidation shall be prepared in written form and shall set forth in detail the reasons for consolidation and the advantages which would accrue to each district from the proposal.  The written proposal shall be considered and acted upon by the board of directors from each district affected at a duly called meeting.  If the board of directors of each district approves the proposal by resolution, the proposal shall then be submitted to a vote of the membership of each district at a regular or special membership meeting.  If the consolidation proposal is not approved by the membership of each district affected such districts may not be consolidated.

If the proposal is approved by the membership of each district, the boards of directors shall then submit it to the creditors of each district for approval or disapproval.  In the event the creditors do not approve the consolidation proposal, the districts shall not be consolidated.

Upon approval of the proposal by the membership of each district and by all creditors, the board of directors of the districts desiring to be consolidated shall join in filing a petition, addressed to the board of county commissioners having jurisdiction as provided by this section, for a hearing to consolidate such districts into a single district.  Said petition shall set forth the necessity for such consolidation of two or more districts, and that the consolidation of said districts shall be conducive to the public health, convenience, safety or welfare, and to the economical execution of the purposes for which the districts were organized.  The consolidation proposal as approved by the membership and the boards of directors of each district and the approval of each of the creditors shall be attached to the petition as exhibits.

If the districts seeking consolidation are situated in one county, the petition shall be filed with the county clerk of said county, and the board of county commissioners of said county shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine the petition.

In the event the districts were organized in different counties the petition shall be filed with the county clerk of the county in which the greatest portion of the territory of the proposed consolidated district is located, and the board to determine the question of consolidation shall consist of the board of county commissioners from each of the counties, and a majority of the combined boards shall be necessary to render a decision.

Upon receipt of said petition, the county clerk shall thereupon give notice to the board or boards of county commissioners of the filing and pendency of said petition, whereupon the county commissioners of the county wherein the petition is filed shall enter its order setting hearing, and giving notice of the hearing, all in accordance with the provisions of this act for the creation of districts in the first instance.  In addition to the notice as prescribed by the act for the creation of districts, the county clerk shall at least ten (10) days before the date fixed for said hearing give or send by registered mail or certified mail notice thereof to each creditor of each of the districts to be consolidated, addressed to the creditor's last-known address.

After the hearing, should the board find that the averments of the petition are true and that said districts, or any of them, should be consolidated, the board shall enter its order directing the consolidation of the districts.  The order shall set forth the corporate name of the consolidated district under the name of "Consolidated Rural Water and/or Sewer District and/or Gas District and/or Solid Waste Management District No._____, __________ County (ies), Oklahoma." The order shall further provide that the consolidated district shall assume and become legally liable for all of the obligations of the districts consolidated into the single district.

Following the entry of said order, an organizational meeting of the combined membership of each of the districts shall be held for the purpose of electing directors and officers, and adopting bylaws. This organizational meeting shall be held in accordance with the provisions pertaining to the creation and organization of districts.  From any order of the board, an appeal may be taken in the manner as provided for appeals from decision of the board of county commissioners.

All legal proceedings already instituted by or against any district involved in a consolidation proceeding may be revived and continued by or against the consolidated district by an order of the court substituting the name of such consolidated district.

Added by Laws 1975, c. 254, § 25.  Amended by Laws 1975, c. 170, § 11, emerg. eff. May 21, 1975.