SECONDREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.2351
102NDGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEBONACKER.
4751H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsection204.602,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofonenewsectionrelatingto
sewerdistricts.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Section204.602,RSMo,isrepealedandonenewsectionenactedinlieu
2thereof,tobeknownassection204.602,toreadasfollows:
204.602.1.Proceedingsforthenewformationofareorganizedcommonsewer
2districtundersections204.600to204.640shallbesubstantiallyasfollows:apetitionin
3duplicatedescribingtheproposedboundariesofthereorganizeddistrictsoughttobeformed,
4accompaniedbyaplatoftheproposeddistrict,shallfirstbefiledwitheachcounty
5commissionhavingjurisdictioninthegeographicareatheproposeddistrictissituated.Such
6petitionshallberuledonbyeachcountycommissionhavingjurisdictionwithinthirtydays
7fromthedateofhearingthepetition.Ifthepetitionforthereorganizeddistrictisrejectedby
8anycountycommissionhavingjurisdiction,nofurtheractionontheproposeddistrictshall
9takeplacebeforethecountycommissionwhichrejectedthepetitionorthecircuitcourtofthat
10countyinthecountywhichrejectedthepetition.Ifapprovedbyeachcountycommission
11havingjurisdiction,apetitioninduplicatedescribingtheproposedboundariesofthe
12reorganizeddistrictsoughttobeformed,accompaniedbyaplatoftheproposeddistrict,shall
13befiledwiththeclerkofthecircuitcourtofthecountywhereintheproposeddistrictis
14situatedorwiththeclerkofthecircuitcourtofthecountyhavingthelargestacreageproposed
15tobeincludedintheproposeddistrict,intheeventthattheproposeddistrictembraceslands
16inmorethanonecounty.Suchpetition,inadditiontosuchboundarydescription,shallset
17forthanestimateofthenumberofcustomersoftheproposeddistrict,thenecessityforthe
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 18formationofthedistrict,theprobablecostofacquiringorconstructingsanitarysewer
19improvements[with] withinthedistrict,ifappropriate,anapproximationoftheassessed
20valuationoftaxablepropertywithinthedistrict,whethertheboardoftrusteesshallbeelected
21orappointedbythecountycommission,andsuchotherinformationasmaybeusefultothe
22courtindeterminingwhetherornotthepetitionshouldbegrantedandadecreeof
23incorporationentered.Suchpetitionshallbeaccompaniedbyacashdepositoffiftydollarsas
24anadvancementofthecostsoftheproceeding.Thepetitionshallbesignedbynotlessthan
25fiftyvotersorpropertyownerswithintheproposeddistrictandshallrequesttheincorporation
26oftheterritorythereindescribedintoareorganizedcommonsewerdistrict.Thepetitionshall
27beverifiedbyatleastoneofthesigners.
28 2.Uponfiling,thepetitionshallbepresentedtothecircuitcourt,andsuchcourtshall
29fixadateforahearingonsuchpetition,asprovidedinthissection.Theclerkofthecourt
30shallgivenoticeofthepetitionfilinginsomenewspaperofgeneralcirculationinthecounty
31inwhichtheproceedingsarepending.Ifthedistrictextendsintoanyothercounty,such
32noticealsoshallbepublishedinsomenewspaperofgeneralcirculationinsuchothercounty.
33Thenoticeshallcontainadescriptionoftheproposedboundarylinesofthedistrictandthe
34generalpurposesofthepetition.Thenoticeshallsetforththedatefixedforthehearingon
35thepetition,whichshallnotbelessthanfifteennormorethantwenty-onedaysafterthedate
36ofthelastpublicationofthenotice,andshallbeonsomeregularjudicialdayofthecourtthat
37thepetitionispending.Suchnoticeshallbesignedbytheclerkofthecircuitcourtandshall
38bepublishedinthreesuccessiveissuesofaweeklynewspaperorinadailypaperonceaweek
39forthreeconsecutiveweeks.
40 3.Thecourt,forgoodcauseshown,maycontinuethecaseorthehearingfromtimeto
41timeuntilfinaldisposition.
42 4.Exceptionstotheformationofadistrict,ortotheboundariesoutlinedinthe
43petitionforincorporation,maybemadebyanyvoterorpropertyownerwithintheproposed
44districts,providedthatsuchexceptionsarefilednotlessthanfivedayspriortothedatesetfor
45thehearingonthepetition.Suchexceptionsshallspecifythegroundsuponwhichthe
46exceptionsarebeingmade.Ifanysuchexceptionsarefiled,thecourtshalltaketheminto
47considerationinpassinguponthepetitionandalsoshallconsidertheevidenceinsupportof
48thepetitionandinsupportoftheexceptionsmade.Shouldthecourtfindthatthepetition
49shouldbegrantedbutthatchangesshouldbemadeintheboundarylines,itshallmakesuch
50changesintheboundarylinesassetforthinthepetitionasthecourtmaydeemproperand
51enteritsdecreeofincorporation,withsuchboundariesaschanged.Nopublicsewerdistrict
52shallbeformedunderthischapter,chapter249,section247.035,oranysewerdistrictcreated
53andorganizedunderconstitutionalauthority,theboundariesofwhichshallencroachuponthe
54corporateboundariesofanysewerdistrictthenexistingoruponthecertificatedboundaries
HB2351 2 55thenexistingofanysewercorporationprovidingserviceunderacertificateofconvenience
56andnecessitygrantedbythepublicservicecommission.Norshallanypublicsewerdistrict
57extendwastewatercollectionandtreatmentserviceswithintheboundariesofanotherdistrict
58withoutawrittencooperativeagreementbetweensuchdistrictsorwithinthecertificated
59boundariesthenexistingofanysewercorporationprovidingserviceunderacertificateof
60convenienceandnecessitygrantedbythepublicservicecommissionwithoutawritten
61cooperativeagreementbetweenthepublicsewerdistrictandthecertificatedsewer
62corporation.
63 5.Shouldthecourtfindthatitwouldnotbeinthepublicinteresttoformsucha
64district,thepetitionshallbedismissedatthecostofthepetitioners.Ifthecourtshouldfindin
65favoroftheformationofsuchdistrict,thecourtshallenteritsdecreeofincorporation,setting
66forththeboundariesoftheproposeddistrictasdeterminedbythecourtunderthehearing.
67Thedecreeshallfurthercontainanappointmentoffivevotersfromthedistricttoconstitute
68thefirstboardoftrusteesofthedistrict.Thecourtshalldesignatesuchtrusteestostaggered
69termsfromonetofiveyearssuchthatonedirectorisappointedorelectedeachyear.The
70trusteesappointedbythecourtshallserveforthetermsdesignatedanduntiltheirsuccessors
71havebeenappointedorelectedasprovidedinsection204.610.Thedecreeshallfurther
72designatethenameofthedistrictbywhichitshallofficiallybeknown.
73 6.Thedecreeofincorporationshallnotbecomefinalandconclusiveuntilitis
74submittedtothevotersresidingwithintheboundariesdescribedinsuchdecreeanduntilitis
75assentedtobyamajorityofthevotersasprovidedinsubsection9ofthissectionorbytwo-
76thirdsofthevotersofthedistrictvotingontheproposition.Thedecreeshallprovideforthe
77submissionofthequestionandshallfixthedateofsubmission.Thereturnsshallbecertified
78bytheelectionauthoritytothecircuitcourthavingjurisdictioninthecase,andthecourtshall
79enteritsordercanvassingthereturnsanddeclaringtheresultofsuchelection.
80 7.Ifamajorityofthevotersofthedistrictvotingonsuchpropositionapproveofthe
81proposition,thenthecourtshall,insuchorderdeclaringtheresultoftheelection,entera
82furtherorderdeclaringthedecreeofincorporationtobefinalandconclusive.Intheevent,
83however,thatthecourtshouldfindthatthequestionhadnotbeenassentedtobythemajority
84requiredinthissection,thecourtshallenterafurtherorderdeclaringsuchdecreeof
85incorporationtobevoid.Noappealshallbepermittedfromanysuchdecreeofincorporation
86norfromanyoftheaforesaidorders.Intheeventthatthecourtdeclaresthedecreeof
87incorporationtobefinal,theclerkofthecircuitcourtshallfilecertifiedcopiesofsuchdecree
88ofincorporationandofsuchfinalorderwiththesecretaryofstateofthestateofMissouri,
89withtherecorderofdeedsofthecountyorcountiesinwhichthedistrictissituated,andwith
90theclerkofthecountycommissionofthecountyorcountiesinwhichthedistrictissituated.
HB2351 3 91 8.Thecostsincurredintheformationofthedistrictshallbetaxedtothedistrict,ifthe
92districtisincorporated;otherwisethecostsshallbepaidbythepetitioners.
93 9.Ifpetitionersseekingformationofareorganizedcommonsewerdistrictspecifyin
94theirpetitionthatthedistricttobeorganizedshallbeorganizedwithoutauthoritytoissue
95generalobligationbonds,thenthedecreerelatingtotheformationofthedistrictshallrecite
96thatthedistrictshallnothaveauthoritytoissuegeneralobligationbonds.Thevoterequired
97forsuchadecreeofincorporationtobecomefinalandconclusiveshallbeasimplemajority
98ofthevotersofthedistrict.
99 10.Onceareorganizedsewerdistrictisestablished,theboundariesofthereorganized
100sewerdistrictmaybeextendedorenlargedfromtimetotimeuponthefiling,withtheclerkof
101thecircuitcourthavingjurisdiction,ofapetitionbyeither:
102 (1)Theboardoftrusteesofthereorganizedsewerdistrictandfiveormorevotersor
103landownerswithintheterritoryproposedtobeaddedtothedistrict;or
104 (2)Theboardoftrusteesandamajorityofthelandownerswithintheterritorythatis
105proposedtobeaddedtothereorganizedsewerdistrict.
106
107Ifthepetitionisfiledbyamajorityofthevotersorlandownerswithintheterritoryproposed
108tobeaddedtothereorganizedsewerdistrict,thepublicationofnoticeshallnotberequired,
109providednoticeispostedinthreepublicplaceswithinsuchterritoryatleastsevendaysbefore
110thedateofthehearing,andprovidedthatthereissworntestimonybyatleastfivelandowners
111insuchterritory,oramajorityofthelandownersifthetotallandownersintheareaarefewer
112thanten.Otherwisetheproceduresfornoticesubstantiallyshallfollowtheproceduresin
113subsection2ofthissectionforformation.Territoryproposedtobeaddedtothereorganized
114sewerdistrictmaybeeithercontiguousorreasonablyclosetotheboundariesoftheexisting
115district,providedthatitshallnotincludeanyterritorywithinthecorporateboundariesofany
116sewerdistrictthenexistingorwithinthecertificatedboundariesthenexistingofanysewer
117corporationprovidingserviceunderacertificateofconvenienceandnecessitygrantedbythe
118publicservicecommission.Upontheentryofafinaljudgmentdeclaringthecourt'sdecreeof
119territoryproposedtobeaddedtothereorganizedsewerdistricttobefinalandconclusive,the
120courtshallmodifyorrearrangetheboundarylinesofthereorganizedsewerdistrictasmaybe
121necessaryoradvisable.Thecostsincurredintheenlargementorextensionofthedistrictshall
122betaxedtothedistrict,ifthedistrictisenlargedorextended.Otherwise,suchcostsshallbe
123paidbythepetitioners.However,nocostsshallbetaxedtothetrusteesofthedistrict.
124 11.Shouldanylandownerwhoownsrealestatethatisnotwithinthecertificated
125boundariesofanysewercorporationprovidingserviceunderacertificateofconvenienceand
126necessitygrantedbythepublicservicecommissionorwithinanothersewerdistrictorganized
127underthischapterorchapters247or249orundertheMissouriConstitution,butthatis
HB2351 4 128contiguousorreasonablyclosetotheexistingboundariesofthereorganizedsewerdistrict,
129desiretohavesuchrealestateincorporatedinthedistrict,thelandownershallfirstpetitionthe
130boardoftrusteesforitsapproval.Ifsuchapprovalisgranted,thesecretaryoftheboardshall
131endorseacertificateoftheboard'sapprovalofthepetition.Thepetitionsoendorsedshallbe
132filedwiththeclerkofthecircuitcourtinwhichthereorganizedsewerdistrictisincorporated.
133Itthenshallbethedutyofthecourttoamendtheboundariesofsuchdistrictbyadecree
134incorporatingtherealestate.Acertifiedcopyofthisamendeddecreeincludingtherealestate
135inthedistrictthenshallbefiledintheofficeoftherecorder,intheofficeofthecountyclerk
136ofthecountyinwhichtherealestateislocated,andintheofficeofthesecretaryofstate.The
137costsofthisproceedingshallbebornebythepetitioningpropertyowner.
138 12.Theboardoftrusteesofanyreorganizedcommonsewerdistrictmaypetitionthe
139circuitcourtofthecountycontainingthemajorityoftheacreageinthedistrictforan
140amendeddecreeofincorporationtoallowthatdistricttoengageintheconstruction,
141maintenance,andoperationofwatersupplyanddistributionfacilities[thatservetenormore
142separatepropertieslocatedwhollywithinthedistrict,are]inanareanotservedbyanother
143politicalsubdivision,orarenotlocatedwithinthecertificatedareaofawatercorporationas
144definedinchapter386,orwithinapublicwatersupplydistrictasdefinedinchapter247[,and
145theoperationandmaintenanceofallsuchexistingwatersupplyfacilities]. Thepetitionshall
146befiledbytheboardoftrustees,andallproceedingsshallbeinsubstantiallythesamemanner
147asinactionforinitialformationofareorganizedcommonsewerdistrict,exceptthatnovote
148oftheresidentsofthedistrictshallberequired.Allapplicableprovisionsofthischaptershall
149applytotheconstruction,operation,andmaintenanceofwatersupplyfacilitiesinthesame
150mannerastheyapplytolikefunctionsrelatingtosewertreatmentfacilities.
151 13.Notwithstandingtheprovisionsofsubsection12ofthissectiontothe
152contrary,whentheboardoftrusteesofareorganizedcommonsewerdistrictandthe
153governingbodyofapublicwatersupplydistrictasdefinedinchapter247mutually
154determinethataconsolidationoftheirsewerandwateroperationswouldbetterserve
155theareawithintheirboundaries,theboardoftrusteesofthereorganizedcommonsewer
156districtshallpetitionthecircuitcourtofthecountycontainingthemajorityofthe
157consolidatedserviceterritorytoamendthedecreeofincorporationtoallowthedistrict
158toconsolidatethepublicwatersupplydistrictintothereorganizedcommonsewer
159district.Thepetitionshallincludeaplanofconsolidationandshallbefiledbytheboard
160oftrustees,andallproceedingsshallbeconductedinthesamemannerasinanaction
161fortheinitialformationofthereorganizedcommonsewerdistrict,exceptthatnovoteof
162theresidentsofthedistrictshallberequired.Allapplicableprovisionsofthischapter
HB2351 5 163shallapplytotheconstruction,operation,andmaintenanceofwatersupplyfacilitiesin
164thesamemannerastheyapplytolikefunctionsrelatingtosewertreatmentfacilities.
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