358C.22 Detachment of land.

1. When a majority of the board of trustees of a district desires that any property within the district be detached from the district, the trustees shall first propose a resolution declaring the advisability of the detachment and setting out the terms and conditions of the detachment and also setting out the time and place when the board of trustees will meet to consider the adoption of the resolution. Notice of the time and place when the resolution is set for consideration shall be published as provided in section 331.305, which publication shall contain the entire wording of the proposed resolution. If any part of the district lies within a city, then the trustees shall mail a copy of the proposed resolution to the city on the date of first publication of the resolution. At the hearing the owners of property within the district, or any city, may appear and make objections to the proposed resolution. If the owners representing a majority of the area of real estate within the district fail to sign and present to the board of trustees, on or prior to the hearing date, a written petition opposing the resolution, a majority of the board of trustees may pass the resolution and adopt the proposed detachment, except that the resolution shall not be adopted if the district is indebted on any outstanding bonds or warrants of the district unless the holders of the bonds and warrants all sign written consents to the detachment prior to the adoption of the resolution of detachment. If the petition opposing the resolution is signed by property owners representing a majority of the area of real estate within the district and presented to the board of trustees on or prior to the hearing date, the board of trustees shall not adopt the resolution. After the board of trustees has adopted the resolution of detachment, the clerk of the district shall prepare and file a certified copy of the resolution of detachment in the office of the county auditor where the original petition was filed, and the area detached shall become excluded and detached from the boundaries of the district.

2. The owner of a discrete tract of land which is part of a district but which is not connected to the main area of the district may petition the board of trustees of the district to have the property detached from the district. Following receipt of the petition, the board of trustees shall propose a resolution declaring the advisability of the detachment and setting out the terms and conditions of the detachment and setting out the time and place when the board of trustees will meet to consider the adoption of the resolution. Notice of the time and place for the consideration shall be published as provided in subsection 1. If any part of the district lies in whole or in part within a city, the board of trustees shall mail a copy of the proposed resolution to the municipality within five days after the date of first publication of the resolution. At the hearing for consideration of the resolution, the board of trustees shall determine if the tract of land proposed for detachment has all of the following characteristics:

a. Has an area of twenty-five acres or more.

b. Is undeveloped and predominantly devoted to agricultural uses.

c. Has no improvements or obligations placed upon it by the district and receives no current services from the district.

3. If the board of trustees by majority vote determines that the tract in question meets all of the conditions provided in subsection 2, paragraphs “a” through “c”, the resolution shall be adopted, except that the resolution shall not be adopted if the district is indebted on any outstanding bonds or warrants of the district unless the holders of the bonds and warrants all sign written consents to the detachment. After the board of trustees has adopted the resolution of detachment, the clerk of the district shall prepare and file a certified copy of the resolution of detachment in the office of the county auditor where the original petition was filed and the area detached shall become excluded and detached from the boundaries of the district.

95 Acts, ch 200, §22