82a-1338. Same; formation of water assurance district; election required, procedure; certificate of incorporation. Within 10 days after receipt of a certified copy of the chief engineer's report approving the petition, as required by K.S.A. 82a-1335, or the petition as amended, the chairperson of the steering committee of the proposed district shall call a meeting of the committee by mailing a written notice fixing the time and place of such meeting to each member of the committee. The committee shall meet at the time and place fixed in the notice for the purpose of adopting a resolution giving notice of an election at which all eligible water right holders shall be entitled to vote on the question of whether the district should be formed in accordance with the petition as approved by the chief engineer. A copy of such resolution shall be mailed to all eligible water right holders within the proposed district not less than 21 days prior to such election. The resolution shall state when and where the election shall be held and the proposition to be voted on. It shall contain a copy of the petition as approved by the chief engineer (omitting the map attached as an exhibit) and shall be signed by the chairperson and attested by the secretary of the steering committee. The steering committee shall conduct the election, canvass the vote, and certify the results to the secretary of state. If eligible water right holders representing more than 50% of the combined quantities of the eligible water rights within the proposed district vote in favor of the organization and creation of the district, the secretary of state shall issue to the steering committee a certificate of incorporation for the district, which shall be filed of record in the office of the register of deeds of each county in which all or a portion of the district lies. Upon such recordation of the certificate of incorporation, the district shall be authorized to function in accordance with the provision of this act and its certificate of incorporation. If eligible water right holders representing more than 50% of the combined quantities of the eligible water rights within the proposed district vote against the organization and creation of the district, the secretary of state shall endorse that fact on the face of the petition and the proceedings shall be closed. No action attacking the legal incorporation of any water assurance district organized under this section shall be maintained unless filed within 90 days after the issuance of the certificate of incorporation for such district by the secretary of state, nor shall the alleged illegality of the incorporation of any such district be interposed as a defense to any action brought after such time.

History: L. 1986, ch. 391, § 9; July 1.