At the preliminary meeting of the court, it shall fix the time and place of the hearing on the petition for the establishment of the proposed conservancy district, which hearing shall be held not later than sixty days thereafter, and the clerk of the court shall give notice of the hearing by publication. Any owner of real property in a proposed district who individually has not signed the petition and who wishes to object to the organization and incorporation of the district shall, on or before the date set for the cause to be heard, file the owner's objections to the organization and incorporation of the district. Similarly, objections may be filed by any public corporation that has not signed the petition. The objections shall be limited to a denial of the statements in the petition and shall be heard by the court as an advanced case without unnecessary delay.

Upon the hearing, if it appears that the purposes of this chapter would be subserved by the creation of a district, the court, after disposing of all objections as justice and equity require, shall by its findings, duly entered of record, adjudicate all questions of jurisdiction; determine that the organization of the district for the purposes for which it is being organized, and that the surveys, plans, appraisals of benefits and damages, estimates of cost, land options, and the preparation of an official plan, will benefit the area within the territorial boundaries of the district; declare the district organized; and give it a corporate name by which in all proceedings it shall thereafter be known. A district so organized shall be a political subdivision of the state and a body corporate with all the powers of a corporation, and shall have perpetual existence, with power to sue and be sued, to incur debts, liabilities, and obligations, to exercise the right of eminent domain and of assessment as provided in this chapter, to issue bonds, and to do all acts necessary and proper for the carrying out of the purposes for which the district was created and for executing the powers with which it is invested.

In the decree, the court shall designate the place where the office or principal place of business of the district shall be located, which shall be within the corporate limits of the district if practicable, and which may be the district shall be held at the office or place of business, but for cause may be adjourned to any other convenient place. The official records and files of the district shall be kept at the office except as otherwise approved by the court.

If the court finds that the property set out in the petition should not be incorporated into a district, it shall dismiss the proceeding and adjudge the costs against the signers of the petition in the proportion of the interest represented by them.

After an order is entered, either dismissing the petition or establishing the district, the order is a final order and may be appealed by any interested party or by the state, within twenty days from the date that the order is entered. The organization of the district shall not be directly or collaterally questioned in any suit, action, or proceeding except as expressly authorized in this chapter.

Effective Date: 09-21-2000 .