Whenever the owners or representatives of twenty-five per cent or more of the acreage or value of the lands in a conservancy district or the board of directors of a conservancy district file a petition with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction in the original case, stating that there has been a material change in the values of the property in the district or additional benefits are being derived from the works and the improvements of the district since the last previous appraisal of benefits, and praying for a readjustment of the appraisal of benefits for the purpose of making a more equitable basis for the levy of the maintenance assessment under section 6101.53 of the Revised Code, the clerk shall give notice of the filing and of a hearing of the petition by publication.

Upon hearing of the petition, if the court finds there has been a material change in the values of property in the district, or that additional benefits are derived from the works and improvements of the district, or both, since the last previous appraisal of benefits, the court shall order that there be a readjustment of the appraisal of benefits for the purpose of providing a basis upon which to levy the maintenance assessment of the district. The court then shall direct the board of appraisers of the conservancy district to make the readjustment in the manner provided in this chapter, and the board shall make its report. The same proceedings shall be had on it, as nearly as may be, as are provided in this chapter for the appraisal of benefits accruing for original construction. In making the readjustment of the appraisal of benefits, the readjusted appraisal shall not be limited to the aggregate amount of or to the benefits or properties or persons listed in the original or any previous appraisal of benefits, and, after the making of the readjustment, the limitation of the annual maintenance assessment to one per cent of the total appraised benefits, but not less than two dollars, shall apply to the amount of the benefits as readjusted. There shall be no readjustment of benefits more often than once in six years.

Effective Date: 09-21-2000 .