On the date fixed by the clerk of the board of county commissioners with whom the petition was filed, the board of county commissioners from each of the counties affected by a proposed joint county improvement shall meet in the county in which the petition is filed and organize a joint board of county commissioners by electing one of their number president. The clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the petition is filed shall act as clerk of the joint board and shall enter the findings of the joint board in the journal of the board of county commissioners of his county, shall do all things required to be done by the clerk, and shall make the final record of the improvement in his county. The clerk shall file certified copies of all proceedings with the clerks of the boards of all affected counties. A majority of the county commissioners constituting the joint board shall constitute a quorum. All decisions of the joint board shall be made by a vote of a majority of the county commissioners constituting the joint board. The director of the department of natural resources shall be a member ex officio of the joint board and may participate, either in person or through a designated representative, in deliberations and proceedings of the joint board but shall have no vote except in case of a tie, in which case the proceedings shall be adjourned for thirty days, during which time the director shall review the proceedings and cast the deciding vote. The vote shall be recorded in the journal. After the view of the improvement by the joint board, all hearings shall be held in the county in which the petition is filed.

Effective Date: 04-09-1981 .