After receipt of the petition, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall:

1. Set the petition for hearing before a hearing officer in a place of general convenience at the nearest county seat. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall instruct the petitioners to publish, at their expense, notice of said hearing by legal publication for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation, published in each county containing lands within the boundaries of the proposed district. Such hearing date shall be set not earlier than thirty (30) days after the last publication date of said notice. In addition, owners of land included in the proposed district, as reflected by the records of the county clerk of the county wherein the land is located, shall be notified by the petitioners of the hearing by registered or certified mail. Such notice shall be mailed at least thirty (30) days prior to the date set for the hearing. The notice shall contain:

a.a brief statement describing the purpose of such hearing,

b.a description of the territory to be included within said district, and

c.the date and the time and place of the hearing at which all persons residing or owning property within the proposed district may appear and be heard concerning the petition;

2. Permit filing of statements supporting or opposing the same;

3. Approve or deny the petition and plan as the Oklahoma Water Resources Board deems advisable;

4. Include or exclude lands within the district, upon application of the owners thereof, provided the Oklahoma Water Resources Board finds that it is in the best interest of the district and the owners of such land;

5. If the organization of the district is approved, issue an order describing the boundaries of the district. The order shall be filed of record within thirty (30) days after the date of issuance by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board in the office of the county clerk of each county or counties wherein lands included within the district are located; and

6. Call a meeting, and instruct the petitioners to give notice by mail of such meeting, of the district electors for the purpose of adopting bylaws and electing directors.

Laws 1973, c. 179, § 4, emerg. eff. May 16, 1973; Laws 1992, c. 69, § 5, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.