The plan contemplated by Sections 5-3-300 through 5-3-315 may be formulated by agreement of the district and the annexing municipality. If, however, the district and municipality do not agree on such a plan within ninety days following a favorable vote at the last referendum election required to be held to authorize the annexation, the district and the municipality must appoint a committee to formulate such a plan in accordance with the following:

(1) The district and municipality shall each select a member of the committee and the two members so selected shall select a third member.

(2) If the two members fail to select a third member within thirty days after the second of them is appointed, either member may petition the court of common pleas for the county in which the annexed area or any part thereof lies to appoint a third member.

(3) Within ten days after appointment of a third member, the three members must select a committee chairman from among themselves.

(4) Within sixty days after selection of a chairman, the committee must develop a plan and present it to the district and the municipality.

(5) If either the annexing municipality or the district objects to the plan, it may appeal the plan to the court of common pleas for the county in which the annexed area or any part thereof lies. The appeal must be instituted within thirty days of the date the district or municipality receives the committee's plan.

(6) The court may modify the plan forwarded by the committee only upon finding an error of law, abuse of discretion, or arbitrary or capricious action by the committee.

(7) The fact that a plan has not been finalized may not in any way alter or delay the effective date of annexation; however, the district shall retain the right to operate its existing system, collect revenues, and collect taxes from or within the area annexed until such time as the municipality and the district agree on a plan or a plan is presented to the municipality and the district under item (4) above. In the event a plan is appealed to the courts, the court of common pleas for the county in which the annexed area or any part thereof lies may enter such orders under its general equitable powers as are necessary to protect the rights of parties pending final resolution of any appeal.

HISTORY: 1988 Act No. 626, Section 3; 2000 Act No. 250, Section 3.