22-29-118.

22-29-118.

(e) The term of office of an appointed director begins on the day the appointee accepts the appointment unless the letter of resignation of the prior incumbent specifies a later date, which date then shall be the beginning of the appointee's term.

(f) Any vacancy created by failure of the board to comply with W.S. 9-1-507(a)(vii) shall be filled by appointment by the board of county commissioners for the sole purpose of acting as trustee to dissolve the district without election pursuant to W.S. 22-29-401 et seq.

ARTICLE 3 - ENLARGEMENT, CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND CHANGE OF BOUNDARIES

22-29-301. Enlargement petitions.

(a) When any voters or landowners of an area wish to join a district, they may file an enlargement petition with the county commissioners. Unless otherwise provided under this subsection, the petition for enlargement may include provisions allowing the board of district directors to be enlarged by one (1) or more positions to be filled by voters residing or located in the new area, the number of positions to be determined by the petitioners and the district directors of the existing district. Before the petition is filed with the county commissioners, it shall be approved by the directors of the affected district and by any other agency also required by the principal act to approve the petition. The petition process shall be governed by W.S. 22-29-105 through 22-29-108. An election need not be held on an enlargement petition if the petition alleges and the county commissioners find:  (i) All landowners and all voters, if any, within the new area and the board of directors of the district agree to the inclusion of the new area within the district.

(ii) Repealed by Laws 2008, Ch. 22, § 2.

(b) W.S. 22-29-109 applies to the proceeding conducted by the county commissioners and the rights, powers and duties of petitioners and other persons having an interest in the proceedings. The county commissioners shall approve or disapprove the enlargement petition.

(c) Except as provided under subsection (a) of this section, if the enlargement petition is approved, there shall be an election which shall be conducted under this act. At the enlargement election, there shall also be elected temporary directors whose terms shall expire at the next regular district director election. At the first regular election following the enlargement election, the total number of directors shall be as stated in the principal act.

22-29-302. Merger of districts; effect.

(a) A district may merge with another district even if formed under different principal acts, if the merger is first approved by the county commissioners and approved by the voters of each district. The districts included in the merger shall be considered joined to and absorbed into the surviving district.

(b) If the merger is approved, the district directors and officers of the merging districts shall transfer to the directors of the surviving district all funds, property, contracts and records of the merging districts. Upon the effective date of the merger:

(i) The surviving district shall succeed to all the property, contracts, rights and powers of the merging districts, and shall constitute and be a regularly organized district as if originally organized in the manner provided by the principal act;

(ii) Uncollected taxes, assessments or charges levied by the merging districts shall become the property of the surviving district and upon collection shall be credited to the account of the surviving district; and  (iii) The surviving district shall become liable for all the obligations, legal and contractual, of the merging districts.

22-29-303. Consolidation of districts; effect.

(a) Two (2) or more districts even if formed under different principal acts may consolidate and form a new district if the consolidation is first approved by the county commissioners and approved by the voters. The districts included in the consolidation shall be considered joined into a single new district.

(b) If the consolidation is approved, the district directors and officers of the consolidating districts shall transfer to the directors of the successor district all funds, property, contracts and records of the consolidating districts. Upon the effective date of the consolidation:

(i) The successor district shall succeed to all the property, contracts, rights and powers of the consolidating districts, and shall constitute and be a regularly organized district as if originally organized in the manner provided by the principal act;

(ii) Uncollected taxes, assessments or charges levied by the consolidating districts shall become the property of the successor district and upon collection shall be credited to the account of the successor district; and

(iii) The successor district shall become liable for all the obligations, legal or contractual, of the consolidating districts.

22-29-304. Initiation of merger and consolidation; election.

(a) The voters of two (2) or more districts may initiate proceedings to merge or consolidate districts by filing a petition with the directors of the districts to be merged or consolidated. The petition shall be circulated and jointly verified in accordance with W.S. 22-29-105 and 22-29-108 by the secretaries of the districts involved. The petition shall state the name of the surviving or successor district. If two (2) or more districts planning to merge or consolidate have been formed under two (2) different principal acts, the petition shall also state under what principal act the merged or consolidated district shall operate. The principal act under which the merged or consolidated district shall operate may be different than the principal acts governing the original districts. In addition, the petition of merger or consolidation shall set forth provisions pertaining to the composition of the board of the new district until the next district election. The board of the new district may be composed of members of the combined boards. At the next regular district election members shall elect a new board. Thereafter the merged or consolidated board shall operate with the number of directors applicable under the principal act.

(b) Upon the district secretary certifying the petition, the directors of the districts shall order an election which shall be conducted in accordance with W.S. 22-29-113 through