Missouri § 67.1898 - Dissolution of a district, procedure.

§ 67.1898. Dissolution of a district, procedure.

1.  Whenever a petition signed by not less than ten percent of the registered voters in any district organized pursuant to sections 67.1860 to 67.1898 is filed with the circuit court having jurisdiction over the district, setting forth all the relevant facts pertaining to the district, and alleging that the further operation of the district is not in the best interests of the inhabitants of the district, and that the district should, in the interest of the public welfare and safety, be dissolved, the circuit court shall have authority, after hearing evidence submitted on such question, to order a submission of the question, after having caused publication of notice of a hearing on such petition in the same manner as the notice required in section 67.1874, in substantially the following form:

2.  If the court shall find that it is to the best interest of the inhabitants of the district that such district be dissolved, it shall make an order reciting such finding and providing for the submission of the proposition to dissolve such district to a vote of the voters of the district, setting forth such further details in its order as may be necessary to an orderly conduct of such election.  Such election shall be held at the municipal election.  Returns of the election shall be certified to the court.  If the court finds that a majority of the voters voting thereon shall have voted in favor of the proposition to dissolve the district, the court shall make a final order dissolving the district, and the decree shall contain a proviso that the district shall continue in full force for the purpose of paying all outstanding and lawful obligations and disposing of property of the district; but no additional costs or obligations shall be created except such as are necessary to pay such costs, obligations and liabilities previously incurred, or necessary to the winding up of the district.  If the court shall find that a majority of the voters of the district voting thereon shall not have voted favorably on the proposition to dissolve such district, then the court shall make a final order declaring such result dismissing the petition praying for the dissolution of said district; and the district shall continue to operate in the same manner as though the petition asking for such dissolution has not been filed.

3.  The dissolution of a district shall not invalidate or affect any right accruing to such district, or to any person, or invalidate or affect any contract or indebtedness entered into or imposed upon such district or person; and whenever the circuit court shall, pursuant to this section, dissolve a district, the court shall appoint some competent person to act as trustee for the district so dissolved and such trustee before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties shall take and subscribe an oath that he or she will faithfully discharge the duties of the office, and shall give bond with sufficient security, to be approved by the court to the use of such dissolved district, for the faithful discharge of his or her duties, and shall proceed to liquidate the district under orders of the court, including the levying of any taxes provided for in sections 67.1860 to 67.1898.

­­--------

(L. 2001 H.B. 80 merged with S.B. 224)

Effective 5-16-01 (S.B. 224); 7-02-01 (H.B. 80)

---- end of effective  02 Jul 2001 ----

use this link to bookmark section  67.1898