Oklahoma § 82-277.5 - Electors - Persons eligible to serve - First meeting Adoption of bylaws - Other business

§ 82-277.5. Electors - Persons eligible to serve - First meeting Adoption of bylaws - Other business

A. 1. Any elector in the division of the district in which he

resides may serve as a director in that division.

2. If an elector does not own irrigable land in the division of

the district in which he resides, or resides outside the district,

such elector may serve as a director in the division in which the

majority of his land is located.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights

B. At the time and place established by the Oklahoma Water

Resources Board for the first meeting of the electors of the

district, the electors shall adopt bylaws. In addition to any other

provisions normally and properly included in bylaws, the bylaws

shall, at a minimum, include provisions regarding the following:

1. Establishing the district's name and principal place of

business;

2. Requiring an annual meeting of electors and providing that a

notice of such annual meeting be given, by mail, to each elector not

less than fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting;

3. Requiring special meetings of electors and providing that a

notice of such special meeting be given, by mail, to each elector

not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the special meeting;

4. Requiring that the electors pursuant to the provisions of

this section shall:

a.

establish qualifications and a process to elect a

board of directors. The board of directors shall be

composed of not less than five members nor more than

nine. The board of directors shall be elected from

divisions approximately equal in land area and number

of electors. A director shall be twenty-one (21)

years of age or older and an elector in the district,

and

b.

set the director's terms of office. The terms of

office of the initial board shall be until the date of

the first, second, or third annual meeting of the

electors. Successors shall be elected for terms of

three (3) years. For any vacancy on the board due to

resignation, death, or any cause resulting in an

unexpired term, the board shall appoint a person to

complete such unexpired term;

5. Requiring that any director who ceases to qualify as an

elector or a director during his term of office shall immediately

cease to be a director and his office shall be vacant;

6. Requiring that a director may be removed from his office by:

a.

a majority vote of the electors in the electing

division at any time, and for any reason at an

election called upon a petition signed by at least

sixty percent (60%) of the electors of the division,

or

b.

the district judge having jurisdiction of the district

for dishonesty, incompetency or failure to perform the

duties imposed upon him pursuant to the Oklahoma

Irrigation District Act;

7. Requiring that each elector be entitled to one vote on any

election, motion, resolution or proposal properly brought for vote

before the electors;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 82. Waters and Water Rights

8. Providing that each elector may vote in person, by proxy or

by absentee ballot by procedures established and supervised by the

directors; and

9. Providing for setting and modification of assessments.

C. Following the adoption of bylaws, the electors shall conduct

such other business as may be necessary for the proper organization

of the district including but not limited to:

1. Electing a board of directors pursuant to the district's

bylaws; and

2. Adopting an official seal.

D. 1. Following the first meeting of electors, the board shall

submit the initial bylaws to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for

their approval or disapproval. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board

shall either approve or disapprove the bylaws within sixty (60) days

after receiving written notification and a copy of the bylaws from

the board. The failure of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to

disapprove the bylaws within sixty (60) days shall constitute

approval.

2. Upon any subsequent modification or amendment of the bylaws

by the electors, the modified or amended bylaws shall be submitted

to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for their approval or

disapproval in the same manner and subject to the same conditions as

the initial bylaws. Any modification or amendment of existing

bylaws shall not become effective until the Oklahoma Water Resources

Board has approved such modifications or amendments in whole, in

part or as otherwise authorized by the Oklahoma Water Resources

Board.

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

§ 6, emerg. eff. April 13, 1992.