When a petition is filed with all the necessary allegations, is sworn to by one (1) or more petitioners, and shows that fifty-one percent (51%) in acres of the land within the bounds of the district sought to be created is owned by the petitioners, and as further required by § 69-5-103; when the petition is accompanied by a general plat, and a general description of the district sought to be created; when a description, by surrounding landowners, is given in the petition, of the respective tracts of land within the bounds and the names of the owners of the tracts, who are not petitioners are set out in the petition; when the petitioners ask that provision be made for funds to defray the preliminary costs and expenses up to the stage in the proceedings where the report of the commissioners for the assessment of benefits have been filed and confirmed; and when the court deems it expedient that provision should be made for such a fund, to cover the preliminary costs and expenses; then the court shall set a day for the hearing, and direct that publication for all landowners set out in the petition, who are not petitioners, be made in some newspaper published in the county in which the district is located, and if located in more than one (1) county, then in a newspaper in each county, in which the lands in the proposed district are located, the publications to be for three (3) consecutive weeks, the last publication to be at least ten (10) days before the day set for the hearing; and the publication shall notify such landowners of the pending suit, the prayer for the creation of a fund to pay the preliminary costs and expenses, the day fixed for the hearing, and notify them to appear and show cause why an assessment to create the fund should not be made.
Structure 2021 Tennessee Code
Title 69 - Waters, Waterways, Drains and Levees
Chapter 5 - Drainage and Levee Districts
Part 1 - Establishment and General Provisions
§ 69-5-101. County May Establish Levee and Drainage Districts and Change Natural Watercourses
§ 69-5-102. Judicial Jurisdiction and Authority
§ 69-5-103. Petition for Establishment of District — Bond for Preliminary Expenses
§ 69-5-104. Qualifications of Petitioners
§ 69-5-105. Compensation of Attorneys
§ 69-5-106. Petitioners' Committee
§ 69-5-107. Preliminary Hearing — Notice and Requisites
§ 69-5-108. Preliminary Hearing — Procedure and Decree
§ 69-5-109. Appeal From Preliminary Decree
§ 69-5-110. Assessment Book — Collection by County Trustee
§ 69-5-111. Collection of Assessment by Other Counties
§ 69-5-112. Assessment Constitutes Lien
§ 69-5-113. Assessments — Bonds of County Trustee and County Clerk
§ 69-5-116. Location of Drains and Ditches
§ 69-5-117. Drains and Ditches Crossing Railroad Property
§ 69-5-118. Engineer's Assistants
§ 69-5-119. Plan Approval or Rejection
§ 69-5-121. Hearing Postponed Pending Notice — Hearing Without Formal Answers
§ 69-5-122. Further Examination and Report by Engineer
§ 69-5-123. Special Assessment to Pay Preliminary Costs and Expenses
§ 69-5-124. Special Assessment — Petition — Notice of Hearing
§ 69-5-125. Special Assessment — Hearing — Amount and Basis of Assessment
§ 69-5-126. Special Assessment — Appeal
§ 69-5-127. Special Assessment — Collection
§ 69-5-128. Special Assessment — Collection by Other Counties
§ 69-5-129. Special Assessment Constitutes Lien
§ 69-5-131. Payment of Preliminary Expenses — Methods of Refunding
§ 69-5-132. Preliminary Expenses — Contribution by County
§ 69-5-133. Expense Fund May Be Required, or Judgment Rendered on Bond
§ 69-5-134. Expense Fund Paid From Time to Time
§ 69-5-135. Payment of Expense Fund to Be Refunded Out of District Funds
§ 69-5-136. Establishment or Refusal of District
§ 69-5-139. Petitioners' Names May Be Signed by Attorney or Agent
§ 69-5-140. Drainage Record Book
§ 69-5-142. Compensation Fixed by County Court