85-8-121. Court determination. (1) If the court or presiding judge, after hearing any and all competent evidence that may be offered for and against the petition for the creation of the district, finds that the petition has not been signed as required in this part, the petition must be dismissed at the cost of the petitioners and judgment must be entered against the petitioners for the amount of the costs.
(2) If it appears that the petition has been signed as required in this part, the court or judge shall so find and order any necessary amendments to the petition, shall divide the district into three divisions, as nearly equal in area as possible, and shall appoint three suitable and competent persons as commissioners and fix their temporary bonds. One commissioner must be appointed from each division, and each person appointed must be an actual landowner and resident of the county or counties in the division for which the person is appointed. If the district is situated in two or more counties, not more than two of the commissioners may reside in one of the counties. Ownership of land within the district may not disqualify a person from acting as a commissioner.
History: (1)En. Sec. 15, Ch. 129, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 7279, R.C.M. 1921; re-en. Sec. 7279, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 89-2216, R.C.M. 1947; (2)En. Sec. 16, Ch. 129, L. 1921; re-en. Sec. 7280, R.C.M. 1921; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 50, L. 1925; re-en. Sec. 7280, R.C.M. 1935; Sec. 89-2217, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 89-2216, 89-2217(part); amd. Sec. 2805, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
85-8-101. Petition for creation of district
85-8-102. Amendment and circulation of petition -- court consideration
85-8-103. Territory to be included
85-8-104. through 85-8-110 reserved
85-8-112. Affidavit in case of nonresident petitioners
85-8-113. Proof of service and publication
85-8-114. Personal service of notice to confer jurisdiction
85-8-115. Insufficient service
85-8-116. Procedure on adjourned day
85-8-117. Contest by landowners
85-8-118. Determination of sufficiency of petition
85-8-119. Receiving affidavits on question of petition sufficiency