Irrigation Districts (Wyoming Statutes: Title 41 - Water; Chapter 7)

41-6-506. Foreclosure of tax deeds; disposition of sale proceeds. (a) Upon the confirmation of such sale, the proceeds arising therefrom shall be delivered by the sheriff to the clerk of said court to be applied by him as follows: (i) To the payment of all costs of such action and sale, including an attorney fee to the lienholder's attorney to be allowed by the court; (ii) To the payment of all sums due the lienholder, including the value of all improvements placed on said land by said lienholder and those under whom he holds; (iii) The balance, if any, to be paid to the prior owners of said land and those having an interest therein, as their interests may appear. 41-6-507. Remedy cumulative. The right and remedy herein provided for shall be cumulative and in addition to the right of any purchaser at tax sale to acquire tax deed in the manner and time now provided by law. CHAPTER 7 - IRRIGATION DISTRICTS ARTICLE 1 - IN GENERAL 41-7-101. Waiver of defect of service. In case of failure to serve any notice of any proceeding or hearing in this chapter provided for upon any person or corporation, such persons or corporation may appear in open court and waive such defect of service, or may waive it by filing in court or delivering to the commissioners of the irrigation district to be filed in court a written waiver of such defect, in which waiver said defect shall be described, which waiver shall be signed by such party and witnessed and acknowledged before a proper officer having power to take acknowledgments of deeds. 41-7-102. Construction; generally. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to promote the public welfare by reclaiming and irrigating lands, constructing and completing reservoirs, canals, ditches, or other works specified in the petition and the preservation or operation of any irrigation system heretofore or hereafter constructed according to law. 41-7-103. Construction; formerly organized districts; pending liens, actions. Nothing in this act shall be construed as to affect the validity of any district heretofore organized under the laws of this state, or its rights in or to property, or any of its rights or privileges of whatsoever kind or nature; but said districts are hereby made subject to the provisions of this act so far as practicable; nor shall it affect, impair, or discharge any contract, obligations, lien, or charge for, or upon which it was or might become liable or chargeable had not this act been passed; nor shall it affect the validity of any bonds which have been issued; nor shall it affect any action which now may be pending. 41-7-104. Construction; existing water rights. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to in any manner impair existing water rights, appropriations or priorities within said district. ARTICLE 2 - ORGANIZATION GENERALLY 41-7-201. Filing of landowners' petition; contents; amendments; multiple petitions. (a) Whenever a majority of the freeholders owning lands and the entrymen upon public lands in any district who shall represent one-third the area of lands within said district, or whenever the freeholders owning lands and the entrymen upon public lands who shall represent more than one-half the area of lands within said district, desire to provide for the irrigation of the same; or to improve the existing water supply for said lands; or to purchase, extend, operate or maintain constructed irrigation works; or to cooperate with the United States under the federal reclamation laws heretofore or hereafter enacted, or for the assumption as principal or guarantor of indebtedness to the United States on account of district lands, they may file in the district court of the county which embraces the largest acreage of the district, a petition, hereinafter referred to as the "petition", which shall include: (i) The name of the proposed irrigation district; (ii) The necessity of the proposed work describing the necessity; (iii) The object and purpose of the system proposed to be constructed, together with a general description thereof; (iv) A general description of the lands proposed to be included in said district. Accompanying said petition shall be a preliminary engineering report on the feasibility of the project, including a report on the sufficiency of its water supply; the approximate area of irrigable land within the district, including an estimate of the cost of construction; all of which shall be approved by the state engineer; (v) The names of all freeholders owning lands and the entrymen on public lands in said district, when known; (vi) Whether or not the petitioners desire and propose to cooperate with the United States; (vii) A general prayer for the organization of the district. (b) No petition having as many signers as are required by this section shall be declared void, but the court may at any time permit the petition to be amended in form and substance to conform to the facts, if the facts justify the organization of an irrigation district. Several similar petitions for the organization of the same district may be circulated, and when filed, shall together be regarded as one petition having as many signers as there are separate signers on the several petitions filed. All petitions for the organization of said district filed prior to the hearing on said petition shall be considered by the court, the same as if filed with the first petition placed on file, and the signatures thereon contained shall be counted in determining whether sufficient persons have signed said petition. 41-7-202. Petitioner's affidavit. The affidavit of any three (3) or more of the signers of said petition stating that they have examined it and are acquainted with the locality of said district and that said petition is signed by a sufficient number of corporations and adult persons owning lands in said district, to satisfy W.S. 41-7-201, may be taken by the court or judge as sufficient evidence of the facts therein stated. 41-7-203. Land that may be included in proposed district. The lands proposed to be included in any irrigation district, need not be contiguous provided that the benefit of the proposed work in each part will exceed the damages from costs of said proposed work in each part; and provided further that the court shall be satisfied that said proposed work can be more cheaply done if in a single district than otherwise; and provided further that lands within a town or city may be included within the limits of any irrigation district, if the creation of such irrigation district will benefit such town or city in any amount equal to or in excess of the amount of assessment for construction against the lands therein. 41-7-204. Hearings; service of notice generally; contents. (a) On such petition being filed the court or judge thereof shall make an order fixing the time and place of the hearing thereon and ordering notice; thereupon the clerk of said circuit court, for the county in which the proceedings are instituted, shall cause twenty (20) days notice of the filing of such petition to be given: (i) By serving or causing to be served a copy of such notice on each person owning, or entitled to possession by virtue of public land filing, of land within said proposed district, residing in any county in which any lands in said proposed district are situated, either personally or by leaving a copy thereof at his last usual place of abode, with a person of suitable age and discretion, and by registered mail to any mortgagee, mortgagees or judgment lienholder whose address is of record in the record of said lien in the county or counties in which said district is situated; and (ii) By publishing a copy thereof at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in each county within which any of the lands of the district are situated. If there be no newspaper in any such county, such notice may be published in a newspaper published in an adjoining county. (b) Such notice shall: (i) State in what court said petition is filed; (ii) Give a general description of the proposed work; (iii) Give the proposed boundaries of said district (or a general description of all the lands in said proposed district); (iv) Give the name proposed for said irrigation district; (v) State the time and place by the court fixed, when and where the petitioners will ask a hearing on said petition; and (vi) Direct all persons owning or having an interest in any lands within the boundary of the proposed district, to appear at the time and place stated, then and there to show cause why their land should not be included in said district. 41-7-205. Hearings; notification of nonresidents; personal service in lieu of posting for all persons. If any of the persons owning or entitled to possession of land in said district are nonresidents of the county or counties in which the proposed district lies, the petition shall be accompanied by an affidavit giving the names and post office address of each such nonresident, if such are known, and if unknown shall state that, upon diligent inquiry their names or post office addresses (whichever may be the fact) cannot be ascertained. The clerk of the court shall mail a copy of the notice aforesaid to each of said nonresident owners whose post-office address is known, within six (6) days after the first publication of the same. The certificate of the clerk of the court, or other public officer, or the affidavit of any other person who knows the facts, affixed to a copy of said notice, shall be sufficient evidence of the posting, serving, mailing or publication thereof. Personal service of said notice on (or service by leaving at the last usual place of abode of) all persons owning or entitled to possession of lands or interest in lands within said district, shall give the court complete jurisdiction, without posting, publication or mailing of said notice. 41-7-206. Hearings; adjournment to serve persons not served. If it shall be found before the hearing on the petition for the organization of an irrigation district, that one (1) or more of the persons owning or entitled to possession of land in said district have not been duly served with notice of hearing on said petition, the court or presiding judge shall not thereby lose jurisdiction. The court or presiding judge in such case shall adjourn the hearing, make an order directing the serving of said notice upon said person or persons, and fixing the time and manner of service of such notice, which notice shall notify him to appear at said adjourned time and place and be heard on said petition. Said notice shall be served personally or by leaving at the last usual place of abode of said unserved persons, as in W.S. 41-7-204 provided, not less than eight (8) days before said adjourned hearing, or published not less than fourteen (14) days before said adjourned hearing, in some newspaper published in the county in which said persons' lands lie, or if no newspaper may be published in said county, then in some newspaper published in an adjoining county. Upon the adjourned day the same proceedings, adjournments, trial, findings and orders may be had as in case of complete service of notice in the first instance. In case of failure to mail said notice as herein required, the court or judge may order the same mailed later and shall adjourn said hearing so that said notice shall be mailed at least fourteen (14) days before said adjourned hearing. In case of failure to publish or post notice, as in this act required, the court or judge may adjourn said hearing for sufficient time to permit the due posting and publication of said notice, and order said notice posted or published as in section 4 hereof directed. In case of adjournment to permit notice to be given, the notice shall state the fact of such adjournment and the time and place of hearing pursuant to said adjournment. 41-7-207. Hearings; contests; grounds; notice of objections to be in writing; filing of objections. (a) On the day fixed for hearing on such petition, all persons owning or entitled to the possession of lands, or any interest or easement in land, within said proposed district, or who may be affected thereby, may appear and contest or object to: (i) The sufficiency of the petition; (ii) The sufficiency of the signers of the petition; (iii) The sufficiency of the notice; (iv) The constitutionality of the law; (v) The inclusion or exclusion of any lands in the district, or any other material issue raised by the petition; (vi) The jurisdiction of the court, specifying their objections to such jurisdiction; and the petitioners and contestants may, on the trial, offer any competent evidence in regard thereto. (b) All notices of contests or objection shall be in writing and shall clearly specify the grounds of contest or objection and shall be filed in the office of the clerk of court wherein such petition is filed at least five (5) days prior to the day set for the hearing. The court shall on the day fixed for said hearing, hear and determine all issues provided in this section and may adjourn said hearing from time to time, for good and sufficient reason shown. 41-7-208. Hearings; dismissal of petition improperly signed; inclusion or exclusion of land from district. If the court or presiding judge thereof, after hearing any and all competent evidence that may be offered for and against the said petition, shall find that the same has not been signed as herein required, the said petition shall be dismissed at the cost of the petitioners, and judgment shall be entered against said petitioners for the amount of said costs. The court shall upon proper showing include or exclude any land from the district. 41-7-209. Fraudulent deeds for establishment or defeat of petition. All deeds made for the purpose of establishing or defeating the prayer of said petition, and not made in good faith and for a valuable consideration, shall be taken and held to be a fraud, and the holders thereof shall not be considered as the owners of the lands described therein; and the filing of said petition shall constitute a lis pendens against all lands described therein from and after the filing thereof. 41-7-210. Court's order. (a) If the issues at this hearing are decided in favor of the petitioners, the court shall make an order: (i) Approving and confirming the petition; (ii) Defining the boundaries of the district; (iii) Dividing the district into three (3) or five (5) subdivisions as the court may consider appropriate, which subdivisions shall be as nearly equal in size as may be practicable and which shall be designated as commissioner districts, and each district shall be numbered consecutively. Should the district be first divided into three (3) subdivisions the same shall be thereafter increased to five (5) subdivisions, and the number of commissioners increased to five (5), provided a majority of the qualified electors voting, vote in favor of such increase at an election called for the purpose. Said election for the increased number of districts and commissioners shall be called upon the order of the district commissioners upon receipt by them of a petition requesting such an election signed by at least thirty percent (30%) of the qualified electors of the district. If a majority of the qualified electors voting should vote in favor of such an increase the district commissioners shall forthwith proceed to redivide the district into five (5) subdivisions as nearly equal in size as may be practicable, and commissioners shall be elected to represent all districts, as redivided, at the next general election of the district, and the terms of such commissioners and the order of their retirement shall be as provided for in the case of first election of commissioners after the formation of the district; (iv) Establishing said district as a corporation by the name proposed with powers: (A) To sue and be sued; (B) To adopt and use a corporate seal; (C) To have perpetual succession; (D) To file on and acquire the right to use of water for domestic and irrigation purposes; to acquire sites for reservoirs, and rights of way for ditches, canals and laterals; (E) To exercise the power of eminent domain under chapter 316 (C.S. 1920), and all acts or parts of acts amendatory thereto; (F) To contract with the state of Wyoming for the reclamation and segregation of public lands pursuant to the laws of the United States and the state of Wyoming and to contract for the sale of water rights by it acquired pursuant to said laws, and to purchase and acquire state lands; (G) To acquire by purchase or otherwise irrigation works, water rights, land and other property and to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the same, to buy, develop, sell and distribute electrical energy as an incident to the ownership, control and operation of irrigation works of the district or the cooperative works of the district and the United States as the district may deem expedient or suitable for the development of the district. (v) Shall appoint one (1) commissioner from each commissioner district, who shall be a freeholder or entryman upon public lands, in said district, provided, however, if the majority of the irrigable area of the district is unentered public land, a majority of the commissioners shall be appointed by the secretary of the interior, who shall be residents of the state. The commissioners appointed by the court shall at all times be under the direction of the court and may be removed from office by the court upon good cause shown; provided, however, no commissioner shall be removed until written charges specifying the ground upon which such removal is sought are filed, and an opportunity given such commissioner to be heard at a hearing provided. In case a commissioner has been removed under this provision the court shall immediately appoint a successor. All findings and order of the court made at the hearing herein provided for shall be final and conclusive unless appealed from to the supreme court within thirty (30) days after filing thereof. ARTICLE 3 - DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS GENERALLY 41-7-301. To be public officers; presumption in favor of validity of official acts. Commissioners of irrigation districts are hereby declared to be public officers. The presumption shall be in favor of the regularity and validity of all their official acts. Whenever any report of the commissioners of any irrigation district or any part of any such report is contested, remonstrated against or called in question, the burden of proof shall rest upon the contestant, remonstrant or questioner. 41-7-302. Oath and bond; quorum; term; removal; vacancies. Before entering upon their duties, commissioners shall take and subscribe an oath to support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wyoming, to faithfully and impartially discharge their duties as commissioners and to render a true account of their doing to the court by which they are appointed whenever required by law or the order of the court. Commissioners shall execute a bond running to the clerk of court and his successors in office as obligees, to be filed with the clerk for the benefit of the parties interested, in an amount to be fixed by the court or presiding judge, and with sureties to be approved by the court or presiding judge, conditioned for the faithful discharge of their duties as commissioners and the faithful accounting of all monies which shall come into their hands as commissioners. A majority shall constitute a quorum and a concurrence of a majority in any matter within their duties shall be sufficient to its determination. The commissioners appointed shall hold their office until the first regular meeting of the commissioners following the date of the order organizing the district and until their respective successors are qualified under the provisions of W.S. 41-7-316. The commissioners appointed by the secretary of the interior shall be subject to removal from office and any commissioner appointed by the secretary of the interior to fill a vacancy shall hold office until less than a majority of the lands within the district are unentered public lands, after which the commissioners shall be elected as otherwise provided in this chapter. If the office of any commissioner so appointed shall become vacant by reason of death, or other cause, the court or judge thereof shall appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy. 41-7-303. Organization as board; officers; powers and duties generally; contracts and cooperation with United States generally. The commissioners appointed as aforesaid, and their successors in office, shall, from the entry of such order of confirmation, constitute the corporate authority of said irrigation district, and shall exercise the functions conferred on them by law. They shall organize as a board, elect a president from their number and appoint a secretary-treasurer who may or may not be a member of the board. The board shall have power, and it shall be their duty, to adopt bylaws, manage and conduct the affairs and business of the district, make and execute all necessary contracts, employ such agents, attorneys, officers and employees as may be required, and prescribe their duties, establish equitable rules and regulations for the distribution and use of water to and upon the lands of the district; provided, always, that such rules shall not be in conflict with or contrary to any statute of this state relative to such matters; and generally to perform all such acts as shall be necessary to fully carry out the purposes of this article [chapter]. Said board shall have the power in addition to the means to supply water to said district proposed by the petition submitted for the formation of said district, to construct, acquire or purchase any and all canals, ditches, reservoirs, reservoir sites, water rights, rights of way, or other property necessary for the use of the district. In case of the purchase of any property by such district the bonds of the district hereinafter provided for may be used at their par value in payment without previous offer of such bonds for sale. For the purpose of acquiring control over government land within the district and complying with the provisions of the act of congress of August 11, 1916, the board shall have authority to make such investigation, and based thereon, such representation and assurances to the secretary of the interior as may be requisite; and the board may contract with the United States for the construction, operation and maintenance of the necessary works for the delivery and distribution of water therefrom under the provisions of the federal reclamation act, and all acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto and the rules and regulations established thereunder, or for the assumption, as principal or guarantor of the indebtedness to the United States on account of district lands. The board may contract with the United States for a water supply under any act of congress providing for or permitting such contract and in case any contract has been or may thereafter be made with the United States as herein provided, bonds of the district may be deposited with the United States at ninety percent (90%) of their par value, to the amount to be paid by the district to the United States under any such contract, the interest on said bonds, if bearing interest, to be provided for by assessment and levy as in case of other bonds of the district and regularly paid to the United States to be applied as provided in such contract; and if bonds of the district are not so deposited it shall be the duty of the board to include as part of any levy or assessment provided for herein, an amount sufficient to meet each year all payments accruing under the terms of any such contract; and the board may accept on behalf of the district, appointment of the district as a fiscal agent of the United States, or authorization of the district by the United States to make collection of moneys for or on behalf of the United States, in connection with any federal reclamation project, whereupon the district shall be authorized to so act and to assume the duties and liabilities incident to such action, and the said board shall have full power to do any and all things required by the federal statutes now or hereafter enacted in connection therewith, and all things required by the rules and regulations now or that may hereafter be established by any department of the federal government in regard thereto. The board shall have the power to buy, develop, sell and distribute electrical energy as an incident to the ownership, control and operation of the irrigation works of the district or the cooperative works of the district and the United States and to use, sell and distribute the same. The said rules and regulations shall be printed in convenient form as soon as the same are adopted, for the distribution in the district; provided, however, that the commissioners of the district shall not contract with the United States for the construction, operation or maintenance of the necessary works for the delivery and distribution of water to district lands, or for the drainage of district lands, under the provisions of the federal reclamation act and any act or acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, or the rules and regulations established thereunder, or for the assumption as principal or guarantor, of indebtedness to the United States on account of district lands, or for a water supply or drainage incident to irrigation under any act of congress providing for or permitting such contract, or for acceptance by the district of appointment or authorization as fiscal agent of the United States to make collections of moneys for or on behalf of the United States in connection with any federal reclamation project, until there has been an election duly held at which a majority of the qualified electors present and voting have voted in favor of making any such contract. 41-7-304. Financial records and reports; compensation and expenses; suit on bonds. The commissioners shall keep an accurate record of all monies collected on account of the work under their charge and of all payments made by them, and shall take vouchers for payments and shall keep full, accurate and true minutes of all their proceedings. On or before the tenth day of July each year the commissioners shall file in the office of the clerk of the court having jurisdiction in the matter, an itemized statement of all their receipts and disbursements, for the preceding fiscal year, and leave the report in the office for examination by parties interested at all times, and include a copy thereof in the regular call for the annual meeting hereinafter provided. They shall receive for their services compensation as the court or presiding judge thereof may determine. They shall also be reimbursed for their actual reasonable expenses. Suit may also be brought upon their bonds, and the amount recovered shall be applied to the construction of the work or to the party injured, as justice may require. 41-7-305. Maps and plans of proposed work; reports to court generally. (a) As soon as may be after the organization of said district, or within such time as the court may direct, said commissioners shall proceed to have all necessary levels taken and surveys made, and shall lay out said proposed work, make a map thereof and plans, profiles and other specifications thereof, and report in writing to the court: (i) The extent and character of the proposed work and the sufficiency of the water supply; (ii) What lands within the district, as by them reported will be injured by the proposed work, if any, and they shall therein award to each tract, lot, easement or interest by whomsoever held, the amount of damages which they shall determine will be caused to the same by the proposed work; (iii) All lands within the district as by them reported will be benefited by the proposed work and they shall assess against such lands by whomsoever held the amount of benefits which they determine will be caused to the same by the proposed work, and in case of lands having appurtenant thereto a partial water right or partial rights in a system of irrigation the assessment shall be according to benefits making due allowance for existing rights. The benefits so assessed are herein referred to as "the assessment roll". (b) If it be found necessary to change the boundaries of said proposed district, previously fixed, they shall report said proposed change, and, if possible, shall report the names, the residence and post-office addresses of the owners or persons entitled to possession of all lands affected by said change in boundaries, but no such change in boundaries shall be made as to deprive the court of jurisdiction; provided, however, that the owners and those entitled to possession, by virtue of public land filing, of lands adjacent to the district, petition to have their lands brought into the district such petitioners may be considered the same as the original petitioners in making changes of boundaries. (c) They shall also determine and report to the court the total itemized amount as near as they can determine, that said proposed work will cost, including organization expenses and the unit cost upon which the assessments are based, which shall be designated as "cost of construction". (d) If the cost of construction of any particular part of the work so proposed to be done shall be assessed upon any particular tract or tracts, lot or lots of land, the commissioners shall so specify, and in their report they shall fix and determine the sums which should be assessed against said tracts and lots, and assess such sum against said tracts and lots. (e) They shall apportion and assess the part of this "cost of construction" not assessed as above, against the several benefited tracts and lots in said irrigation district, in proportion to the benefits which they have assessed against the same, by setting down opposite each tract or lot the sum which they assess against the same for construction. The assessments which together make up the cost of construction, as above defined, as herein referred to as "assessments for construction". (f) They shall set forth in their report the amount of water by them apportioned to each separate tract or lot of land in said district, to be assessed. (g) The commissioners shall further report to the court the probable cost of keeping said proposed work in repair after it is completed. (h) They shall include in their said report, said map, plans and other specifications, and file the same with their report. 41-7-306. Power to alter location of irrigation works; power of court to alter plans proposed by commissioners. The commissioners shall not be confined to the points of location, commencement, routes or termini of the reservoirs, canals, ditches or other work, or the number, extent or size of the same, as proposed by the petitioners, but shall locate, design, lay out and plan same in such manner as to them shall seem best to promote the public welfare, and to reclaim or benefit the lands of the parties interested with the least damage and greatest benefit to all lands affected thereby. And any plan proposed by the commission, may, on the application of any person interested, on the hearing hereinafter provided for, or on the application of the commissioners, be altered by the court, by written order, in such manner as shall appear to the court to be just. 41-7-307. Exclusion or inclusion of lands in district; review of report by court generally. If the commissioners find that the proposed district, as described in the petition filed, will not embrace all of the lands that will be benefited by the proposed work, or that it will include lands that will not be benefited and are not necessary to be included in said district for any purpose, they shall extend or contract the boundaries of the proposed district so as to include or exclude all such lands, as the case may be; and the boundaries adopted and reported by them, may upon the hearing of their report, as hereinafter provided, upon their application, be altered by the court in such manner as shall appear to be just; provided, that the alteration of boundaries as aforesaid shall not have the effect of so far enlarging or contracting the proposed district as to render such petition void or dismissible. Said report shall be filed with the clerk of the court. 41-7-308. Hearings on commissioners' report; filing of objections; notice generally. Upon the filing of the said report, the court or judge thereof, shall make and enter an order fixing the time and place when and where all persons interested may appear and object to the confirmation thereof. All objections shall be in writing and shall clearly specify the grounds of objection and shall be filed in the office of the clerk of court wherein said report is filed at least five (5) days prior to the date set for the hearing. The clerk of said court shall cause notice of the time and place of such hearing to be given to all parties interested, which notice shall contain a brief description of the lands benefited and damaged, together with the net damage awarded the several tracts, parcels, easements and corporations to which damages are awarded, and the sum in each case assessed for benefits and cost of construction against the several benefited parcels, tracts, easements and corporations, and the amount of water apportioned to each acre of land in the district. Said notice shall be published for at least three (3) consecutive weeks, prior to the day set for the hearing, in one (1) newspaper published in each county in which said lands, or any part thereof within said district are situate (and if no newspaper is published in said county, in some newspaper in an adjoining county), and by serving a copy of such notice on each of the persons or corporations by said report recommended to be assessed, or whose lands are by said report recommended to be included in said district, and who resides in any of the counties in which any lands of the proposed district are situated, at least twelve (12) days before the day of hearing in the same manner that a summons is required to be served; provided, absence from the county of such person, or corporation shall excuse personal service, whereupon due publication of such notice shall be sufficient service. 41-7-309. Hearings on commissioners' report; notice when land situated in more than 1 county. In case the lands are situated in more than one (1) county the notice published in the county wherein the court having jurisdiction is situated shall contain a description of all the lands in said proposed district, the damages awarded to the several parcels thereof and the amounts assessed for benefits against the several parcels thereof, but the notice published in any other county or counties may contain a description of only the lands situate in said county for which said publication is made, together with the damages awarded to and assessments for benefits against the several tracts, parcels, easements and interests situate in said county for which publication is made. In case of service of said notice personally or the acceptance and waiver thereof of all the owners of the lands within the district, said service shall be sufficient and give the court jurisdiction without said publication. 41-7-310. Hearings on commissioners' report; procedure when report requires modification. If the court finds that the report requires modification, the same may by order of the court be referred back to the commissioners, who may be required to modify it in any respect. 41-7-311. Hearings on commissioners' report; confirmation of report. If there be no remonstrance, or if the finding be in favor of the validity of the proceedings, or after the report shall have been modified to conform to the findings, the court shall confirm the report and the order of the confirmation shall be final and conclusive, the proposed work shall be established and authorized, and the proposed assessments approved and confirmed unless within thirty (30) days an appeal be taken to the supreme court, and the said order of confirmation shall also fix the commissioners' bond. 41-7-312. Hearings on commissioners' report; revision of confirmation. Said order of confirmation may, at the same or at any subsequent term of said court be revised, modified or changed, in whole or in part, on petition of the commissioners, after such notice as the court may require to parties interested. At any time prior to making the order confirming said report or thereafter, the court may permit the commissioners to present and file a supplemental report, or amend their report, as to any matter which, pursuant to the provisions hereof, was or might have been included in the original report presented by them, and after reasonable notice given to all parties interested, in such manner as the court shall direct, the court may, upon the hearing in said matter, make such order as the case may require. 41-7-313. Hearings on commissioners' report; payment of costs when objections dismissed. In case the petition or proceedings are dismissed as provided herein, a judgment shall be entered against the petitioners and in favor of the commissioners for the costs, expenses, and liabilities incurred in said proceedings, for the benefit of those who have rendered services or advanced money in the prosecution of said proceedings, or have recovered costs on successful contests therein. Before any such judgment is entered, said commissioners shall file with the clerk of the district court, in which said proceedings were instituted, an itemized statement of such costs and expenses, duly verified, upon which an order shall issue, requiring said petitioners to show cause before said court, at a time and place named, why judgment should not be entered against said petitioners for the amount of said costs and expenses. Notice of the hearing on said order, to show cause, shall be given to said petitioners, by mailing to each a copy thereof, to their last known post office address, at least twenty (20) days prior to the time set for hearing, and by publication of the same in one (1) or more newspapers, published in the county, where the proceedings are pending, at least three (3) successive weeks prior to the day set for such hearing. Said motion need not contain an itemized statement of said account. All petitioners shall, among themselves, contribute in the payment of said judgment, in proportion to the number of acres of land they have within the boundaries of the proposed district at the time of filing said petition. 41-7-314. Power to enter land to repair irrigation works; construction of ditches across railway rights-of-way. (a) The commissioners, their agents, servants, and employees shall have the right to go upon all lands along any reservoirs, ditch, canal, or embankment in their district, to inspect, deepen, widen and repair the same whenever necessary, doing no unnecessary damage, and shall not be liable for trespass therefor. (b) Said commissioners shall have the right to lay out and construct all necessary canals, ditches, drains and embankments across any railway right-of-way or yard within their district, and any railway company whose right-of-way or yard is crossed by the line of any proposed canal, ditch, drain or embankment shall open its right-of-way or yard and permit such canal, ditch, drain or embankment to cross the same as soon as such canal, ditch, drain or embankment is constructed to such right-of-way. Upon receiving fifteen (15) days notice in writing any railway company across whose right-of-way or yard any such canal, ditch, drain or embankment is laid out, shall open its right-of-way or yard and permit said commissioners and their contractors, agents and employees to construct such canal, ditch, drain or embankment across said right-of-way or yard. For every day that such railway company fails, after the end of said fifteen (15) days to open its right-of-way or yard as hereinbefore required, it shall forfeit twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to said irrigation district to be collected in an action as other forfeitures are collected, or to be set off against any damages that have been awarded to such railway company. If such railway company fails to open its right-of-way or yard along the line of any such canal, ditch, drain or embankment, the commissioners may at any time after the expiration of said fifteen (15) days open such right-of-way or yard along the line of such canal, ditch, drain or embankment and construct the same. Every irrigation district shall be liable to the railway company whose right-of-way or yard is crossed by any canal, ditch, drain or embankment of the district, for the reasonable cost of any culverts or bridges for railway purposes made necessary by the crossing of such right-of-way or yard by any such canal, ditch, drain or embankment, but the cost so entailed shall not be greater than the average cost of other culverts and bridges of similar size installed on the same division of the railway, and crossing streams, canals, ditches or drains of approximately the same width and depth within a distance of one hundred (100) miles of the canals, ditches or drains of said district. 41-7-315. Sale of water rights. Whenever any of the lands embraced within said district have been or are to be reclaimed by the work done or proposed to be done by said district and the segregation of said lands has been secured by said district, it shall be competent for the commissioners of said district, in the name of said district, to contract with any person competent to make entry upon said lands for the sale of water rights thereto, and any and all payments by such contracts provided to be paid to the district shall be and are a lien upon said lands and water rights until paid, and such lien may be foreclosed in the manner provided by law for the foreclosure of such liens. 41-7-316. Election; when held; term of office; exception. (a) At any annual meeting of the irrigation district, the district may elect to adopt either a calendar year basis for their district elections or a fiscal year basis for their district elections. If the district elects a calendar year basis, on or after the first day of February and before the last day in March next preceding the expiration of the terms of office of any irrigation district commissioner appointed in any irrigation district, organized under the provisions of this chapter, and on or after the first day of February and before the last day in March of each year thereafter, an election shall be held to elect a commissioner or commissioners for the district, in the manner prescribed by this section. (b) If the district elects a fiscal year basis for their district elections similar to that of the county in which they are located, then on or after the first day of August and before the last day of September next preceding the expiration of the terms of office of any irrigation district commissioner appointed or elected in any irrigation district organized under the provisions of this chapter, and on or after the first day of August and before the last day in September of each year thereafter, an election shall be held to elect a commissioner or commissioners for the district, in the manner prescribed in this section. (c) At the first election held in any district, one (1) commissioner shall be elected from each commissioner district who shall be a landowner thereof. Where the irrigation district is divided into three (3) subdivisions, the commissioner from district number 1 shall serve as a commissioner for a term of one (1) year, the commissioner from district number 2 shall serve as a commissioner for a term of two (2) years, and the commissioner from district number 3 shall serve as a commissioner for a term of three (3) years. Where the district is divided into five (5) subdivisions, the commissioners from districts numbers 1 and 2 shall serve as commissioners for a term of one (1) year, commissioners from districts numbers 3 and 4 shall serve as commissioners for a term of two (2) years, and the commissioner from district number 5 shall serve as a commissioner for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, all commissioners elected shall serve for a term of three (3) years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, except commissioners elected to fill an unexpired term. (d) The term of an elected commissioner shall commence upon the date of the next regular meeting of the commissioners held after his election. If a majority of the commissioners are appointed by the secretary of the interior as provided for in this chapter, then the remaining commissioners shall be elected at large within the entire irrigation district for terms of three (3) years each. The terms however, shall be limited to and expire on the date of the next regular meeting of the commissioners held following the date when the unentered public lands within the district constitute less than the majority of the total acreage within the district. After the expiration of these terms, the commissioners shall be elected in the same manner and for the same terms as provided for herein in the case of first election of commissioners. 41-7-317. Election; where held; notice to voters; qualifications of voters; recording vote; proxies. The commissioners of the district shall fix the hour and place, within the boundaries of or at a place convenient to the landowners within the irrigation district, of each election and preside at the same. It shall be the duty of the commissioners, at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of an election, to mail to each person or corporation entitled to vote thereat, at his or its last known place of residence or business, a notice stating the time, place and purpose of such elections. Every person or corporation owning or entitled by virtue of public land filing to the possession of land situated within and being a part of any commissioner district in which an election for commissioner is being held, and upon which land no assessment for operation, maintenance or repairs is delinquent for more than four (4) years, shall be entitled to cast, for the commissioner to be elected, for the commissioner district wherein such land is situated, one (1) vote for each irrigable acre of such land assessed upon the last annual assessment of said district upon or against which land no assessment for operation, maintenance or repairs is delinquent for more than four (4) years. At the hour and place of such election the commissioners shall call the roll of those entitled to vote, and the number of votes each is entitled to cast. They shall make a record of the qualified voters present, receive all proxies and prescribe the manner of canvassing votes. All proxies shall be in writing and signed by the person or corporation entitled to vote. 41-7-318. Election; validity; qualifications of candidates; vacancies in office; duties of elected commissioners. No person shall be declared elected as a commissioner who shall not be a landowner in said commissioner district and who shall not have received a majority of all votes cast by the qualified voters of said commissioner district. No election shall be invalid by reason of the fact that a majority of the acreage within the district was not represented at such election. Whenever the office of any elected commissioner shall become vacant by reason of death, resignation or other cause, the vacancy shall be filled by the surviving commissioners for the unexpired term. In case such vacancy is not so filled within thirty (30) days, the court shall fill such vacancy. All elected commissioners shall have the same qualifications and duties as herein prescribed for appointed or elected commissioners. ARTICLE 4 - ASSESSMENTS 41-7-401. Payment in installments; construction contracts with United States generally; default in payments as lien; exception; power of commissioners to enforce payment. At the time of the confirmation of any assessment provided for in this article, it shall be competent for the court to order the same to be paid in installments of such amount and at such time as will be convenient for the accomplishment of the purposes for which such assessment was made, and the payment of the principal and interest of such notes or bonds of said district as the court shall grant authority to issue, such installments to become delinquent on the same date or dates as may be fixed by law for state and county taxes to become delinquent, and such installments shall draw interest from the date of any notes or bonds issued by the district and for the payment of which said assessments are pledged at such rates not to exceed seven percent (7%) per annum, as may be fixed by the court; provided, however, that it shall be competent for the court, in case a contract is made between the United States of America and an irrigation district for the construction or sale of irrigation works and water rights, to order the charges to be paid in accordance with the provisions of an act of congress approved December 5, 1924, entitled: "An act making appropriations to supply deficiencies in certain appropriations for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924, and prior fiscal years; to provide supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1925; and for other purposes," and all acts that may be hereafter enacted as amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto, and in such installments as fixed by contract between the district and the United States. The annual levy for payment of construction charges on the basis herein authorized shall continue to be made each year against each tract of land in the district against which benefits under such contract with the United States have been apportioned, until the full amount apportioned against the same has been paid; such installments to become delinquent on the same date or dates as may be fixed by law for state and county taxes to become delinquent and such installments, after they become due, shall draw interest at six percent (6%) per annum. All assessments provided for in this article, together with all interest thereon and all penalties for default in payment of same, and all costs of collecting the same shall, from the date of the order of court confirming such assessments until paid, constitute a perpetual lien in an amount not in excess of the benefits severally assessed, upon all the land and other property against which such assessments shall be levied, superior to all liens of every kind and nature whatsoever except the paramount lien of the state for the general state, county, city, town or school taxes, and no sale of such property to enforce any general state, county, municipal, or school tax, or other lien shall extinguish the perpetual lien of such assessments; and such assessments shall also be a lien upon all equities or interests in existing water appropriations for the irrigation of said lands when the title to said lands is vested in the United States, and when said water appropriations have attached to said lands. The commissioner shall have the power to enforce payment of such assessments, and all assessments by them duly levied and confirmed, by shutting off the supply of water to any and all lands upon which assessments are due and unpaid, and may refuse to deliver water to such lands until such assessments are paid. Any person having an interest in land assessed for construction may at any time within thirty (30) days after the confirmation of said report, pay to the court the amount of the assessment against his land or any tract thereof. Said payment shall relieve said land and water rights from the lien of said assessments for the cost of construction; provided, however, that any district organized within a federal irrigation project for co-operation between such districts and the United States, may contract and agree in connection with the acquisition of irrigation works and water rights and the taking over of the care, operation and control of the same from the United States, that each tract or parcel of land shall pay the charges conformed in the assessments against such tract or parcel of land, and that liability for charges thus assessed may by contract be conformed and limited to the particular tract or parcel of land in question and if so contracted, shall not be imposed as a charge or incumbrance upon other parcels or tracts of land within the district. 41-7-402. Due dates; annual budget of district; hearings on budget; petition for additional funds; hearings on petition. (a) Assessments to meet expenses of any current year of any district shall become due, payable and delinquent at such time or times each year as may be fixed by law for state and county taxes to become due, payable and delinquent. Commissioners having charge of any irrigation district shall on or before the first Tuesday of June of each year file with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of such district, a report showing an itemized estimate of the money to be raised by assessment within the district for the purpose of constructing new work, maintenance and to meet the yearly current expenses of the district. In addition to the amount above provided, the commissioners may add a sum which in their judgment shall be sufficient to provide for possible delinquencies. Within thirty (30) days after filing such annual report, at a time and place to be fixed by the court or a judge thereof, the judge shall examine such report, hear all objections thereto, fix and determine the amount to be raised by assessments for the current year and cause such adjudication to be entered of record in said court and a certified copy thereof to be delivered to the commissioners of such district. The commissioners shall add thereto such amount as may be necessary to meet the principal and interest on lawful indebtedness of the district maturing during the current year, together with a sum which in their judgment shall be sufficient to provide for possible delinquencies. When thus completed it shall be known as "the budget of .... district for the year (year)" and also be verified under oath by any one (1) of the commissioners. (b) The commissioners of any irrigation district within the state of Wyoming are hereby forbidden to incur any indebtedness for current expenses of the district in excess of the amount provided in the budget. Provided, however, in case a greater sum than that provided in the budget is required, the commissioners may file a petition setting forth the causes therefor, with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction of said district. Immediately upon the filing of said petition the court shall make an order fixing the time and place of hearing and directing the form and manner of notice thereof to be given if the court deem such hearing advisable. If the court shall authorize the expenditure of a greater sum of money the commissioners shall be authorized to incur indebtedness equal to the amount of the additional sum authorized by the court, and in case the expenditure occurs at a time when it is too late to place the amount upon the assessment roll for the current year such amounts may be added to the budget of ensuing years. All debts contracted in contravention of this section shall be void. 41-7-403. Preparation of assessment roll; contents; how apportioned; certification by county commissioners; delivery to county assessors. It shall be the duty of the commissioners of each irrigation district, on or before the third Monday in July in each year to prepare an assessment roll of said district, which shall contain the name of the owner, together with a description of each lot, tract and easement of land within said district and the aggregate assessments of benefits confirmed by the court against the same; the name of all corporations assessed together with the aggregate assessment levied against such corporations respectively. The assessment roll shall also show the amount assessed against each lot, tract and easement of land, and against each corporation in the district, for current expense and to meet the principal and interest on the indebtedness of the district for the current year. All such assessments to meet the principal and interest on the indebtedness of the district for the current year, shall be apportioned on the aggregate assessment of benefits last confirmed by the court. All such assessments for current expenses shall be based upon irrigable acreage and shall be uniform as to irrigable lands receiving the maximum apportionment of water from said district, and as to irrigable lands receiving less than such maximum apportionment such assessment shall bear the same proportion as the amount of water apportioned to such lands bears to the maximum apportionment of water to other lands in such district. Provided however, that the commissioners of any irrigation district may, in their discretion, provide for a minimum annual assessment for current expense. When such assessment roll is completed it shall be signed by the commissioners of said district, and verified by any one (1) of them. On or before the third Monday in July of each year the commissioners of the irrigation district shall deliver to the county commissioners of the county having jurisdiction of such irrigation district the assessment roll of such district. The county commissioners of said county, immediately upon the receipt of the assessment roll of such district and at the time of making the requisite tax levy for county purposes, shall levy and assess against each lot, tract and easement of land and against each corporation, the respective amounts levied and assessed against the same on said assessment roll. Thereupon the county commissioners shall certify to and deliver said assessment roll to the county assessor of such county, and in case the territory embraced in such district is located in two (2) or more counties a copy of the assessment roll as certified to by the county commissioners of the county having jurisdiction of such district shall be delivered to the assessor of each county in which any of the land of the district is located. Upon receipt of such assessment roll the assessors of the counties embracing any of the lands of such district, shall extend upon the tax roll of such county the respective amounts levied and assessed against each lot, tract and easement of land, and against each corporation as shown by said assessment roll of said districts. 41-7-404. Collection; disposition; enforcement. (a) All irrigation district assessments, except as provided by W.S. 41-7-413, shall be collected by the same officer and in the same manner and at the same time as state and county taxes are collected and when collected shall be paid to the treasurer of the district, except such assessments, together with interest, penalty and costs thereon, as are collected upon assessments levied for the payment of principal and interest of bonded indebtedness of said district; which funds shall be retained by the county treasurer of the county in which such district is organized, and the principal and interest of all bonded indebtedness of such district shall be paid by such county treasurer from such fund at the place of payment designated in said bonds and interest coupons; provided, that when all bonded indebtedness of any irrigation district is fully paid and retired such funds remaining in the hands of the county treasurer shall be paid to the treasurer of such district, for the benefit of the district; provided, however, the county treasurer, in case of taxes heretofore or hereafter levied, as herein provided, shall receive, in payment of the district bond taxes above mentioned for the year in which said taxes were levied, interest coupons or bonds of said irrigation district, maturing within said year the same as so much lawful money of the United States. Provided, however, that in the case of the nonpayment of any taxes which have heretofore or may hereafter be levied, as above provided, the board of county commissioners, upon application made, shall have the power and it shall be the duty, upon written request of the board of such irrigation district, to order the said treasurer to receive in full payment of the bond fund portion of said taxes the principal amount of said tax levies, payable in bonds or bond interest coupons of said irrigation district at their face value, and maturing within the year in which said tax levies were made, as so much lawful money of the United States and in full payment of the maintenance, operating and current expense portion of any such taxes, such an amount, payable in cash or in warrants of said irrigation district at their face value, as the board of said irrigation district may authorize or approve, and to direct the cancellation and remission of all penalties and interests on such delinquent taxes, except, however, that the cost of any advertising shall be paid in cash. And provided further, that in case of any tax sales heretofore had for the nonpayment of any such taxes, the tax sale certificates of which are held by the county, the board of county commissioners of the county holding such tax sale certificates shall have the power, and it shall be its duty upon the written request of the board of such irrigation district, to sell and assign such tax sale certificates and all its interest in said property represented thereby or acquired therethrough, for the amount of the original tax levy on which said sale was based, and to receive in payment therefor for the bond fund portion thereof, bonds or interest coupons of said irrigation district at the face value thereof maturing within the year in which said tax levies were made, as so much lawful money of the United States, and for the maintenance, operating and current expense portion thereof, such an amount in cash or in warrants of said irrigation district at their face value as the board of said irrigation district may authorize or approve; and to cancel and remit all interest and penalties that may have accrued on said tax certificates, except that the cost of advertising shall be paid in cash. Any bonds, bond interest coupons or warrants of any such irrigation district used in payment of taxes or in the purchase of tax sale certificates, as herein provided, shall together with any interest on such bonds, coupons or warrants, be deemed fully paid and satisfied, and the irrigation district relieved from all obligations thereunder. The commissioners of any irrigation district may elect the treasurer of the county having jurisdiction of such district, treasurer of such district. (b) The revenue laws of this state for the collecting of taxes on real estate for county purpose, except as herein modified, shall be applicable for the purposes of this act, including the payment of interest and enforcement of penalties and forfeitures for delinquent taxes; all penalties and interest on assessments of an irrigation district collected by the county treasurer shall be the property of such district, and shall be turned into the bond interest fund, and all interest and penalties collected on assessments of such district levied for purposes other than bonded indebtedness shall be paid to the treasurer of the district levying such assessment; such payments to be made on or before the fifth day of the month following the date of such collection. In advertising property for sale for delinquent taxes the county treasurer shall show in a separate column in such advertisement the amount of unpaid assessments levied against each lot, tract and easement of land in said district. The county treasurer of any county in which any portion of the land of any irrigation district is located, and at the time of advertising real property for sale for state and county taxes shall include in such advertisement the amount of delinquent irrigation district assessments against each lot, tract or easement of land. At the time and place of sale of real property for state and county taxes the county treasurer shall also separately sell the land for delinquent irrigation district assessments and shall issue separate certificates of sale therefor. In offering such real estate for sale for irrigation district assessments, the county treasurer shall offer the entire tract assessed, and the first bid received in an amount sufficient to pay such assessment, together with interest, penalty and costs, shall be accepted and the treasurer shall not attempt to secure a higher bid. In case no purchaser appears to purchase the land offered for sale for such delinquent assessments the county treasurer shall make an entry on his delinquent tax roll "sold to .... District of .... County, Wyoming", and shall issue a certificate of purchase to such district. The owner of any tract, lot or easement of land in an irrigation district shall have the right to redeem the said land at any time within eighteen (18) months from the date of sale thereof by the county treasurer, as shown on said certificate by paying therefor the amount for which said land was sold by the county treasurer, together with such penalties and interest as may be provided by law relative to sales of land for delinquent state and county taxes, and in case the owner of any lot, tract or easement of land in any district shall fail to redeem said land from said sale for such assessment, the county treasurer shall issue a deed therefor to the purchaser at said sale, his heirs or assigns. The irrigation district purchasing such land at said tax sale shall have all the rights of natural persons in regard to owning, holding and selling such certificate and including the receipt of a deed, holding the title to real estate and selling and disposing of the same. The commissioners shall in no case sell said land or certificate of purchase for an amount less than the amount for which said land was sold to said district, including interest thereon, unless authorized so to do by the court. The procedure for the issuing of tax deed, including the form of the deed, time of publication and service of notice of intention to apply for deed, shall be the same as is now or may hereafter be provided by law for the issuances of tax deeds by the county treasurer upon the sale of land for state and county taxes, except as herein modified. 41-7-405. Additional assessments generally. If any assessment for construction, operation, maintenance or repair that the commissioners shall have reported to the court is a smaller sum than is needed to carry out the purpose for which said assessment has been made, or if in any year an additional sum is necessary to pay the principal or interest on lawful indebtedness of the said irrigation district, further or additional assessments on the lands and persons benefited shall be made by the commissioners of said irrigation district under the order of the court, or presiding judge thereof, upon such notice as the court may direct, which further or additional assessment may be made payable in installments as specified herein, and shall be treated and collected in the same manner as the original assessments confirmed by the court in said irrigation district. 41-7-406. Omissions; effect on other lands; duty of commissioner. Omission to assess benefits, or to assess for construction, or to make additional assessment, or to make assessment for operation, maintenance or repairs against any land or person which should have been assessed, or to award damages to any one (1) or more tracts of lands or easements in an irrigation district shall neither affect the jurisdiction of the court to confirm the report nor to render the benefits assessed, or the assessments for construction, or additional assessments, or assessments for operation, maintenance, or repairs against other lands, or assessments against any person voidable, but the commissioners of said irrigation district shall thereafter, as soon as they discover the omission, or receive notice thereof, either agree with the omitted parties upon the proper award or assessments and award the damages or make such assessment of benefits or assessments for construction, operation, maintenance or repair, and make such additional assessments against the omitted lands and corporations, and award such damages as shall be just, and report the facts, together with such assessments and awards, to the court. 41-7-407. Omissions; procedures generally. In case of omission to assess any person or land that should be assessed for benefits, or additional assessment, or to award damages, said omitted party and the owners or person entitled to the possession of omitted land may, in writing, agree with the commissioners of said district that the assessment should be against said land, or against said person, or what said damage should be, and such agreement shall be acknowledged and witnessed as provided above for waivers, and be filed in the court. 41-7-408. Borrowing money; bonds as security; indebtedness as lien on assessments. The commissioners may borrow money, not exceeding the amount of "assessment for construction," as herein provided, unpaid at the time of borrowing for such purposes, or for the payment of indebtedness they may have lawfully incurred, and may secure the same by notes or bonds bearing interest and not running beyond one (1) year after the last installment of the assessment, on the account of which the money is borrowed, shall fall due, which notes or bonds shall not be sold at less than ninety percent (90%) of their face value, which bonds shall be transferable by delivery to the same extent as negotiable paper of the highest character, and may deliver notes or bonds to the United States to be held and when deemed desirable or when the appraised value of the land in the district is double the bonded indebtedness, sold by it, and the net proceeds received from the notes or bonds applied to the liquidation of contract indebtedness of the district to the United States. Notes or bonds shall be in a form, terms and denominations as may be fixed by the secretary of the interior in carrying out the provisions of the act of congress of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388) and all acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, or that may be hereafter enacted as amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, or other acts of congress heretofore or hereafter enacted providing for or permitting the acceptance of the bonds, and which notes or bonds shall not be held to make the commissioners personally liable, but constitute a lien upon the assessments for the repayment of the principal and interest of the notes or bonds. In case any monies derived from bonds sold to pay for the construction, as herein provided, now or hereafter, remains on hand after the work is completed and paid for, and not raised for damages unpaid for, the residue may be used in the maintenance and repair, as in this chapter provided, before making assessment for maintenance and repair. 41-7-409. Bonds; refunding procedures. The court may, upon the petition of the commissioners, authorize them to refund a lawful indebtedness of the district now existing or which may hereafter be incurred by taking up and canceling all or a part of its outstanding notes and bonds, as fast as they come due or before, if the holders thereof will surrender the same, and issue in lieu thereof new notes or bonds of the district, payable in a time as the court deems proper, in an amount sufficient to retire all notes and bonds of the district then outstanding and the unpaid accrued interest thereon, together with an amount as the commissioners of the district deem necessary to provide for possible future defaults and delinquencies in the payment of assessments, and bearing interest. For the purpose of providing funds to pay the refunding bonds with interest thereon, the commissioners may levy assessments against the land in the district, but not in excess of the benefits assessed. In the alternative the commissioners may issue refunding bonds in an amount sufficient only to retire all notes and bonds of the district then outstanding and the unpaid accrued interest thereon, and may, if they desire to provide a fund to provide for possible defaults and delinquencies in the payment of assessments, levy from year to year assessments against the land in the district for such purposes, but not in excess of the benefits assessed against the same. 41-7-410. Bonds; effect of change in assessments. No bonds or other money obligations issued by any irrigation district shall be adversely affected by any subsequent change in assessment of benefits. 41-7-411. Damages to landowners to be paid before entry for construction; exceptions; when entry prior to assessment authorized. The damages allowed to the owners of lands shall be paid or tendered before the commissioners shall be authorized to enter upon the lands, for damage to which the award is made, for the construction of any reservoirs, canals, ditches, or other work proposed thereon. If the owner is unknown or there shall be a contest in regard to the ownership of the lands, or the owner will not receive payment, or there exists a mortgage or other lien against the same, or the commissioners cannot for any other reason pay him, they may deposit the said damages with the clerk of the court, for the benefit of the owner, or parties interested, to be paid or distributed as the court shall direct, and such payment shall have the same effect as the tender to and acceptance of the damages awarded by the true owners of the land. This section shall not, however, prevent said commissioners, their agents, servants, and employees from going upon said lands to do any and all work found necessary prior to making their assessment of benefits and award of damages, and the trial on their report thereof. 41-7-412. Advertisement for bids on work exceeding $7,500.00. In all cases where the work to be done at any one (1) time under the direction of the commissioners will, in their opinion, cost to exceed seven thousand five hundred dollars ($7,500.00), the same shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder, and the commissioner shall advertise for sealed bids, by notice published in some newspaper published in the county in which the petition is filed, and may advertise in one (1) or more newspapers published elsewhere. If there be no newspaper published in the county in which the petition is filed, they shall advertise in some newspaper published in an adjoining county, which said notice shall particularly set forth the time and place when and where the bids advertised will be opened, the kind of work to be let and the terms of payment. Said commissioners may continue the letting from time to time, if in their judgment the same shall be necessary, and shall reserve the right to reject any and all bids. This section shall not be construed to apply to the employment of superintendent, engineer, attorney or other employee engaged in the general work of the district. 41-7-413. Application of provisions; districts organized under federal reclamation projects. The provisions of this article, relative to the levy and collection of payments, charges or assessments in irrigation districts shall not apply to any district which may be organized within a federal reclamation project for the purpose of cooperation between such district and the United States; provided, a different method for the levy and collection of payments, charges or assessments be agreed upon between such district and the United States; and they shall apply only with the modifications hereinafter set forth to an irrigation district which may have been organized within a federal reclamation project when the board of commissioners of such irrigation district by unanimous vote decide to make collection of their taxes or assessments through their own treasurer's office. Whenever the board of commissioners of an irrigation district, organized within a United States reclamation project by unanimous vote of said board decide to make collection of their taxes and assessments through their own office, they shall certify their action to the board of county commissioners of each county in which their district is situated, by a written certificate, which shall be over the signatures of its president and secretary. Such certificate shall be filed in the office of the county clerk of such county not later than July first of the year in which the change of place of payment is desired to be effective and thereafter all taxes or assessments levied or assessed for such district shall be collected by, and payable to the treasurer of the irrigation district, at the office designated by such district at the time and in the manner now fixed by statute. When a certificate is filed as hereinbefore provided, then and thereafter the county commissioners of the county having jurisdiction of such irrigation district shall not be required to certify and deliver said assessment roll to the county assessor of such county or counties as otherwise provided by law, but shall certify and deliver said assessment roll to the treasurer of said district who shall act in lieu of and in place of the county treasurer in sending notices and collecting and receipting for such taxes or assessments. It shall be the duty of the treasurer of any irrigation district, following the method provided herein for collection of taxes or assessments to certify to the county treasurer of the county in which the land is situated the amount of any delinquent taxes or assessments on or before the 25th of May of each and every year and the county treasurer shall enter the same upon his delinquent tax list and make sale thereof as now provided by law. Any district which may or shall choose to make collection of its taxes or assessments as provided herein may revert back to the method of collection through the county treasurer's office by filing with the county clerk of the county or counties within which such district is located, a certificate showing the desire of a majority of its board of commissioners to change. Thereupon beginning with the first of July of the year in which the change is desired to be made, all the requirements of collection through the county treasurer's office shall be complied with. 41-7-414. When assessments to be judgments against land; manner of collection. Each and every sum assessed in any irrigation district organized in the manner herein provided, as soon as such assessment is confirmed by the court, shall be and is declared to be a judgment of the district court in favor of said irrigation district and against the land so assessed, and unless some other method of collection is herein provided, shall be collected in the same manner as any other money judgment, provided, that whenever said assessment is a lien upon land it shall only be collected on said land on which it is a lien. 41-7-415. Order approving contract deemed conclusive; appeals. The order confirming the assessments of benefits shall be conclusive as to the regularity of all proceedings relating to the assessments of benefits unless appealed from within thirty (30) days after the entry of such order. ARTICLE 5 - ORGANIZATION EXPENSES 41-7-501. Warrants for expense of survey authorized. The duly appointed, qualified and acting commissioners of an irrigation district, having complied with the provisions of W.S. 41-7-302, are hereby authorized to issue warrants of said district bearing interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum up to the amount set by the judge of the district court of the judicial district wherein such district was organized for the purpose of making the surveys necessary to present their first report as provided in W.S. 41-7-305, and to defray other necessary expenses of the district, prior to the said first report and the assessment of benefits, upon complying with the procedure set out hereinafter. 41-7-502. Petition for authority to issue warrants; notice of hearing; objections. Whenever the commissioners of an irrigation district, after their appointment and qualification, shall wish to avail themselves of the provisions of W.S. 41-7-501, they shall file in the district court wherein such district was organized, a petition for authority to issue interest-bearing warrants, setting out the necessity for such issuance, the amounts of warrants to be issued and the purpose thereof; the judge of said court shall thereupon, by order, set a date for hearing said petition and notice of such hearing, setting out briefly the purpose thereof, shall be published for one (1) consecutive week in a newspaper of general circulation in the county wherein the district or the greater portion thereof is situate, the last publication of said notice shall be at least ten (10) days prior to the date set for said hearing and any protests or objections to the said petition must be in writing, setting out the grounds of such protest or objection, signed and verified by the protestant or objector, and filed in the proceeding at least five (5) days prior to the date set for said hearing. 41-7-503. Petition for authority to issue warrants; hearing generally; decree generally; appeal. Upon the date set for the hearing of said petition, the judge shall hear evidence in support thereof and in support of any protests or objections properly filed and shall hear and determine all proper issues presented by said petition and any protests or objections which there may be and the judge shall enter his order in accord with such evidence; if, in the discretion of the court the petition should be granted he shall make his order authorizing the issuance of such interest-bearing warrants, setting the amount of such warrants which may be issued and the purpose for which such warrants may be used; such order will become final and conclusive unless appealed from within thirty (30) days of the date of its entry. 41-7-504. Effect of decree; reference to be made on warrants. Said order shall be the authority of the said commissioners and reference shall be made thereto on all warrants issued showing the amount so authorized and the total issued to the time thereof. 41-7-505. Assessment roll when assessments not yet approved or confirmed; equalization of assessments; levy. It shall be the duty of the commissioners of each irrigation district in which an assessment for benefits and construction has not theretofore been approved or confirmed by the court to prepare an assessment roll of said district which shall contain the name of the owner, together with a description of each tract, lot and easement of land within said district, together with the aggregate assessment levied or assessed against each lot, tract and easement of land therein. All such assessments to meet the authorized expenditures of said district shall be apportioned among the various landowners owning lands within said irrigation district in such manner that each irrigable acre of land, as returned for assessment purposes by the county assessor, and as thereafter amended or confirmed by the county board of equalization, shall bear an equal part or portion of the total of said assessments as its assessed irrigable area, as returned by the county assessor, bears to the total irrigable area of land, returned by the county assessor, within said irrigation district. Such assessment roll of the district shall be signed by the commissioners thereof and verified by any one (1) of them. On or before the fourth Monday in May of each year the commissioners of any such irrigation district shall deliver to the county commissioners of the county having jurisdiction of such irrigation district, the assessment roll of said district by filing the same in the office of the proper county clerk. The county commissioners of said county, acting as a board of equalization shall proceed to hear any and all complaints or objections thereto and correct, equalize and complete the same in such manner that said assessments listed in said assessment roll shall be equitably and ratably apportioned equally among the various irrigable lands included within said irrigation district. At the time of making the requisite tax levy for county purposes, the county commissioners of said county shall levy and assess against each tract, lot and easement of land, the respective amounts levied and assessed against the same upon said assessment roll as revised and corrected by them. Thereupon the county commissioners shall certify to and deliver said assessment roll to the county assessor of said county and in case the territory embraced in said district is located in two (2) or more counties, separate assessment rolls and proceedings shall be had and taken in each separate county, as required herein, but the assessment rate per irrigable acre as determined by the county commissioners having jurisdiction in the county in which the court proceedings are handled for said district shall be the rate per irrigable acre used by the county commissioners in all other counties in said district. Upon receipt of said assessment roll, the assessor of the county embracing any of the lands of said district shall extend upon the tax rolls of such county, the respective amounts levied against each lot, tract and easement of land as shown by said assessment roll of said district. ARTICLE 6 - CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS WITH UNITED STATES 41-7-601. Inclusion of provisions for maintenance and reclamation of injured lands; costs. The board of commissioners of any irrigation district, in contracting with the United States for the construction, operation and maintenance of its necessary works for the delivery and distribution of water therefrom under the provisions of the federal reclamation act and acts amendatory thereto and supplementary thereof, and the rules and regulations established thereunder, may include in said contract with the United States, a provision or provisions for the construction, operation and maintenance of any necessary drainage works which they may reasonably contemplate to be necessary for the reclamation and drainage of lands of the district affected injuriously by the seepage or percolation of waters from the irrigation works of the district or from the highlands in the district irrigated or to be irrigated, and said commissioners shall include the costs of such drainage in the "cost of construction" as defined by W.S. 41-7-305. 41-7-602. Petition for contract and assessments; hearings generally. Whenever any contract between the United States and an irrigation district so provides, the assessment or assessments for benefits and construction against the individual tracts of land in the district, as now required under W.S. 41-7-401, may be dispensed with, and in such case the board of commissioners of the district, at any time, or after an election as provided by law has resulted in the approval of such contract, may file in the district court of the county embracing the largest acreage of the district, a petition praying in effect, that the contract and the proceedings leading up to the execution of same and the assessment for benefits and construction as requested therein may be examined, approved and confirmed by the court. The petition shall state generally that the irrigation district was duly authorized, that due and lawful proceedings were taken to execute a contract with the United States which incurred a district indebtedness for construction charges to the United States in a maximum amount to be stated, and that the assessments to be levied against the individual tracts of land under the contract do not exceed the benefits to accrue to such tracts of land, respectively, by reason of such contract. The court shall, upon presentation of such a petition, fix a time for the hearing of said petition and shall order the clerk of the court to give and publish notice of the filing of the said petition, and of the time and place fixed for the hearing thereon. The notice of such hearing shall be published three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which such district is located and shall state the time and place fixed for the hearing of the petition, the prayer thereof, and that any person interested in the subject matter of the petition may, on or before three (3) days prior to the day fixed for the hearing thereof, answer or otherwise plead thereto, and no other notice shall be required to be given of the time and place of the hearing thereon. Upon the hearing on such proceedings, the court shall disregard every error, irregularity, or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of any party, and the court may make an order confirming and approving the proceedings taken to ratify and confirm such contract and the assessments for benefits and construction as required therein. The costs of the proceedings may be allowed and apportioned among the parties thereto in the discretion of the court. 41-7-603. Order approving contract deemed conclusive; appeal. The order confirming and approving the proceedings taken to ratify and confirm such contract and the assessment for benefits and construction as provided therein, shall be conclusive as to the regularity of all proceedings relating thereto, unless appealed from within thirty (30) days after the entry of such order. ARTICLE 7 - POWER PROJECTS 41-7-701. Irrigation districts may undertake power projects. Any irrigation district heretofore organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of chapter 2, Session Laws of Wyoming, Special Session, 1920, as amended, codified and compiled in W.S. 41-7-101 through 41-7-603 [§§41-7-101 through 41-7-415], as now amended, is hereby authorized and given the power to provide for the construction, building and development of suitable works and structures, and to purchase, extend, enlarge, operate and maintain constructed works and structures suitable for the operation, maintenance, development and distribution of hydroelectric energy and power. 41-7-702. Resolution of commissioners. Whenever the commissioners of any duly organized and existing irrigation district, heretofore or hereafter organized under the laws of the state of Wyoming, shall determine by a majority vote thereof that it is and would be beneficial and for the best interest of the landowners and entrymen therein that the development and distribution of hydroelectric energy and power is feasible, necessary and required for the complete and full construction and building of appropriate irrigation works necessary and required for the improvement of the water supply for the landowners and entrymen therein, they may adopt and approve an appropriate resolution stating their determination thereof. 41-7-703. Report made to district court. Upon the adoption of such a resolution, the said commissioners shall file an appropriate report with the district court of the county having jurisdiction of said irrigation district proceeding of the same nature and kind as provided in W.S. 41-7-305 through 41-7-307, for the construction of irrigation works. 41-7-704. Hearing on objections to report. Upon the filing of the said report, the court or judge thereof shall make an order fixing the time and place when and where all persons interested may appear and object to the confirmation thereof and all of the provisions of W.S. 41-7-308 through 41-7-314, shall be followed and be applicable thereto. 41-7-705. Notices; how given and served. All required notices shall be given and served in the same manner as provided in the said Irrigation District Law of the state of Wyoming. 41-7-706. Notices; contents. Such notice shall show the court in which said petition is filed, give a general description of the proposed works, state the time and place fixed by the court when and where the hearing on said petition will be had, and it shall require all persons interested to appear at the time and place therein stated, then and there to show cause if any they have, why said irrigation district should not proceed with plans and specifications for the construction or purchase as need be of the incidental necessary and required works for the development, distribution and sale of hydroelectric energy and power. 41-7-707. Order of court authorizing project; procedure commissioners to follow. If the court at the hearing so petitioned for, noticed and held shall decide the issues in favor of the petitioners the court shall enter an order approving and confirming the petition and authorize the commissioners of said district to proceed as provided in the irrigation district laws of the state of Wyoming, and in particular as provided in W.S. 41-7-305 through 41-7-315, and the amendments thereof, to make investigations, surveys and lay out said proposed work, to make maps, plans and profiles and other specifications thereof and to negotiate for the purchase of needed works and equipment as is required and report their findings to the court for a hearing thereon which said plans, proposals, etc. shall be subject to change and amendments as might be beneficial and as provided in said irrigation district laws of the state of Wyoming. 41-7-708. Approved project may proceed as incident to existing system; disposition of excess energy. After the approval of the court the board of commissioners of said irrigation district shall be authorized to proceed with the construction, acquisition or purchase of all works and equipment required to provide for the generation, distribution and sale of hydroelectric energy and power as an incident to its existing or proposed water storage and distribution system and that it shall have the power to sell, distribute or otherwise dispose of hydroelectric energy not necessary for the uses and purposes of the district. 41-7-709. Determination and apportionment of cost of power portion of project. That if any project or amended project includes plans for the generation of electric energy and power, the board of commissioners shall ascertain the total cost of all of the property and works which are necessary to be used in connection with the generation, sale and distribution of electric energy and power as set forth in the plans of the district, and shall also ascertain what portion of the assessment of benefit to accrue to each tract or parcel of land embraced or to be included within said irrigation district consists of the properties and works which are necessary and required to be so used. 41-7-710. Costs of irrigation works and power project separately apportioned. It shall be the duty of the board of commissioners to apportion the respective costs of irrigation works as distinguished from the property and works required and necessary for the generation, distribution and sale of electrical energy and power to each of said units of construction. 41-7-711. Assessments for power project to be determined; reported to court. The commissioners shall likewise determine the portion of assessments, if any, which is attributable to the cost of the properties and works which are necessary to be used in connection with the generation, distribution and sale of electric energy and power and the same shall be reported to and be one (1) of the items for determination and confirmation of the court. 41-7-712. Determination of rate of assessment. The commissioners shall also determine the rate per acre of the assessment upon each tract or parcel of land assessed, for the costs of construction or acquisition of the properties and works which are necessary to be used in connection with the generation of electric energy or power, and if no assessment of such costs is made upon any tract or parcel a statement of that fact shall be made. 41-7-713. Provisions governing levying, approving and collecting assessments. Upon the filing by the commissioners of a report to construct the initial unit or units pursuant to an original plan of construction or for any subsequent changes therein, the same proceedings shall be had and taken as required in the Wyoming Irrigation District Law and herein for levying, approving and collecting assessments to meet the costs of the units to be constructed, erected or purchased as was required to provide for an assessment to meet the cost of irrigation works or of the power unit or units first constructed. 41-7-714. Plan may be divided; procedure. Any approved plan may be divided by amendment into smaller parcels or units after notice and hearing on a report and petition for supplemental or amended assessment rolls and proposals. 41-7-715. Additions to projects; amended or supplemental petitions. If in the judgment of the board of commissioners additional properties or works are necessary and required at any time for the development and sale of electric energy and power, the same may be petitioned for, authorized and made or acquired, as provided herein, by amended or supplemental petition as provided herein for the original construction or acquisitions thereof. 41-7-716. Revenue from sale of power to be determined. Upon the levy of any assessment to a person thereof, as provided in this act, the board of commissioners shall ascertain the total net revenue which has been derived by the district from the generation and sale and distribution of electric power since the levy of the last previous assessment or portion thereof. 41-7-717. Power revenue to be deducted from assessments. From the assessments required upon each tract or parcel of land that has been assessed for the cost of the property comprising the portion of the project used or to be used for the generation, sale and distribution of electric energy and power there shall be deducted by the commissioners of the district and all officials making the levy against each separately owned tract or parcel of land within said irrigation district an amount equal to said portion of the total net revenue ascertained to have been derived from generation, development and sale of electric energy and power as the portion of the cost assessed under this act against each separate taxpayer bears to the total of said costs. In making such deduction, fractions of cents upon each tract shall be disregarded and no error in the computation of said deductions shall invalidate any such assessment or levy. 41-7-718. Liberal construction; restrictions; regulation by public service commission. (a) This act shall be construed liberally for the purpose of making it possible for irrigation districts by the development and sale of hydroelectric energy and power through the construction or purchase of necessary and required properties and works to create sufficient income to make said works in connection with their irrigation works a feasible project, to save, conserve and preserve their full water rights under the laws of Wyoming. (b) The generation of electric energy and power under the provisions of this act shall be restricted to the generation of hydroelectric energy and power for wholesale transmission and sale and such irrigation and public power districts established under the provisions of said act shall be subject to the regulation of the public service commission of Wyoming in the establishment of wholesale rates and transmission facilities, applicable to any other public utility generating electric energy and power for wholesale transmission and sale. ARTICLE 8 - PUBLIC IRRIGATION AND POWER DISTRICTS 41-7-801. Declaration of policy. Conservation of the state's water resources is hereby declared to be a state function, and the public interest, welfare, convenience and necessity require the creation of public irrigation districts and the construction of a system of works, in the manner hereinafter provided, for the conservation, storage, distribution and utilization of water. The construction of said system of works by such districts, as herein provided for, is hereby declared to be in all respects for the welfare and benefit of the people of the state. 41-7-802. Definitions. (a) "Public irrigation district", "Public irrigation and power district", or "district", means a district organized under this act, either as originally organized or as the same may be from time to time altered or extended. (b) The word "board" shall mean the board of directors of a district organized under this act. (c) The words "works" and "system" shall be deemed to include all property, rights, easements, and franchises relating thereto and deemed necessary or convenient for their operation, and all water rights acquired or exercised by the board in connection with such works, and shall embrace all means of conserving, controlling and distributing water, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, reservoirs, dams, diversion canals, distributing canals, lateral ditches and pumping units, mains, pipelines and water works systems, and shall include all such works for the conservation, development, storage, distribution and utilization of water, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, works for the purpose of irrigation, flood control, development, sale and distribution of power, watering of stock, supplying of water for public, domestic, industrial and other uses, whether such works be operated in conjunction with or separately from electric power plants or systems. (d) The word "project" shall mean any one (1) of the works hereinabove defined or any combination of such works which are physically connected or jointly managed and operated as a single unit. 41-7-803. Creation; as corporate entity; district within district. A district may be created as provided in this act and may sue and be sued in its corporate name. Nothing in this act shall be construed to prevent the organization of a district hereunder within, or partly within, the territorial boundaries of another district organized hereunder, so long as the works, systems or power plants, the operation of the same, the exercise of powers and the assumption of duties and responsibilities hereunder, of or in part of one such district, do not nullify, conflict with, or materially affect those of or on the part of another such district. 41-7-804. Creation; procedures generally. (a) The procedure for creating and incorporating a district under the provisions of this act shall be in accordance with the following method, to wit: (i) A public irrigation district may be organized under the provisions of this act by filing in the office of the state engineer a petition in compliance with the requirements hereinafter set forth, and the approval of said petition by the state engineer of Wyoming as hereinafter provided. Said petition shall be addressed to said state engineer and state in substance that it is the intent and purpose of the petitioners by said petition to create a district under the provisions of this act, subject to approval by said state engineer. Said petition must contain: (A) the name of the proposed district. If the proposed district is to engage in the business of owning or operating irrigation works, such name shall include the words "public irrigation district." If the proposed district is also to engage in the business of acquiring, manufacturing or selling or distributing electric power, the name of the proposed district shall include the words "public irrigation and power district"; (B) the object and purpose of the system proposed to be constructed, together with a general description of the nature, location and method of operation of proposed irrigation works, and of proposed power systems if owning and operating power plants or systems is to be a part of the business of the proposed district; (C) a description of the lands constituting the proposed district and of the boundaries thereof; (D) the location of the principal place of business of the proposed district; (E) a statement that the proposed district shall not have the power to levy taxes; (F) the names and addresses of the members of the board of directors of the proposed district (not less than five (5) nor more than thirteen (13) who shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified as provided for in this act. In the petition, the directors named shall be divided as nearly as possible into three (3) equal groups, the members of the first group to hold office until their successors, elected at the first district election thereafter, shall have qualified; the members of the second group to hold office until their successors, elected at the second district election thereafter, shall have qualified, and the members of the third group to hold office until their successors, elected at the third district election thereafter, shall have qualified. Thereafter all directors elected shall serve for a term of three (3) years and until their successors are elected and qualified. After the name of each director shall be stated to which of said three (3) groups he belongs. Said petition must be signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the freeholders or entrymen of the area constituting said proposed district, or by their duly authorized representatives. On each petition, set opposite the signature of each petitioner, shall be stated his or her name and post-office address. To each sheet for petitioners' signatures shall be attached a full and correct copy of the petition. Every sheet of every such petition containing signatures shall have upon it and below the signatures an affidavit by the circulator in substantially the following form: State of Wyoming ) ) ss County of .... ) ...., being first duly sworn, deposes and says, that he is the circulator of the foregoing petition containing .... signatures; that each person whose name appears on said petition sheet personally signed said petition in the presence of affiant; that he believes that each of said signers is a freeholder of land to be included within the proposed district residing at the address written opposite his or her name, and that affiant stated to every petitioner before he or she affixed his or her signature the legal effect and nature of said petition. ................ Circulator Subscribed and sworn to before me this .... day of ...., (year). ................ Notarial Officer; (ii) Upon receipt of such petition it shall be the duty of said state engineer to make an immediate investigation of the proposed district and of its proposed works, systems or plans, and, if deemed by said state engineer feasible and conforming to public convenience and welfare, the state engineer shall thereupon and within ninety (90) days from the receipt of such petition execute a certificate, in duplicate, setting forth a true copy of said petition and declaring that said petition has been approved. Said state engineer shall immediately cause said certificate to be forwarded to and filed in the office of the secretary of state and a copy thereof certified by him in the office of the county clerk of the county in which the principal place of business of the district is to be located. Thereupon, said district, under its designated name, shall be and constitute a body politic and corporate under the provisions of this act, and shall be a public corporation of the state of Wyoming. Immediately upon the filing of said certificate in the office of the secretary of state and a certified copy thereof in the office of said county clerk the members of the board of directors named in the petition shall qualify as provided for in this act and immediately assume the duties of their office. Failure or refusal to qualify within a period of fifteen (15) days thereafter shall be deemed to create a vacancy which shall be filled as in this act provided. The first meeting of the board of directors shall be called by the director first named in the petition who qualifies. 41-7-805. Board of directors; election; term; vacancies; bond; removal; conduct of election. (a) After the election of the original board of directors of a district as provided in W.S. 41-7-804 members of the board to succeed those in the three (3) groups provided for in said section 4 of this act, respectively, and to fill unexpired terms shall be nominated and elected and shall take office, subject to the provisions of this act in the following manner, to wit: upon the first Tuesday in February next following the qualification of the original board of directors and upon the first Tuesday in February of each year thereafter, an election shall be held to elect directors to succeed those whose terms are about to expire. The term of each director thus elected shall commence upon the third Tuesday in February next ensuing after his election and shall continue for a period of three (3) years thereafter and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Vacancies on the board by reason of death, disability, removal from the district or otherwise shall be filled by the board of directors and the members thus elected to fill vacancies shall serve until members to fill out the remainder of such terms respectively may be elected at the next succeeding district election. Each director before entering upon the duties of his office shall file with the secretary of state a bond in the penal sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) with good and sufficient surety to be approved by the secretary of state. Such bond shall be conditioned for the faithful performance of his duty as director. Members of the board may be removed from office for the same reasons and in the same manner as provided by law for the removal of county officers. All costs incident to the nomination and election of directors shall be paid by the district. (b) Election of directors shall be conducted in the following manner, to wit: the board of directors of the district shall fix the hour and place within the boundaries of the district, of each election and shall preside at the same. It shall be the duty of the board at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of election, to mail to each person or corporation entitled to vote thereat, at his or its last known place of residence or business, a notice stating the time, place and purpose of such elections. Every freeholder and entryman within the district and every person or corporation which is a party to a contract with the district for the purchase of water, electric power or other service or facility to be furnished by the district shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote at such election for each director to be elected thereat. At the hour and place of such election the board shall call the roll of those entitled to vote, and the number of votes to which each is entitled. They shall make a record of the qualified voters present, receive all proxies and prescribe the manner of canvassing votes. All proxies shall be in writing and signed by the person entitled to vote. Such number of candidates for directors required to fill existing vacancies or to succeed outgoing directors receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be declared elected. 41-7-806. Board of directors; qualifications; officers; treasurer's bond; adoption of rules and regulations; audit department report; compensation. The corporate powers of the district shall be vested in and exercised by the board of directors of the district. No person shall be qualified to hold office as a member of the board of directors of any district unless he or she shall be a freeholder or entryman of the district. The board of directors shall elect the officers of the district who shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer, and the board shall appoint such executive committee and other officers, agents, servants and employees as shall be deemed necessary in transacting the business of the district. The president, vice-president and treasurer shall be elected from the membership of the board of directors. The treasurer shall furnish and maintain a corporate surety bond in an amount sufficient to cover all monies coming into his possession or control, which bond shall be satisfactory in form and with sureties approved by the board. The bond, as approved, shall be filed with the secretary of state. The board of directors may adopt rules and regulations or bylaws, not inconsistent with the provisions of this act, for the conduct of the business and affairs of the district. The board of directors shall cause to be kept accurate minutes of their meetings and accurate records and books of account, conforming to methods of bookkeeping approved by the director of the department of audit, clearly setting out and reflecting the entire operation, management, and business of the district. The books and records shall be kept at the principal place of business of the district and at reasonable business hours always open to public inspection. The fiscal year shall commence July 1. The board of directors, at the close of each year's business, shall file a report of the books, records and financial affairs of the district with the department of audit as required by W.S. 9-1-507. A copy of the report shall be placed and kept on file at the principal place of business of the district and shall be filed with the secretary of state. Members of the board of directors shall be paid their actual expenses while engaged in performing the duties of their office or otherwise engaged upon the business of the district, and in addition thereto they each shall receive as compensation for services a sum of not exceeding six dollars ($6.00) per day for a total working period not more than ten (10) days in each month. 41-7-807. Powers; generally. (a) A public irrigation district or a public irrigation and power district, organized under the provisions of this act shall have the following powers and shall be entitled to own, have, or exercise the following rights, privileges and franchises: (i) Such district shall have all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes and may purchase, hold, sell and lease personal property and real estate reasonably necessary for the conduct of its business; (ii) Such districts shall have the right and power to own, construct, reconstruct, improve, purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire, extend, manage, use or operate any "irrigation works", as defined in this act, and any and every kind of property, personal or real, necessary, useful or incident to such acquisition, extension, management, use and operation, whether the same be independent of or separated from the power, business or functions of the district or in connection or conjunction therewith, in whole or in part. In connection with the aforesaid powers, such district shall have the right and power to enter into any contract, lease, agreement or arrangement with any state, county, city, village, governmental or public corporation or association, or with any person, firm or corporation, public or private, or with the government of the United States, or with any officer, department, bureau or agency thereof, or with any corporation organized under federal law, for the purpose of exercising or utilizing any one (1) or more of the above enumerated powers, or for the sale, leasing, or otherwise furnishing or establishing water rights, electric power, water supply, conveyance and distribution of water, water service, or water storage, for irrigation or flood control or for the financing or payment of the cost and expenses incident to the construction, acquisition or operation of such irrigation works, or incident to any obligation or liability entered into or incurred by such district; (iii) Such district shall have the right, power and authority to exercise any of the powers enumerated in paragraph (ii) of this subsection, either within or beyond or partly within and partly beyond the boundaries of the district and of the state of Wyoming if not otherwise prohibited by the law of such area, state or the United States of America; (iv) Such district shall have the right to appropriate the waters of the state in the same manner as other appropriators in accordance with the general provisions of chapter 122, Wyoming Revised Statutes, 1931, and other laws and regulations of the state of Wyoming, so far as the same may be applicable; provided, that such district shall, in the exercise of the powers conferred by this act, not interfere with, injure or otherwise damage or affect existing water rights. 41-7-808. Powers; eminent domain; application of provisions. All provisions of law now applicable to irrigation districts, privately owned irrigation corporations, ditch companies, or power districts or power corporations, as regards the exercise of the power of eminent domain, the use and occupation of state and other public lands and highways, the appropriation, or other acquisition or use of water, waterpower, water rights, or water diversion or storage rights, for any of the purposes contemplated in this act, the manner or method of construction and physical operation of irrigation works, storage dams, distribution systems, power plants, transmission lines and power systems, as herein contemplated, shall be applicable as nearly as may be, and insofar as not in conflict with the provisions of this act, to districts organized under this act in their exercise of the rights, powers and franchises and in the performance of the duties conferred or imposed upon them under the provisions of this act. In addition to any other rights and powers hereinabove conferred upon any district organized under the provisions of this act, such district shall have and exercise the power of eminent domain for the purposes and after the manner provided for in sections 38-401 to 38-416, inclusive, of chapter 38 [§§ 1-26-401, 1-26-403, 1-26-404] and in chapter 122, Wyoming Revised Statutes, 1931, or in any one (1) or more of said sections or other applicable sections in said statutes made and provided. If any such district shall condemn private property or interests therein, the appraisement shall include such amount of damage as will accrue to the owner of the condemned property through severance thereof from other property of said owner, previously operated with that so condemned, as a unit. 41-7-809. Powers; incurring indebtedness; security for loans; limitations; agreements. (a) A district organized hereunder may borrow money and incur indebtedness for a corporate use or purpose in this act authorized, provided, every indebtedness, liability or obligation of the district for the payment of money in whatever manner entered into or incurred, and whether arising from contract, implied contract, or otherwise, shall be payable solely, (i) from revenues, income, receipts and profits derived by the district from its operation and management of power plants, systems and irrigation works as in this act provided, or (ii) from the issuance or sale by the district of its warrants, notes, revenue bonds, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter referred to in this section as "district obligations"), payable solely from such revenues, income, receipts and profits. The maximum maturity of district obligations so issued shall be forty (40) years. (b) Any such district may pledge and put up as collateral security for a loan any district obligations. Any district issuing district obligations under the provisions of this act is hereby specifically authorized and empowered to pledge all or any part of the revenues which the district may derive from the sale, conveyance and distribution of water for irrigation, storage of water, electrical energy, or other service, as security for the payment of the principal and interest thereon. Any such pledge of revenues shall be made by the directors of the district by resolution or by agreement with the purchasers or holders of such district obligations. Any such resolution or agreement may specify the particular revenues that are pledged and the terms and conditions to be performed by the district and the rights of the holders of such district obligations, and may provide for priorities of liens in any such revenues as between the holders of district obligations issued at different times or under different resolutions or agreements. (c) Such resolution or agreement may further provide for the refunding of any such district obligation through the issuance of other district obligations, entitled to rights and priorities similar in all respects to those held by the district obligations that are refunded and for the issuance of such refunding district obligations, either in exchange for district obligations then outstanding, or the sale thereof and the application of the proceeds of such sale to the retirement of the district obligations then outstanding. (d) Any such resolution or agreement may provide that all or any part of the revenues of the district shall be paid into a special fund and may set forth all the terms and conditions on which such special fund is to be collected, held and disposed of, whether partly or wholly for the benefit of the holders of such district obligations. Provisions may be made that such special fund shall be held by depositories designated or described in such resolution or agreement. (e) The directors of any district organized under the provisions of this act are authorized to agree with the holders of any such district obligations as to the maximum or minimum amounts which such district shall charge and collect for water, electrical energy, or other service sold by the district. 41-7-810. Powers; obtaining federal grants or loans; acceptance of gifts. Any district organized hereunder shall have and exercise any power conferred by this act for the purpose of obtaining grants or loans or both from any federal agency pursuant to or by virtue of any and all acts of congress, independently or in conjunction with any other power or powers conferred by this act, or heretofore or hereafter conferred by any other law, and shall have power to accept from private owners or other sources, gifts, deeds or instruments of trust or title relating to land, water rights and any other form of property. 41-7-811. Powers; purchase or conveyance of water rights. Such district shall have power to purchase and acquire lands, water rights, rights of way, and real and personal properties of every nature in cooperation with the United States under such conditions as may to the board seem advisable, and to convey the same under such conditions, terms and restrictions as may be approved by the board of directors and the federal government or any of its agencies and to pay the purchase price and any and all construction costs or other necessary expenses and costs in connection with any works contemplated by this act either from its own funds, or cooperatively with the federal government. 41-7-812. Powers; taxation generally; liability of district for indebtedness. The district shall have no power of taxation and no governmental authority shall have the power to levy or collect taxes for the purpose of paying, in whole or in part, any indebtedness or obligation of or incurred by the district as such or upon which the district may be or become in any manner liable, nor shall any privately owned property in such district, or the owner thereof, be directly or indirectly liable for any such district indebtedness or obligation beyond liability to perform any express contract, if any, between such owner and said district. No person, irrigation district, or irrigation company, shall be liable for the payment of any rent or charge for water storage, electric power, water supply or service unless a contract therefor has been entered into between such person, irrigation district, or irrigation company and the public irrigation district or public irrigation and power district furnishing such water storage, electric power or such water service. 41-7-813. Construction of irrigation works; cost estimates; advertisement for bids; contracts. Before any district shall enter into any contract for the construction, building, alteration, extension, or improvement of any irrigation works, power plant or system, or any part or section thereof for the use of the district, or for the purchase of any materials, machinery, or apparatus, such district shall cause estimates of the cost thereof to be made by some competent engineer or engineers and if such estimated cost shall exceed the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) no such contract shall be entered into for a price, cost or consideration exceeding such estimate nor without advertising for sealed bids. Prior to such advertisement, plans and specifications for the proposed construction work or materials shall be prepared and filed at the principal office or place of business of the district. Such advertisement shall be inserted for three (3) consecutive issues, with not less than twenty (20) days intervening between the first and last publication dates, in one (1) or more newspapers of general circulation in the district and, in the discretion of the board of directors of the district, in such additional newspapers or trade or technical periodicals as may be selected by the board in order to give proper notice of the receiving of bids. Such advertisement shall designate the nature of the construction work proposed to be done or materials proposed to be purchased; that the plans and specifications therefor may be inspected at the office of the district, giving the location thereof, and shall designate the time within which bids shall be filed and the date, hour and place the same shall be opened. The board of directors of the district, with the assistance of the state engineer, whose duty it shall be to supervise such lettings, may let the contract for such work or materials to the lowest responsible bidder, or, in the sole discretion of the board, all bids tendered may be rejected and readvertisement for bids made in the manner, form and time in this section provided. No such contract shall be valid nor shall any money of the district be expended thereunder unless advertisement and letting shall have been had as in this section provided. Such contract shall provide that wherever possible workmen who are citizens of Wyoming shall be employed by the contractor. All provisions of W.S. 16-6-112 through 16-6-115, with reference to contractor's bonds, shall be applicable and effective as to any contract let pursuant to the provisions of this act; provided further, that if all or a portion of the cost of the proposed works is to be met by grant of labor or a grant in aid from a federal or state agency, the rules and regulations of which agency provide that work shall not be done by contract, the board may proceed with the necessary construction or other work without first complying with any of the foregoing provisions of this section. 41-7-814. Expenditures. Money of the district shall be paid out or expended only upon approval of the board of directors and by warrant or other instrument in writing signed by the president and by the treasurer of the district. In case of the death, absence or other disqualification of the president, the vice-president shall sign warrants or other instruments. 41-7-815. Sale or mortgage of irrigation works. Any project created under the provisions of this act shall not be sold to private interests. No irrigation works, power plant, or system owned by the district shall be sold, alienated or mortgaged by the district, except under the following circumstances, to wit: if, in order to borrow money from the federal government or from any of its agencies or from the state of Wyoming, it shall become necessary that the district mortgage or otherwise hypothecate any or all its said property or assets to secure the payment of a loan or loans made to it by or from such source or sources, the district is hereby authorized and empowered to mortgage or hypothecate such property and assets for such purpose. Nothing in this section contained shall prevent the district from assigning, pledging, or otherwise hypothecating its revenues, incomes, receipts or profits to secure the payment of indebtedness to the federal government or any agency thereof, or the state of Wyoming, provided, that the state of Wyoming shall never pledge its credit or funds, or any part thereof, for the payment or settlement of any indebtedness or obligation whatsoever of any district created under the provisions of this act; and provided further, that if any district created under this act shall execute and deliver a mortgage or trust deed to secure the payment of any moneys borrowed by it for the purposes herein authorized, it may be provided in such mortgage or trust deed that the same may be foreclosed upon default and that a receiver may be appointed by any court of competent jurisdiction with such authority as may be provided for in such mortgage or trust deed. 41-7-816. Keeping funds; fixing prices, rates and charges. (a) The board shall create three (3) separate funds, one (1) fund to be known as the construction fund, another fund to be known as the water fund, and another fund to be known as the sinking fund, each such fund to be identified by the same series letter or letters as the bonds, warrants, notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness of such series. A separate account shall be kept of each construction fund and of each water fund and of each sinking fund for each project. (b) The proceeds of the sale of the bonds and other evidences of indebtedness of each series issued under the provisions of this act shall be placed to the credit of the appropriate construction fund, which fund shall at all times be kept segregated and set apart from all other funds. There shall also be credited to the appropriate construction fund the interest received upon the deposits of moneys in such fund and moneys received by way of gift or grant from the United States or from any other source for the construction of the works. The moneys in each construction fund shall be paid out or disbursed in such manner as may be determined by the board, subject to the provisions of this act, to pay the cost of the works as hereinabove defined. Any surplus which may remain in any construction fund after providing for the payment of the cost of the works shall be added to and become a part of the appropriate sinking fund hereinafter provided for. (c)(i) The board is hereby authorized and empowered, subject to the provisions of this act, to fix and establish the prices, rates and charges at which any and all the resources and facilities made available under the provisions of this act shall be sold and disposed of; to enter into any and all contracts and agreements, and to do any and all things which in its judgment are necessary, convenient or expedient for the accomplishment of any and all the purposes and objects of this act, under such general regulations and upon such terms, limitations and conditions as it shall prescribe; and it is and shall be the duty of the board to enter into such contracts and fix and establish such prices, rates and charges so at to provide at all times funds which will be sufficient to pay all costs of operation and maintenance of any and all of the works authorized by this act, together with necessary repairs thereto, and which will provide at all times sufficient funds to meet and pay the principal and interest of all bonds, warrants, notes, debentures and other evidences of indebtedness as they severally become due and payable; provided, that nothing contained in this act shall authorize any change, alteration or revision of any such rates, prices or charges as established by any contract entered into under authority of this act except as provided by any such contract; (ii) Every contract made by the board for the sale, conveyance and distribution of water, use of water, water storage, electric power or other service, or for the sale of any property or facilities, shall provide that in the event of any failure or default in the payment of any moneys specified in such contract to be paid to the board, the board may, upon such notice as shall be prescribed in such contract, terminate such contract and all obligations thereunder. The act of the board in ceasing on any such default to furnish or deliver water, use of water, water storage, electric power or other service under such contract shall not deprive the board of, or limit any remedy provided by such contract or by law for the recovery of any and all moneys due or which become due under such contract; (iii) All income or profit and revenue of the works and all moneys received from the sale, conveyance, distribution or disposal of water, use of water, water storage, electric power or other service, and from the operation, lease, sale or other disposition of the works, property and facilities acquired under the provisions of this act shall be paid to the credit of the appropriate water fund. (d) The board shall provide in the proceedings authorizing the issuance of each series of bonds, warrants, notes, debentures, or other evidences of indebtedness or in the trust indenture securing the same, for paying into the appropriate sinking fund at stated intervals all moneys then remaining in the water fund, after paying all costs of operation, maintenance and repairs of the works. All moneys in each sinking fund shall be pledged for the payment of and used for the purpose of paying the interest, principal, and the necessary fiscal agency charges upon the bonds, warrants, notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness as the same shall fall due. 41-7-817. Dissolution. Any district organized under this act may, at any regular or called meeting of the board of directors, be dissolved by a majority vote of a quorum present at such meeting; provided, such district shall not at the time of such dissolution own any property or rights or have outstanding any contract or contracts or obligations of any kind; provided further, that in case of such dissolution all applications for appropriation of water shall be, by the state engineer of the state of Wyoming, cancelled and all rights of said district therein and thereunder shall thereupon cease and determine. 41-7-818. Construction; generally. This act shall not be construed as repealing, limiting, or in any way affecting the provisions of chapter 122, Wyoming Revised Statutes, 1931, with reference to irrigation districts, and the provisions of W.S. 37-7-101 through 37-7-136, with reference to power districts, or any other laws of the state of Wyoming. 41-7-819. Construction; cities and towns. This act shall not be construed as restraining any city or town, within the state of Wyoming, located either wholly or partially within, or outside of any irrigation or power district from constructing or maintaining power plants for the purpose of manufacturing electricity for light and power purposes. Provided, that any district formed under the provisions of this act, in which may be included a city or town shall not be permitted to assess any such city or town with any part of the debt of such district which would in itself exceed the constitutional limitations. Provided, however, that any such city or town may purchase electric current for resale from any such district whenever deemed advisable. 41-7-830. Authority. The landowners in a public irrigation and power district organized under W.S. 41-7-801 through 41-7-819 shall have the right to convert such district into an irrigation district as provided for in chapter 122, article 7, Wyoming Revised Statutes 1931, having all the rights and powers as though originally created under the provisions of said chapter 122, article 7, Wyoming Revised Statutes 1931. 41-7-831. Resolution of board of directors. In order to effect such change the board of directors shall pass a resolution stating that it is the desire of the board to transform said district into an irrigation district as provided in chapter 122, article 7, Wyoming Revised Statutes 1931 and said resolution shall fix the time and place of holding an election within the district to determine whether or not the transformation shall be made. 41-7-832. Election; notice. (a) Immediately after the adoption of the resolution by the board the secretary of the district shall proceed to give notice of the time and place of holding such election in the manner following: (i) By serving or causing to be served a copy of the notice stating the time, place and object of the election on each person owning or entitled to possession by virtue of public filing of land within the district residing in any county in which any lands of the district are situated either personally or by leaving a copy thereof at his usual place of abode, with a person of suitable age and discretion, and by registered mail to any mortgagee, mortgagees or judgment lien holder whose mortgage or judgment lien and address is of record in the record of said liens in the county or counties in which said district is situated; and (ii) By publishing a copy of said notice at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in some newspaper published in each county within which any of the lands of the district are situated, giving the time, place and object of said election; (iii) If any of the persons owning or entitled to possession of land in said district are nonresidents of the county or counties in which the district lies, such notice of time, place and object of the election shall be sent by registered mail to such nonresidents if their addresses are known and if unknown the secretary shall make an affidavit so stating. Such notice to be mailed within two (2) days after the first publication. Notice of the time, place and object of the election must be given at least twenty (20) days before the date of election. 41-7-833. Election; procedure. At the time and place for holding the election, the president of the district board shall read the notice of election and call the roll of those entitled to vote and the number of votes to which each is entitled. Every person owning or entitled to possession by virtue of public filing of land within the district shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each acre of land held within the district at such election. The board of directors shall keep a record of all qualified voters present, receive all proxies and prescribe the manner of canvassing votes. All proxies shall be in writing and signed by the person entitled to vote. The vote of a majority of the owners of land or persons entitled to possession of land in the district by virtue of public filing of land and representing at least one-third of the lands within the district shall be necessary to make effective the transformation of the district to a district under chapter 122, article 7, Wyoming Revised Statutes 1931. 41-7-834. Filing of certificate of change. If the vote shows that the transformation has been authorized by the district, the secretary shall file a certificate to that effect in the office of the clerk of court in the counties embraced within the district and a duplicate copy with the state engineer; thereafter said district shall proceed to act under the provisions of chapter 122, article 7, Wyoming Revised Statutes 1931, and any and all acts supplementary thereto or amendatory thereof and shall have all of the rights, powers and obligations as if originally organized under said chapter and article. 41-7-835. Construction. This act shall not be construed as repealing or in any way affecting the provisions of W.S. 41-7-801 through 41-7-819. 41-7-850. Irrigation district may assume status of public power district. Any irrigation district heretofore organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of chapter 2, Session Laws of Wyoming, Special Session, 1920, as amended, codified and compiled in W.S. 41-7-101 through 41-7-603 [§§ 41-7-101 through 41-7-415], as now amended, shall have and receive all of the rights, powers and authority which it would have and enjoy if it had been created and formed as a public power district under the provisions of chapter 137, Session Laws of Wyoming, 1937, as amended, codified and compiled in W.S. 41-7-801 through 41-7-835, and any existing amendments thereof, by taking proceedings in the manner as hereinafter set forth and provided. 41-7-851. Resolution of commissioners. Whenever the commissioners of any duly organized and existing irrigation district, heretofore organized under the laws of the state of Wyoming, shall determine by a majority vote thereof that it is or would be beneficial to and for the best interest of the landowners and entrymen therein either to use any or a part of its irrigation works theretofore constructed as a part of the necessary works required for the construction and development of a complete electric power plant or system for the production, distribution and sale of electric energy, or that it is for the best interest of the landowners and entrymen in said district that it should add thereto or to construct a complete new system of works for the development, sale and distribution of electric energy they may adopt and approve an appropriate resolution stating their determination thereof. 41-7-852. Report made to district court; contents. (a) Upon the adoption of such a resolution, the said commissioners shall file an appropriate report with the district court of the county having jurisdiction of said irrigation district proceeding, stating in general the desirability of said district to have and obtain the rights, powers and authority of an irrigation and public power district, which report shall include: (i) The name of the proposed irrigation and public power district to include the words "public power" therein; (ii) The general necessity for the proposed works; (iii) The object and purpose of the system proposed to be constructed together with a general description thereof; (iv) A general prayer for an order to obtain all the rights, powers and authority of a "public power district". 41-7-853. Hearing on proposal. Upon such petition being filed the court or judge thereof shall make an order fixing a time and place of hearing thereon and require notice of the time and place of such hearing to be given thereon by the clerk of said court. 41-7-854. Notice of hearing; publication. The clerk of said court shall give notice of the filing of said petition and of the time and place of hearing thereon to any and all persons interested therein by publishing a copy of said order at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper published in each county within which any of the lands of the said irrigation district is situated. If there be no newspaper in any such county, such notice may be published in a newspaper published in an adjoining county. 41-7-855. Notice of hearing; contents. (a) Such notice shall disclose: (i) In what court said petition is filed; (ii) A general description of the proposed work; (iii) The name proposed for said combined irrigation and public power district; (iv) The time and place fixed by the court, when and where the hearing on said petition will be heard; (v) It shall also require all persons interested to appear at the time and place stated, then and there to show cause why said irrigation district should not receive and have the rights, powers and authority of a public power district. 41-7-856. Order of court authorizing change. If the court at the hearing so petitioned for, noticed, and held, shall decide the issues in favor of the petitioners, the court shall enter an order approving and confirming the petition, amend the name of said irrigation district to show that it is also a public power district, and authorize said district to have and receive all of the rights, powers and authority of a "public power district" in addition to all of the rights, powers and authority given to and enjoyed by it as an irrigation district under the laws of the state of Wyoming. 41-7-857. Submission of proposal to vote of landowners and entrymen. In the event the board of commissioners by a majority vote, or the court by an appropriate order, shall request or determine that a vote should be had of the landowners and entrymen within the district on the question of whether or not the said irrigation district should acquire the rights, powers and authority of a "public power district", then the matter shall be submitted to the landowners and entrymen of the district at either a regular or special election, at a time and place or places, to be designated by the commissioners of the district under the order of the court to be held under the same rules and in the same manner as elections are held for commissioners within an irrigation district. 41-7-858. Effect of vote on court. In the event such an election be had the result thereof shall be certified to the court and shall be advisory and determinative of the final order to be presented on the question of whether or not said irrigation district should receive all of the rights, powers and authority of a public power district. 41-7-859. Court order vests powers. Upon the entry of an order of the court authorizing or approving the receipt by an existing irrigation district of the rights, powers and authority of a public power district, then it shall have and receive all of said rights, powers and authority as are given and granted to a public power district by the provisions of chapter 123, Session Laws of Wyoming, 1937 and the amendments thereof as now codified and compiled in W.S. 41-7-101 through 41-7-1006 and any existing amendments thereof. 41-7-860. Construction and application of Public Irrigation and Power District Law. (a) In applying and adapting the public power district law to the existing irrigation district law, organization and procedures, the Public Irrigation and Power District Law of the state of Wyoming as aforesaid shall be and the same is hereby construed in the following specific manner, when applied to a regularly organized irrigation district which assumes and receives the rights, powers and authority of a "public power district", as follows, to wit: (i) The word "board" shall mean the board of commissioners of the existing irrigation district; (ii) Whenever the phrase, "members of the board of directors" appears in the existing Public Irrigation and Power District Law, the same shall be read as "members of the board of commissioners"; (iii) The requirements and limitations as to number, terms of office, vacancies, election, qualifications, and compensation of commissioners shall be governed by the Irrigation District Law of the state of Wyoming and not by the Public Irrigation and Power District Law of the state. 41-7-861. Irrigation and power funds to be kept in separate accounts. The board of commissioners of any irrigation district which shall have and receive the rights, powers and authority of a public power district under and pursuant to the provisions of this act, shall keep separate accounts for all money received from assessments for construction and for the operation and maintenance of the irrigation works portion thereof from the funds received or accumulated from the power works and system thereof; and none of said funds shall ever be commingled or diverted from their proper uses as fixed by law. 41-7-862. Different laws to apply to additions to irrigation works and power works. In the construction of additional irrigation works or features or of needed or required works or features for the power portion of said project, all irrigation works thereof shall be constructed, built and financed under the provisions of the Irrigation District Law of the state of Wyoming and the power works and system shall be built, financed and paid for following the public power district portion of the Wyoming law. 41-7-863. Report of proposed construction to court; apportionment of irrigation and power costs. Prior to the starting of any construction work thereon, the commissioners shall report the purpose, whether for irrigation or power for which any of said works is to be constructed; and shall recommend to the court an equitable and fair division and distribution of the cost thereof as between irrigation and power; and the court upon the hearing for the authorization thereof, shall fix and determine the proportionate amount as between the irrigation and power works or features which shall be beneficial and chargeable to the irrigation portion and the power portion thereof and the order of the court thereon shall be determinative and final thereon. 41-7-864. Rights and powers preserved. An irrigation district receiving the rights, power and authority of a public power district as aforesaid, shall not lose any of its rights and powers under and by virtue of the provisions of chapter 2, Session Laws of Wyoming, Special Session, 1920, as amended, codified and compiled in W.S. 41-7-101 through 41-7-415, as now amended. 41-7-865. Liberal construction; restrictions; regulation by public service commission. (a) This act shall be construed liberally for the purpose of making it possible for irrigation districts by the development and sale of hydroelectric energy and power through the construction or purchase of necessary and required properties and works to create sufficient income to make said works in connection with their irrigation works a feasible project to save, conserve and preserve their full water rights under the laws of Wyoming. (b) The generation of electric energy and power under the provisions of this act and under the provisions of chapter 137, Session Laws of Wyoming 1937, as amended, codified and compiled in W.S. 41-7-801 through 41-7-835, shall be restricted to the generation of hydroelectric energy and power for wholesale transmission and sale and such irrigation and public power districts established under the provisions of said acts shall be subject to the regulations of the public service commission of Wyoming in the establishment of wholesale rates and transmission facilities, applicable to any other public utility generating electric energy and power for wholesale transmission and sale. ARTICLE 9 - REVENUE BONDS 41-7-901. "Revenue" defined. As used in this act the word "revenue" means all or any part of any source or sources of payment excluding assessments upon or against the lands and property of the landowners and entrymen therein, but including the proceeds of or income from any existing or proposed contract or contracts. 41-7-902. Revenue bonds of irrigation and irrigation and power districts authorized. Any irrigation district or combined irrigation and public power district created or organized under the laws of the state of Wyoming shall have the power and authority to issue its revenue bonds, the principal and interest of which shall be payable from designated revenues and sources of payment, including the proceeds of any existing or proposed construction work, contract or contracts, but excluding assessments upon and against the lands and property of the landowners and entrymen therein. 41-7-903. Designation of revenue from which principal or interest payable. If in the judgment of the board of commissioners of any irrigation district or combined irrigation and public power district it is desirable that the principal or interest or both, of any of its bonds or any part of the principal or interest thereof be payable solely from revenue designated by the board of commissioners, it, with the approval of the court after a hearing thereon may so provide by resolution adopted at or prior to the time of the issuance of such bonds. 41-7-904. Statement on bonds of limitations on payment of principal. If any or all of the principal or interest of any bonds be made payable only from revenue, the board of commissioners shall cause a brief statement of the limitations upon the payment of principal or portion thereof to be set forth in the bonds. 41-7-905. Statement on bonds and coupons of limitations affecting interest payments. If the limitations affect the payment of the interest of the bonds or any part thereof, a brief statement of the limitations shall be set forth in the interest coupons representing the interest and also in the bonds to which the interest coupons are appurtenant. 41-7-906. Statement on bonds and coupons of limitations affecting interest payments; portion of interest affected; separate coupons. (a) If the limitations affect the payment of only a portion of the interest which will accrue on any bond, the board of commissioners may provide either that: (i) The entire installment of interest payable on any interest payment date shall be represented by a single coupon which shall contain a brief statement as to the portion of interest subject to the limitations; or (ii) The portion of interest not subject to the limitations and the portion of interest subject to the limitations shall be represented by separate interest coupons, the coupons representing the portion of the interest as to which limitations exist containing a brief statement of the limitations. 41-7-907. Designation of revenue releases district and officers from payment otherwise. If any board of commissioners with the approval of the court provides that the principal or interest or both of any bonds or any portion of the principal or interest or both shall be payable solely from designated revenue, neither the district nor any officer thereof shall be held for payment otherwise. 41-7-908. Allocation of designated revenue; resolution. Any designated revenue may by resolution of the board of commissioners be allocated to the payment of the whole or any portion of the principal or interest or both of any bonds. 41-7-909. Allocation of designated revenue; for bonds payable from revenue or assessments. (a) The allocation may be for either or both: (i) Payment of the whole or any part of the principal or interest or both of any bonds payable solely from revenue; (ii) As additional security for the payment of the whole or any part of the principal or interest or both of any bonds payable from assessments. 41-7-910. Allocation of designated revenue; application. Until the payment or retirement of the bonds for the benefit of which an allocation was made, the revenue allocated shall be applied solely to the payment of the obligation specified in the allocating resolution. 41-7-911. Allocation of designated revenue; bonds benefited by allocation. An allocation may be made for the exclusive benefit of any one (1) or more issues or portions of issues of bonds of a district designated in the allocating resolutions or in the discretion of its board for the benefit of any bonds of the district at any time issued or outstanding. 41-7-912. Allocation of designated revenue; irrevocability. Any allocation shall be irrevocable until all of the bonds for which the allocation was made and their appurtenant coupons have been paid or retired. 41-7-913. Allocation of revenue to reserve fund. Any sources of revenue of any district may by order of its board of commissioners with the approval of the court be irrevocably allocated to a reserve fund established to pay the interest or principal of any bonds. 41-7-914. Bonds may be made redeemable before maturity. With the approval of the court a district may by resolution of its board of commissioners adopted at or prior to the time of issuing any bonds then proposed to be issued, provide for the call and redemption prior to their fixed maturity of any of the bonds. 41-7-915. Manner of redeeming. (a) Callable bonds may be redeemed in addition to other methods permitted in the following manner: (i) In numerical order or by lot as prescribed in the resolution; (ii) On any interest payment date prior to their affixed maturity; (iii) At not exceeding their par value and accrued interest or on the terms provided in the resolution. 41-7-916. Publication of notice of redemption. Notice designating the bonds called for redemption shall be published once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation printed and published in the office county. 41-7-917. Publication of notice of redemption; time for publication. The first publication of the redemption notice shall be not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the date fixed for redemption. 41-7-918. Interest ceases on redemption date. If on the date fixed for redemption the district has provided funds available for the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds called, interest on them ceases. 41-7-919. When bonds may be sold. A district may sell any bonds from time to time in such quantities as may be necessary and most advantageous to raise money for the purpose for which they were authorized. 41-7-920. Resolution as to sale. (a) Before any sale the board of commissioners shall by resolution entered on its minutes set forth all of the following: (i) Its intention to sell a specified amount of the bonds; (ii) The day, hour, and place of sale. 41-7-921. Publication of notice of sale. The board of commissioners shall give notice of the sale by posting on the county's official website in the manner provided in W.S. 18-3-516(f) and by publication for at least two (2) weeks in the designated official newspaper of the county and in any other newspaper at its discretion. 41-7-922. Contents of notice of sale. The notice shall state that sealed proposals will be received by the board of commissioners at the district office for the purchase of bonds until the day and hour specified in the resolution. 41-7-923. Sale made to highest responsible bidder. At the time specified the board of commissioners shall open the proposals and award the purchase of the bonds or any portion of them to the highest responsible bidder or bidders. 41-7-924. Certified check to accompany bid; forfeiture. No proposal shall be accepted which is not accompanied by a certified check for a reasonable percentage of the amount of the bid as determined by the board of commissioners, but in no event less than two percent (2%), to apply on the purchase price of the bonds. The amount of the check shall be forfeited if after the acceptance of his proposal the bidder refuses to complete his purchase on the terms stated in his proposal. 41-7-925. Board may reject bids. The board of commissioners may reject any or all bids. 41-7-926. Readvertisement or private sale. In case no award is made, the board of commissioners thereafter may either readvertise the bonds or any part of them for sale or sell them at private sale. 41-7-927. Approval of private sale required. No sale of bonds at private sale shall be valid unless approved by the court, or public service commission. 41-7-928. Exchange of construction bonds for property or stock. A district may exchange its construction bonds for any property or interest in property which the district might acquire with the proceeds of the bonds, if sold, or for the capital stock of any corporation owning the property, upon terms the board of commissioners deem best. 41-7-929. Refunding bonds sold or exchanged for bonds or warrants. (a) Any refunding bonds may be either: (i) Sold from time to time in the same manner as other bonds of the district; or (ii) Exchanged for other bonds or warrants of the district upon terms approved by the court. 41-7-930. Immediate cancellation of refunded or exchanged bonds. Any outstanding bonds refunded or exchanged shall be immediately canceled by the treasurer. 41-7-931. Cancellation of unissued bonds; resolution of board. Whenever the whole or any portion of any issue of bonds of any district remains unissued for more than one (1) year after the date of the election at which the bonds were authorized, the board of commissioners, by a resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of the membership of the board of commissioners, may cancel all or any of those bonds and all coupons appurtenant to them. 41-7-932. Fixing time for consideration of resolution of cancellation. Whenever a resolution to cancel bonds is offered, its consideration shall be postponed to a date fixed by the board of commissioners which is subsequent to final publication of the resolution. 41-7-933. Publication of cancellation resolution and notice of time for consideration. The resolution together with a notice stating that the time fixed by the board of commissioners for the consideration of the resolution shall be published once a week for at least two (2) successive weeks in a newspaper published in the office county. 41-7-934. No bonds issued after cancellation resolution adopted. After the adoption of a resolution to cancel bonds no other bonds shall be issued in pursuance of the proceedings taken in relation to the issuance of the bonds so canceled. 41-7-935. Destruction of canceled bonds and coupons. Any bonds and coupons so canceled shall be destroyed under the direction of the board of commissioners. ARTICLE 10 - DISSOLUTION 41-7-1001. Petition of landowners. When the commissioners of an irrigation district by unanimous vote of the total membership thereof shall determine to call an election or whenever a majority of the landowners in any irrigation district in this state, who shall represent one-half of the irrigable lands within such district, shall file with the commissioners of such district a petition praying for the dissolution thereof, it shall be the duty of the commissioners of such district to forthwith call an election of all the landowners of said district to determine whether or not such district shall be dissolved. 41-7-1002. Election; notice. Notice of such election shall be published for four (4) successive weeks in one (1) or more newspapers published in each county in which such district is situated, stating the time and place of said meeting and the object thereof, and in addition thereto, the commissioners of the district shall give the same notice as is required in case of annual elections in irrigation districts. 41-7-1003. Election; conduct; certification of result; report of district indebtedness. If at any such election which shall be conducted in the same manner as is now provided by law for the conduct of annual elections in irrigation districts, a majority of all the qualified votes in the district shall be in favor of the dissolution of such district, the commissioners of such district shall forthwith certify to the district court having jurisdiction of such district the result of such election, and at the same time shall report to the court the amount and character of the then existing indebtedness of the district. In the event the question of the dissolution of such district does not carry at such election the question shall not again be raised for a period of one (1) year. 41-7-1004. Order for hearing on results of election; generally. Upon the filing of the commissioner's report and return of election, an order shall be made and entered by the court fixing the time and place for a hearing thereon, at which time and place all creditors and other persons interested may appear and show cause why said district should not be dissolved. 41-7-1005. Order for hearing on results of election; publication. A copy of such order to show cause shall be published for four (4) successive weeks prior to said hearing in a newspaper published in each county in which said district is situated. 41-7-1006. Hearings; final settlement. Upon said hearing, the court must find, on the evidence submitted, if the district be ordered dissolved, that the best interests of all parties interested will be served by the proposed dissolution, and shall determine the amount of the existing indebtedness of such district, if any, and shall make an order requiring the payment of the same. Upon the filing by the commissioners of proper receipts, showing payment of all indebtedness against the district, the court shall thereupon make a final order dissolving such district, and in said order the court may provide for a receiver who shall have full authority to collect and distribute any assets of property formerly belonging to said district, and who shall be guided by and shall comply with the provisions of W.S. 1-33-101 through 1-33-110, in the performance of his duties. CHAPTER 8 - WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS 41-8-101. Definitions. (a) "Director" means a director of a watershed improvement district, and "board of directors" means the governing body of a watershed improvement district. (b) "Supervisor" means a supervisor of the soil and water conservation district in which a watershed improvement district is situated; and "board of supervisors" means the governing body of the soil and water conservation district in which a watershed improvement district is situated. (c) "Landowner" means any person, or group of persons, firm or corporation holding title to, or occupying under a contract of purchase, any land lying within a watershed improvement district organized or proposed to be organized under the provisions of this act. (d) "Due notice", for provisions other than election and referendum provisions, means notice published at least twice, with an interval of at least six (6) days between the two (2) publication dates, in a newspaper of general circulation within the boundaries of the proposed or organized district. The notice of any hearing required to be held under this act shall fix the time, place and purpose thereof, which time shall be not less than ten (10) or more than fifteen (15) days after the first publication or first posting of such notice. At any hearing held pursuant to such notice, at the time and place designated in such notice, adjournment may be made from time to time without the necessity of renewing such notice for such adjourned dates. Notice for any election or referendum required by this act shall be as specifically provided in this act, or if not specifically provided in this act, as required in the Special District Elections Act of 1994. (e) Repealed by Laws 1998, ch. 115, § 5. (f) "Written authorization" means an affidavit filed with the election official conducting the election setting forth a general legal description of the property owned, the street or common name address for the property, the name or names of all owners of the property described, and a statement that the