Ask NASCA Conservation District Dissolution Process

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #5942 Reply
    Cindy Lair

      Have any State Agencies gone through an actual district dissolution process to legally dissolve a conservation district? Our state statute has a terribly onerous process and I am interested how other states compare. Any information from a state that has actually implemented a legal process would be appreciated. We thought of helping them become “inactive” but it may not be in the state or districts best legal interest.

      Thanks!
      Cindy

      #5947 Reply
      Jim Gillespie, Iowa

        We have a process laid out in Iowa Code 161A, but have never used it in Iowa. If you need a copy, please contact me.

        #5949 Reply
        Frank Minch

          The dissolution of Districts language was removed from our statute in 1977 replaced by language requiring District coverage in each county but allowing for multi-county Districts or the consolidation of adjacent Districts when necessary. Since that time (1977) we have had only one consolidation but may be facing another one in the very near future. The consolidation process essentially involves a resolution from each District, a public hearing (either a joint hearing or one in each county), a petition to the State Soil Conservation Committee requesting consolidation and, upon authorization by the Committee, notification to the Secretary of State.

          #5951 Reply
          Doug Thomas

            Cindy:

            Listed below is our statue that governs SWCD dissolutions. We did go through this approximately 10 years ago. Because it requires a vote in the county/SWCD the heavy lifting fell on the county who had to figure out how to get the question put on the ballot at the next general election. Ironically the vote overwhelmingly supported continuation of the district with the county then going the legislative route and had the district terminated by legislation.

            Feel free to call with any questions

            Doug Thomas

            103C.225 DISCONTINUANCE OF DISTRICTS.

            Subdivision 1.Petition for termination. (a) Five years after the organization of a district, a district board may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the board, or resident owners may, by a petition filed with the state board, ask that the operations and existence of the district be terminated. The resident owner petition must be signed by the lesser of:

            (1) at least one percent of the resident owners within the district; or

            (2) 500 resident owners within the district.

            (b) The state board may not receive a petition, conduct a referendum, or make a determination on a petition to discontinue a district more often than once in two years.

            Subd. 2.Hearings. The state board may conduct public meetings and public hearings upon the petition as necessary to assist in consideration of the petition.

            Subd. 3.Referendum. (a) Upon receipt of a petition, the state board shall provide written notice to the secretary of state and the county auditor of each county in which the district is located no later than 74 days before the state general election. The notice must include the date of the election and the title and text of the question to be placed on the ballot. Prior to the referendum, the state board shall facilitate the preparation of a plan to continue the administration of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the district, including the functions of the district board.

            (b) The question shall appear on the ballot in the following form: “Shall the ……………… (name of the soil and water conservation district to be here inserted) be terminated?”.

            (c) Only eligible voters in the district may vote in the referendum.

            (d) Informalities in the conduct of the referendum or matters relating to the referendum do not invalidate the referendum, or result of the referendum, if due notice has been given and the referendum has been fairly conducted.

            (e) The state board shall publish the result of the referendum.

            Subd. 4.Determination by state board. (a) The state board shall determine whether the continued operation of the district board is administratively feasible and give consideration to the public policy under section 103A.206, and:

            (1) the attitudes of land occupiers within the district;

            (2) the number of eligible voters who voted in the referendum;

            (3) the proportion of the votes cast in the referendum in favor of the discontinuance of the district to the total number of votes cast;

            (4) the approximate wealth and income of the land occupiers of the district;

            (5) the probable expense of carrying on erosion-control operations and related water quality improvements within the district;

            (6) the plan to continue the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the district board; and

            (7) other economic and social factors relevant to the determination.

            (b) If the state board determines that the continued operation of the district is administratively feasible, the state shall record the determination and deny the petition.

            (c) If the state board determines that the continued operation of the district is not administratively feasible, the state board shall record the determination and certify the determination to the district board. The state board may determine that the continued operation of the district is not administratively feasible only when at least a majority of the votes cast in the referendum have been cast in opposition to continuance and a satisfactory plan to continue the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the district board is completed.

            Subd. 5.Termination of district affairs. Upon receipt from the state board of a certification that the state board has determined that the continued operation of the district is not administratively feasible, the district board shall promptly terminate the affairs of the district. The district board shall dispose of all property belonging to the district at public auction and pay the proceeds into the state treasury.

            Subd. 6.Application to secretary of state. The district board shall then file a verified application with the secretary of state to discontinue the district with the certificate of the state board setting forth its determination that the continued operation of the district is not administratively feasible. The application shall recite that the property of the district has been disposed of and the proceeds paid as provided in this section, and set forth a full accounting of the property and proceeds.

            Subd. 7.Certificate of dissolution. The secretary of state shall issue to the district board a certificate of dissolution and record the certificate in the secretary of state’s office.

            Subd. 8.Effect of dissolution. Upon issuance of the certificate of dissolution, the ordinances and regulations in force in the district are of no further force. All contracts entered into, to which the district or district board were parties, shall remain in force and effect for the period provided in the contracts. The state board shall be substituted for the district or district board as party to the contracts and succeed to the district’s rights and duties. The state board may delegate the district’s rights and duties to a local government unit, as identified in the plan developed under subdivision 3.

            #5952 Reply
            Clyde Cristman

              Cindy,

              In Virginia we have two process set out in the Code of Virginia, one to change the boundaries/localities participating in a district, which is rather complicated and the other, a fairly simple process that allows the State Soil and Water Conservation Board to determine that a district is no longer needed. Here are links to our relevant Code sections. Please see Article 3 of Chapter 5, Title 10.1 of the Code of Virginia. However, I can not recall any of these provisions being implemented anytime in the recent past:

              https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title10.1/chapter5/

              #5954 Reply
              Bill Smith

                Cindy,

                South Dakota has a process set out in state law, but I do not believe that it has been used. See http://www.sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=38-8 and look at sections 38-8-90 through 38-8-97.

                Our law also have sections that involve combining district/adjusting their boundaries. The applicable sections are 38-8-22 through 38-8-33.

                Thanks,

                Bill

              Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
              Reply To: Reply #5949 in Conservation District Dissolution Process
              Your information: