County boards would review rural road plans after owner petitions

A county board would consider a proposed road district after a qualifying owner petition. The petition must be signed by owners of at least one-quarter of the area in the proposed district. The petition must describe the desired work and the property to include. If special assessments are proposed, owners of more than half the area's land may file written objections before the hearing; if they do, the proposal cannot pass and no hearing is held. The county board may approve, amend, or deny the proposal. Objections must be filed with the county clerk before the scheduled hearing.

Owners could petition to enlarge, withdraw from, combine, or dissolve rural road improvement districts. Consolidation may involve two or more districts in the same county. The petitions require owners of at least one-quarter of the area proposed to be added, withdrawn, or affected; combining districts requires that share in each district. These procedures apply when special assessments have been or will be imposed. The county board may approve withdrawal, consolidation, or dissolution after a hearing. Property withdrawn remains responsible for obligations outstanding when its petition is filed, but not obligations incurred later. A withdrawn area remains responsible for obligations outstanding when its petition is filed, but not obligations incurred afterward.