2005 Oregon Code - Chapter 548 :: Chapter 548 - Provisions Applicable Both to Drainage Districts and to Irrigation
Chapter 548 — Provisions Applicable Both to Drainage Districts and to Irrigation
2005 EDITION
Districts
DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION DISTRICTS
WATER LAWS
ORGANIZATION; SALE OF LANDS; TRANSFER OF FUNDS
548.005Â Â Â Â Organization of irrigation, drainage or flood control district by owners of lands subject to assessment by district improvement company or improvement district; assumption of obligations
548.010Â Â Â Â Sale or disposal of lands
548.015Â Â Â Â Board of directors to transfer unnecessary funds
INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES
548.050Â Â Â Â Insurance for district employees
DETERMINING LEGALITY OF ORGANIZATION AND PROCEEDINGS
548.105Â Â Â Â Authority of boards to maintain proceedings for judicial determination as to organization of district and other matters; scope of inquiry
548.110Â Â Â Â Nature of proceedings; notice; contest; judgment; appeal; nonprejudicial errors; costs
548.115Â Â Â Â ElectorÂ’s right to maintain proceedings; procedure; exclusiveness of remedy
548.120Â Â Â Â Validation of judgments entered in proceedings by directors
GOVERNMENT LOANS TO IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE DISTRICTS
548.300Â Â Â Â Contracts for state loans; purposes for which authorized; amount of loan
548.305Â Â Â Â Contracts for federal loans; purposes for which authorized; amount of loan
548.310Â Â Â Â Validation of prior contracts and bonds
548.315Â Â Â Â Issuance of bonds; funds for payment; charges or assessments; release of land from lien; relief from payment of assessments
548.320Â Â Â Â Lien on lands; lien docket; priority; sale of land for taxes not to extinguish lien
548.325Â Â Â Â Charges or assessments; emergency fund
548.330Â Â Â Â Bonds for refunding indebtedness; validity not affected by irregularities of refunded obligations
548.335Â Â Â Â Consent of holders of outstanding indebtedness; initiation of proceedings to obtain constructive consent; petition
548.340Â Â Â Â Contents of petition
548.345Â Â Â Â Notice; failure of holder to object constitutes consent
548.350Â Â Â Â Hearing; judgment; county treasurer as trustee
548.355Â Â Â Â Nature of proceedings; appeal; nonprejudicial errors; costs
548.360Â Â Â Â Moneys and securities; custody
548.365Â Â Â Â Depositary for bonds, warrants; authority of State Treasurer
548.370Â Â Â Â Cancellation or compromise of assessments by districts refunding indebtedness through federal agencies
SECURITIES AND MONEYS DEPOSITED WITH COUNTY TREASURER
548.400Â Â Â Â Deposit of bonds, warrants and other evidence of indebtedness of irrigation and drainage districts being reorganized
548.405Â Â Â Â Loss of certificates or receipts issued by county treasurer for securities; surrender of securities by county treasurer
548.410Â Â Â Â Surrender of securities to claimant to whom certificate or receipt has not been issued or assigned
548.415Â Â Â Â Surety bond; amount; conditions
RELEVY OF ERRONEOUS OR VOID ASSESSMENTS
548.505Â Â Â Â Relevy and reassessment; manner and time
548.510Â Â Â Â Judgment declaring assessments void; reassessment and relevy of similar assessments; time; crediting payments under void assessment
548.515Â Â Â Â Manner of relevy and reassessment; officers authorized
548.520Â Â Â Â Cancellation or compromise
COMPOSITION; BANKRUPTCY; REFUNDING AGREEMENTS
548.705Â Â Â Â Irrigation or drainage district may file bankruptcy petition; confirmation of proceedings; composition of debts
548.710Â Â Â Â Bonds of district; use and delivery to creditors
548.715Â Â Â Â Debt refunding agreements; obtaining consent of unknown or nonconsenting creditors
REORGANIZATION AND DISSOLUTION
548.900Â Â Â Â Definitions for ORS 548.900 to 548.955
548.905Â Â Â Â Petition for dissolution or reorganization; contents; effect of dissolution or reorganization on creditors
548.910Â Â Â Â Manner of signing petition; form of petition; withdrawal of signature after filing of petition prohibited
548.915Â Â Â Â Determining qualified petition signatures; certificate of county clerk and district secretary
548.920Â Â Â Â Notice of petition filing; contents; election petition; signature requirements
548.925Â Â Â Â Special election; notice; ballot form
548.930Â Â Â Â Vote result requirements; filing petition with circuit court if vote favors reorganization or dissolution or if no election petition is filed
548.935Â Â Â Â Circuit court proceeding on petition; contents of court order
548.940Â Â Â Â Jurisdiction of parties; service of summons and petition
548.945Â Â Â Â Written assent of Secretary of Interior required before judgment if district has federal contract
548.950Â Â Â Â Appearance of interested parties; costs and disbursements
548.955Â Â Â Â Contents of judgment; filing with county treasurer and assessor, Secretary of State and Water Resources Commission
ORGANIZATION; SALE OF LANDS; TRANSFER OF FUNDS
     548.005
Organization of irrigation, drainage or flood control district by owners of
lands subject to assessment by district improvement company or improvement
district; assumption of obligations. Where any lands are subject to
assessment by a corporation under the provisions of ORS 554.005 to 554.340, or
by a corporation organized before March 4, 1937, under the provisions of
chapter 172, Oregon Laws 1911, and Acts amendatory thereof, the owners of the
lands or any part thereof and the owners of any additional lands adjacent
thereto may proceed to organize irrigation districts or drainage districts or
flood control districts under the laws of Oregon. Any of such districts when
organized may assume any of the valid outstanding liens or obligations of the
district improvement company or improvement district and refund the same and
issue district bonds therefor.
     548.010
Sale or disposal of lands. Whenever any drainage or irrigation district has
acquired any lands, by gift, purchase, eminent domain or otherwise, for the
uses and purposes of the district, and thereafter by reason of a change of its
plans or for any other reason determines that all or any part thereof is no
longer necessary for the uses or purposes for which it was acquired, the
district may sell or dispose of the lands or any part thereof, either at
private or public sale. The officers of the district otherwise authorized to
execute conveyances have authority to make such conveyance.
     548.015
Board of directors to transfer unnecessary funds. When the necessity for
maintaining any fund of an irrigation or drainage district has ceased to exist
and a balance remains in the fund, the governing board of the district shall so
declare by proper resolution. The balance shall then forthwith be transferred
to the credit of either the operation and maintenance fund or the general fund
of the district, as designated in the resolution.
INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES
     548.050
Insurance for district employees. (1) The board of directors of an
irrigation district or the board of supervisors of a drainage district may
enter into contracts of insurance covering district officers and employees for
medical, or any other type of remedial care recognized under state law,
surgical, hospital and related services and supplies, life insurance, annuities
and other retirement benefits and monthly indemnity for loss of time due to
accident or sickness. Contributions for premiums therefor by officers or
employees shall only be on a voluntary basis. Failure to procure such insurance
shall not be construed as negligence or lack of diligence on the part of the
board or the members thereof.
     (2) The district may agree to pay none, part or all of the premiums on contracts of insurance entered into pursuant to this section.
     (3) This section is part of the Irrigation District Law, insofar as it applies to irrigation districts, and part of the Drainage District Act, as defined in ORS 547.060, insofar as it applies to drainage districts.
     (4) As used in this section the words “related services” shall include the services of a person duly licensed to practice chiropractic in the State of Oregon. [1959 c.435 §1; 1967 c.281 §1; 1995 c.42 §181]
DETERMINING LEGALITY OF ORGANIZATION AND PROCEEDINGS
     548.105
Authority of boards to maintain proceedings for judicial determination as to
organization of district and other matters; scope of inquiry. (1) The board
of directors of an irrigation district organized under ORS chapter 545, or the
board of supervisors of a drainage district organized under the Drainage
District Act, as defined in ORS 547.060, may by petition commence special
proceedings in the circuit court of the county in which the office of the
district is located for the purpose of having a judicial examination and
judgment of the court as to the regularity and legality of:
     (a) The proceedings in connection with the organization of the district.
     (b) The proceedings of the board and of the district, providing for and authorizing the issue and sale of bonds of the district, whether bonds have or have not been sold or disposed of.
     (c) Any action or proceeding of the county court declaring the organization of the district, or declaring the result of any election therein.
     (d) An order of the governing board of the district including or excluding any lands in or from the district, or declaring the result of any election, general or special.
     (e) An order of such board levying any assessment, general or special.
     (f) An order of such board ordering the issue of any bonds for any purpose, or determining any bond issue, or providing for the same.
     (g) The authorization of contract with the United States, and the validity of the contract, whether or not it has been executed, and whether or not bonds are to be deposited with the United States.
     (2) All the proceedings of an irrigation district or drainage district may be judicially examined and determined by the court in one special proceeding, or any part thereof may be separately examined and determined upon by the court. [Amended by 1995 c.42 §182; 1999 c.452 §27]
     548.110
Nature of proceedings; notice; contest; judgment; appeal; nonprejudicial
errors; costs. (1) The proceedings under ORS 548.105 shall be in the nature
of a proceeding in rem. The practice and procedure therein shall follow the
practice and procedure of an action not triable by right to a jury, so far as
they are consistent with the determination sought to be obtained, except as
otherwise provided in ORS 548.105 to 548.115. The jurisdiction of the
irrigation district or drainage district and of all the freeholders, assessment
payers and legal voters therein shall be obtained by publication of notice
directed to the district, and to “all freeholders, legal voters and assessment
payers within the district,” without naming them individually. The notice shall
be served on all parties in interest by publication for at least once a week
for three successive weeks in some newspaper of general circulation published
in the county where the proceeding is pending. Jurisdiction shall be complete
within 10 days after full publication.
     (2) Any person interested may at any time before the expiration of the 10 days appear and contest the validity of the proceeding, or of any of the acts or things therein enumerated. The proceedings shall be speedily tried and judgment rendered declaring the matter so contested to be either valid or invalid. Any order or judgment in the course of the proceeding may be made and rendered by the judge of the court in vacation. For the purpose of any such order or judgment, the court shall be deemed at all times to be in session, and the act of the judge in making such order or judgment shall be the act of the court.
     (3) Any party may appeal to the Court of Appeals at any time within 30 days after rendition of the judgment. The appeal must be heard and determined within three months from the time of taking the appeal.
     (4) The court, in inquiring into the regularity, legality or correctness of any of the proceedings, must disregard any error, irregularity or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties to the court proceedings, and may approve the proceedings in part and disapprove and declare invalid other or subsequent proceedings in part. The costs of the court proceedings may be allowed and apportioned between the parties in the discretion of the court. [Amended by 1979 c.284 §169; 2003 c.576 §257]
     548.115
ElectorÂ’s right to maintain proceedings; procedure; exclusiveness of remedy.
(1) Any qualified elector of an irrigation district or drainage district,
within 30 days after the entry of any order or the performance of any act
mentioned in ORS 548.105, for which a contest is by that section provided, may
bring a like proceeding in the circuit court of the county where the lands
embraced within such district, or the majority thereof, are situated, to
determine the validity of such order or act. In such proceedings the board of
directors shall be made parties defendant.
     (2) Service of summons shall be made on the members of the board personally if within the county where the district, or any part thereof is situated. As to any directors not within the county, service may be had by publication of summons for a like time, and in like manner, as is provided by ORS 548.110. Service shall be deemed complete within 10 days from the date of personal service, or within 10 days from the date of completion of publication, as the case may be.
     (3) The proceedings shall be tried and determined in the same manner as proceedings brought by the irrigation district or drainage district itself.
     (4) No contest of any proceeding, matter or thing provided by ORS 548.105 to be had or done by the board of directors or supervisors or by the district, or by the county court, or by any qualified elector of the district, shall be had or maintained at any time or in any matter except as provided in ORS 548.105 to 548.115. [Amended by 1999 c.452 §28]
     548.120
Validation of judgments entered in proceedings by directors. In all cases
where the board of directors of any irrigation district or the board of
supervisors of any drainage district has instituted proceedings for the purpose
of having an adjudication of the court as to the regularity and legality of the
proceedings in connection with any of the matters specified in ORS 548.105, and
where notice has been published directed to the parties specified by ORS
548.110, for the length of time specified by that section, and the full time
provided by that section has elapsed after publication before any judgment has
been entered therein, all such judgments so rendered by the courts hereby are
validated and declared to be effective and sufficient for all purposes,
notwithstanding any other defects in the proceedings and notice upon which such
judgments are based. [Amended by 2003 c.576 §514]
     548.205
[Repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
     548.210
[Repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
     548.215
[Repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
     548.220
[Repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
     548.225
[Repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
     548.230
[Amended by 1967 c.359 §695; repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
     548.235
[Repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
GOVERNMENT LOANS TO IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE DISTRICTS
     548.300
Contracts for state loans; purposes for which authorized; amount of loan.
(1) The board of supervisors of any drainage district or the board of directors
of any irrigation district may, whenever it is determined by such board that it
is for the best interests of the district, enter into a contract with any
governmental agency of the State of Oregon for a loan:
     (a) For the refunding of any or all of its outstanding indebtedness;
     (b) For the refunding of any state, county and municipal ad valorem taxes or special assessments levied by such district; and
     (c) For the financing of any improvement or supplemental works which may be needed to reclaim lands in the district or for maintenance or operation, and for the payment or repayment thereof, upon such terms or conditions as may be agreed upon in the contract.
     (2) In no case shall the total of any loan made by any governmental agency exceed in the aggregate the total amount of the outstanding indebtedness of such district so refunded, but this limitation shall not apply to any loan or any part of any loan which may be made by such governmental agency for any purpose herein provided other than refunding such outstanding indebtedness. [1983 c.557 §11]
     548.305
Contracts for federal loans; purposes for which authorized; amount of loan.
(1) The board of supervisors of any drainage district or the board of directors
of any irrigation district may, whenever it is determined by such board that it
is for the best interests of the district, enter into a contract with any
governmental agency of the United States, for a loan:
     (a) For the refunding of any or all of its outstanding indebtedness;
     (b) For the refunding of any state, county and municipal ad valorem taxes or special assessments levied by such district; and
     (c) For the financing of any improvement or supplemental works which may be needed to reclaim lands in the district or for maintenance or operation, and for the payment or repayment thereof, upon such terms or conditions as may be agreed upon in the contract.
     (2) In no case shall the total of any loan made by such governmental agency exceed in the aggregate the total amount of the outstanding indebtedness of such district so refunded, but this limitation shall not apply to any loan or any part of any loan which may be made by such governmental agency for any purpose herein provided other than refunding such outstanding indebtedness.
     548.310
Validation of prior contracts and bonds. All contracts entered into before
November 15, 1935, by any drainage district or irrigation district with any
governmental agency of the United States, and any bonds issued before or after
November 15, 1935, pursuant to such contract, for any of the purposes provided
by ORS 548.305 to 548.325, which comply with the provisions of ORS 548.305 and
are otherwise regular and duly made and issued according to law, are declared
valid, notwithstanding that the total amount of any such loan so provided to be
made by the governmental agency exceeds in the aggregate the total amount of
the outstanding indebtedness of such district in any case where all or any part
of such loan is for purposes other than refunding the outstanding indebtedness
of such district.
     548.315
Issuance of bonds; funds for payment; charges or assessments; release of land
from lien; relief from payment of assessments. For the purpose of carrying
into effect provisions contained in any contract so to be executed, the board
of such district may, with the approval of the electors of the district, issue
bonds in any denomination, bearing interest from date at a rate determined by
the board, and to mature in not more than 40 years. The bonds shall be general
obligations of the district and shall be paid by the revenue derived from the
annual charges or assessments of the district, which shall be made in
accordance with the terms of the contract. All of the owners of the real
property within the district shall be liable to be charged or assessed for such
payments; provided, however, that the contract may contain a provision
permitting the release of any land in the district from the lien to secure the
payment of such bonds, or relieving any lands in the district from any
obligation to pay any assessments thereafter levied for the purpose of paying
the bonds or the interest accruing thereon, by payment to the district of an
amount provided in the contract. [Amended by 1981 c.94 §48; 1991 c.459 §426]
     548.320
Lien on lands; lien docket; priority; sale of land for taxes not to extinguish
lien. The contract may provide for a lien docket which shall be furnished
by the district to the county clerk of each county in which lands of the
district are situated, and in which shall be set forth a description of the
lands within the district and liable under such bonds, described under the
present individual ownership by metes and bounds or by calls or by reference to
recorded deeds, together with the total amount of refunding bonds charged
against each parcel of land, the amount of annual payments thereof, the date of
such payment and the rate of interest. This charge shall remain a lien on such
tract or parcel of land in favor of the district and shall have priority over
all other liens and encumbrances except the lien of state, county and municipal
taxes. If the contract does not provide for a lien docket nothing in this
section shall be construed to prevent an irrigation or drainage district from
providing a lien docket as prescribed by law. In case any lands located within
an irrigation or drainage district are sold for taxes such sale shall not
operate to extinguish any lien appearing on the lien docket and payable at a
future time.
     548.325
Charges or assessments; emergency fund. In addition to the annual charges
or assessments provided for in ORS 548.315, and in addition to the charges or
assessments authorized by law for the maintenance and operation of drainage and
irrigation districts, such contract may provide that the board shall impose an
annual charge not to exceed 50 cents per acre upon each acre in the district.
All moneys received from the charge shall be placed by the treasurer of the
district in a fund to be designated as the “emergency fund.” The emergency fund
shall be used for supplementing the bond fund in case of deficiency due to
accident, delinquency or other contingencies. The fund shall be disbursed by
the treasurer upon the order of the board. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §32; 1991
c.459 §426a; 1997 c.170 §54]
     548.330
Bonds for refunding indebtedness; validity not affected by irregularities of
refunded obligations. All bonds of any irrigation or drainage district
authorized or issued by the district in the manner provided by ORS 548.305 to
548.325, for the purpose of refunding any outstanding bonds or warrants of the
district in accordance with the terms and provisions of a contract therefor
between the district and any governmental agency of the United States shall
constitute legal and binding obligations of the district, notwithstanding any
irregularities or defects in the authorization of or issuance of any of the
bonds or warrants to be refunded. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §33]
     548.335
Consent of holders of outstanding indebtedness; initiation of proceedings to
obtain constructive consent; petition. When any irrigation or drainage
district has adopted a plan for refunding and compromising any or all of its
outstanding indebtedness, and pursuant to ORS 548.305 to 548.325 has entered
into a contract with any governmental agency for a loan for the purpose of
carrying out such plan, and the board of directors or board of supervisors for
the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions contained in the contract
have authorized the issuance of bonds of the district pursuant to ORS 548.315,
and such plan of refinancing and compromise has been accepted in writing by the
holders of more than 90 percent of such outstanding indebtedness to be refunded
and compromised, such irrigation or drainage district may commence and
prosecute a proceeding in rem for the purpose of obtaining constructive
consent, to the plan, of the unknown holders of the evidences of the
indebtedness to be refunded and compromised, and of the known holders of such
evidences of indebtedness who have not so given their consent in writing. The
proceeding shall be commenced in the circuit court of the county in which the
office of the district is located, by filing a petition verified by the oath of
the president or secretary of the district.
     548.340
Contents of petition. The petition shall set forth the plan for refunding
and compromising the indebtedness and shall further recite what percentage in
amount of the holders of the evidences of indebtedness to be refunded or
retired have filed their written consent to the proposed plan, which percentage
shall not be less than 90 percent, and shall further set forth what steps have
been taken to obtain the consent of all nonconsenting holders of the evidences
of indebtedness. The petition shall also state the name and place of residence
of all of the holders of the evidences of indebtedness who are known to the
district, and shall show that diligent efforts have been made to ascertain the
names and residences of all the holders.
     548.345
Notice; failure of holder to object constitutes consent. (1) Upon
presentation of the petition to the judge of the court, the judge shall, if it
appears that diligent efforts have been made by the irrigation or drainage
district to ascertain the names and places of residence of all the holders of
the evidences of indebtedness so to be refunded and compromised, authorize the
district to publish, and it shall publish for at least four consecutive weeks
in three newspapers published within the state, to be designated by the court,
one of which papers shall be published in the county in which the office of the
board of directors or board of supervisors is situated, a notice specifying the
particular indebtedness which it is proposed to refund and compromise, together
with the plan which has been adopted by the district for the refunding and
compromising; also, a general description of the refunding bonds, if any, which
it is proposed to issue to the holders of the indebtedness. The notice shall
require all holders of the evidences of indebtedness so to be refunded or
compromised to file in the matter of the petition in the circuit court their
written dissent from or objection to the proposed plan of refunding and
compromise. The notice shall also state that any holders who fail to file their
dissent and protest to the plan shall be deemed to have consented thereto.
     (2) The district shall also cause the notice to be served in the manner provided by law for service of summons in civil actions upon all the holders whose names and places of residence are known to the district and who reside within Oregon. The district shall also deposit a copy of the notice in the United States mail addressed to each of the known holders who reside without the state, with postage prepaid.
     (3) Dissent in writing must be filed in the court and cause within 90 days from the date of the first publication of the notice; or, in the case of holders whose names and places of residence are known to the district and who reside within the state, within 90 days from the date of service of the notice upon them; or, in the case of holders whose names and places of residence are known to the district and who reside without the state, within 90 days from the date of mailing the notice.
     (4) After the expiration of said period of 90 days the holders so failing to file their objection and protest with the court shall be deemed to have consented to the refunding and compromise of the indebtedness under the terms set forth in the notice, and such failure shall be equivalent to the offer in writing signed by the known consenting holders. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §34]
     548.350
Hearing; judgment; county treasurer as trustee. (1) After the expiration of
90 days from the date of the first publication of the notice and the service
and mailing thereof, as set forth in ORS 548.345, the district shall file in
the proceeding in the circuit court its verified return of its acts made under
the order of the court, attaching affidavits of the publication of the notice
in three newspapers, and proof of service of the notice upon the holders of the
evidences of indebtedness whose names and places of residence are known to the
district and who reside within the state, and of the mailing thereof to such
known holders residing without the state.
     (2) Thereupon the court shall hear the cause and shall enter a judgment providing that all the holders of the evidences of indebtedness to be refunded and compromised by the plan or proceeding of the district, who within 90 days after the date of the first publication of the notice and the serving and mailing thereof did not file in the court their written dissent and objections to the proceedings, have consented that their evidences of indebtedness be refunded and compromised under the proposed plan.
     (3) In the judgment the court shall direct the officers of the district to deposit with the county treasurer of the county in which the district is headquartered, as trustee for the persons entitled thereto, the cash or refunding bonds which under the plan of refunding and compromise belong to the holders of the evidences of indebtedness whose consent was so obtained by the court proceedings. The judgment shall further provide that upon the payment of said money or bonds to the county treasurer as trustee, the evidences of indebtedness so held by the holders shall be deemed paid and no longer shall be an obligation of the district; and that upon the surrender to the county treasurer of the evidences of indebtedness, together with any unpaid interest coupons belonging to the same, the county treasurer shall pay on demand to the holders the money or bonds so deposited with the county treasurer as trustee, and shall mark the evidences of indebtedness canceled and deliver them to the district. All holders of the evidences of indebtedness to be refunded and compromised shall be deemed to have notice of all steps and proceedings had. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §35; 2003 c.576 §515]
     548.355
Nature of proceedings; appeal; nonprejudicial errors; costs. The procedure
in the circuit court under the provisions of ORS 548.340 to 548.350 shall be in
the nature of an action in rem not triable by right to a jury. Any holders of
any evidences of indebtedness affected by any such court procedure provided for
in those sections, or any other interested party, may appeal to the Court of
Appeals at any time within 30 days after the rendition of the judgment of the
circuit court. The court inquiring into the regularity, legality or correctness
of any of such proceedings shall disregard any error, irregularity or omission
which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties, and may approve
the proceedings in part and disapprove the remainder. Costs in the proceeding
may be allowed and apportioned between the parties in the discretion of the
court. [Amended by 1979 c.284 §170]
     548.360
Moneys and securities; custody. All moneys and securities received under
ORS 548.350 may be deposited with the State Treasurer for safekeeping. [Amended
by 1989 c.182 §36]
     548.365
Depositary for bonds, warrants; authority of State Treasurer. Whenever any
governmental agency of the United States has authorized a loan to or for the
benefit of any irrigation or drainage district in Oregon for the purpose of
refinancing the outstanding indebtedness of the district, the State Treasurer
may act as depositary for the bondholders and other creditors of the district
and as such may do all things that may be conferred upon the State Treasurer by
the bondholders and other creditors of such district or their authorized
representatives, in connection with the delivery and transfer of title of
deposited bonds, warrants and other evidences of indebtedness. All acts of the
State Reclamation Commission had before March 4, 1935, in connection with any
such loans authorized before that date, are ratified and confirmed. [Amended by
1955 c.707 §67; 1989 c.182 §37]
     548.370
Cancellation or compromise of assessments by districts refunding indebtedness
through federal agencies. The board of supervisors of any drainage district
or the board of directors of any irrigation district may cancel or compromise
any special assessments assessed and levied by such board on lands within the
district if the district is refunding its outstanding indebtedness through any
governmental agency of the United States. When such assessments are canceled or
compromised the board may make appropriate notation of same upon the proper
records. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §38; 1997 c.170 §55]
SECURITIES AND MONEYS DEPOSITED WITH COUNTY TREASURER
     548.400
Deposit of bonds, warrants and other evidence of indebtedness of irrigation and
drainage districts being reorganized. (1) The county treasurer of the
county in which the district is headquartered may accept deposits of bonds,
warrants or other evidences of indebtedness of irrigation and drainage
districts under the process of reorganization, pursuant to the provisions of
ORS 545.629 to 545.639, or as may otherwise be provided by law.
     (2) The county treasurer shall deposit such bonds, warrants or other evidences of indebtedness with the State Treasurer, to be held by the State Treasurer in safekeeping. [Formerly 544.040; 1989 c.182 §39]
     548.405
Loss of certificates or receipts issued by county treasurer for securities;
surrender of securities by county treasurer. Whenever one claiming to be a
lawful owner of a certificate of deposit or receipt issued by the county
treasurer, covering securities issued by an irrigation or drainage district,
satisfies the county treasurer that such certificate of deposit or receipt has
been lost, stolen or destroyed and that the claimant is the owner thereof, the
county treasurer may surrender the securities evidenced by such certificate of
deposit or receipt, or deliver any securities or moneys on deposit with the
county treasurer received in payment for the securities evidenced by such
certificate of deposit or receipt to the claimant, upon filing a surety bond as
provided in ORS 548.415. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §40]
     548.410
Surrender of securities to claimant to whom certificate or receipt has not been
issued or assigned. Whenever one in possession of a certificate of deposit
or receipt issued by the county treasurer as evidence of the deposit of
securities issued by an irrigation or drainage district, who is neither the one
to whom such certificate of deposit or receipt was issued nor one to whom it
has been properly assigned, but who claims to be the owner of such certificate
of deposit or receipt, shall satisfy the county treasurer that the claimant is
entitled to receive securities evidenced by such certificate or receipt, or
receive moneys or other securities deposited with the county treasurer in
refunding the securities evidenced by such certificate or receipt, the county
treasurer may surrender such securities or pay such moneys or deliver such
other securities so deposited with the county treasurer to the claimant upon
surrendering the certificate of deposit or receipt and filing a bond as
provided in ORS 548.415. [Amended by 1989 c.182 §41]
     548.415
Surety bond; amount; conditions. The surety bond to be filed under ORS
548.405 or 548.410 shall be for double the amount of the face value of the
securities described in such certificate of deposit or receipt, if the
securities are to be surrendered, or double the amount the claimant is to
receive from moneys or securities deposited with the county treasurer, with two
or more sureties, qualified and who must justify as in the case of sureties for
bail; provided that surety bonds of companies licensed to transact surety
business in Oregon may be accepted for the face amount of the securities if the
securities are to be returned, or the face amount of any moneys or securities
to be paid or delivered by the county treasurer to the claimant. Every such
surety bond shall be conditioned upon indemnifying the county treasurer, and
the employees of the county treasurer making the payment, and all rightful
owners of the securities, against any loss or expenses, including interest or
other damage or liability, resulting from such payment or delivery. [Amended by
1989 c.182 §42]
RELEVY OF ERRONEOUS OR VOID ASSESSMENTS
     548.505
Relevy and reassessment; manner and time. If any drainage or irrigation
district assessment levied on any property liable thereto is prevented from
being collected for any year by reason of any erroneous proceeding, or if such
levy is adjudged void for want of form or manner of procedure, or otherwise,
the same may be collected, relisted, reassessed and relevied in the manner and
at the times provided for the collection, relisting and reassessment of taxes
by the provisions of ORS 311.120.
     548.510
Judgment declaring assessments void; reassessment and relevy of similar
assessments; time; crediting payments under void assessment. If any such
levy of assessment is declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction, then
all similar assessments levied in the same or other years by the drainage or
irrigation district which under the decision of the court are also void, may be
reassessed, relisted and relevied against the property affected, in the manner
provided by law and in conformity with such judgment, within five years from
the date of the rendition of the judgment of the court declaring such
assessment void. In the case of a relisting or relevying of such drainage or
irrigation district assessment on any property affected thereby, proper credit
in the collection of the same shall be given to all owners of any such property
for all payments theretofore made by them on the void assessments. [Amended by
2003 c.576 §516]
     548.515
Manner of relevy and reassessment; officers authorized. The relevy and
reassessment of drainage and irrigation district assessments provided for by
law shall be made in the same manner, and by the same officers who, at the time
the new listing or levy is made, are authorized by law to list property and
compute, levy and assess taxes or assessments against property in the drainage
or irrigation district.
     548.520
Cancellation or compromise. The provisions of ORS 548.370 relating to the
authority of drainage and irrigation districts to cancel or compromise any
special assessment shall apply to any relevy or reassessment by a drainage or
irrigation district which is provided by law.
     548.605
[Repealed by 1969 c.595 §17]
     548.610 [Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
    Â
     548.615
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.620
[Amended by 1981 c.897 §62; 1995 c.696 §28; repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.625
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.630
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.635
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.640
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.645
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.650
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.655
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.660
[Amended by 1981 c.897 §63; 1995 c.696 §29; repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.665
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.670
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
     548.675
[Repealed by 1997 c.170 §48]
COMPOSITION; BANKRUPTCY; REFUNDING AGREEMENTS
     548.705
Irrigation or drainage district may file bankruptcy petition; confirmation of
proceedings; composition of debts. At any time subsequent to default in the
payment of principal or interest upon the bonded or warrant indebtedness of any
irrigation or drainage district of this state, the board of directors or board
of supervisors may cause a petition to be filed in the Federal District Court
pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Bankruptcy Act. The consent of the
state is given to any proceedings instituted or attempted before February 16,
1939, by any such district under the Federal Bankruptcy Act. The state also
authorizes and confirms any proceedings by any such district to effect a plan
of composition or of readjustment of its debts in accordance with the
provisions and terms of that Act, and authorizes the consummation of any such
proceedings.
     548.710
Bonds of district; use and delivery to creditors. Whenever any irrigation
or drainage district files its petition in bankruptcy pursuant to the
provisions of the Act of Congress approved May 24, 1934, authorizing bankruptcy
proceedings by municipalities and other political subdivisions of any state, the
district may, for the purpose of carrying out any plan of readjustment of its
indebtedness which has been submitted and approved in the bankruptcy
proceeding, use and deliver to its creditors in such bankruptcy proceeding any
of its bonds authorized or issued pursuant to the provisions of ORS 548.305 to
548.325, and which bonds are not required for the purpose of carrying into
effect the provisions of the contract with the governmental agency of the
United States for which they primarily were authorized.
     548.715
Debt refunding agreements; obtaining consent of unknown or nonconsenting
creditors. Whenever any irrigation or drainage district engaged in the
refunding of its indebtedness has entered into a contract for such purposes
with 80 percent or more of the owners or holders of its bonds, warrants or
other evidences of indebtedness, such district may proceed to obtain the
constructive consent of the unknown or nonconsenting owners or holders of such
evidences of indebtedness to such contract, as provided by ORS 545.651 to
545.663.
     548.810
[Formerly 544.030; repealed by 1989 c.182 §49]
REORGANIZATION AND DISSOLUTION
     548.900
Definitions for ORS 548.900 to 548.955. As used in ORS 548.900 to 548.955,
except as otherwise expressly provided:
     (1) “District” means an irrigation district organized under ORS chapter 545 or a drainage district organized under ORS chapter 547.
     (2) “District board” means the board of directors of an irrigation district, or the board of supervisors of a drainage district. [1973 c.415 §1]
     548.905
Petition for dissolution or reorganization; contents; effect of dissolution or
reorganization on creditors. (1) A majority of the qualified electors and
landowners of a district, representing at least one-half of the acres of land
assessed by the district, may by petition propose a plan for the dissolution or
reorganization of the district.
     (2) The petition shall state:
     (a) That the petition is filed under ORS 548.900 to 548.955.
     (b) The name of the district.
     (c) The nature, terms and conditions of the dissolution or reorganization plan.
     (d) The estimated cost of the dissolution or reorganization.
     (e) A description of the assets of the district.
     (f) A description of all outstanding indebtedness, including bonds and coupons and the holders thereof, so far as known, and the provisions to be made for payment of nonassenting holders.
     (3) No dissolution or reorganization or any term or condition thereof shall impair the rights of any creditor of a district and each creditor may enforce the rights of the creditor in the same manner and to the same extent as if the change, term or condition had not been made. [1973 c.415 §2]
     548.910
Manner of signing petition; form of petition; withdrawal of signature after
filing of petition prohibited. (1) Each person signing a petition shall add
after the signature of the person the date of signing and place of residence,
giving street and number or a designation sufficient to enable the place of
residence to be readily ascertained, and the number of acres of land owned by
the signer. The name of the county whose assessment roll is used for the
purpose of determining the right of the signer to vote shall be stated in the
body of the petition or indicated opposite the signature of the signer. If the
signer is a legal representative of the owner, the signature of the signer
shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the authority of the signer to sign
as a legal representative.
     (2) After a petition has been offered for filing, a person may not withdraw the name of the person therefrom.
     (3) A petition may designate not more than three persons as chief petitioners, setting forth their names and mailing addresses. A petition may consist of a single instrument or separate counterparts. [1973 c.415 §3]
     548.915
Determining qualified petition signatures; certificate of county clerk and
district secretary. (1) A petition shall not be accepted for filing unless
the signatures thereon have been secured within six months of the date on which
the first signature on the petition was affixed. Petitions shall be filed with
the secretary of the district board. It is not necessary to offer all
counterparts of a petition for filing at the same time, but all counterparts
when certified as provided by subsection (3) of this section shall be filed at
the same time.
     (2) Within 10 days after the date a petition is offered for filing, the county clerk and the district secretary shall examine the petition and determine whether it is signed by the requisite number of qualified signers. If the requisite number of qualified signers have signed the petition the district secretary shall file the petition. If the requisite number have not signed, the secretary shall so notify the chief petitioners and may return the petition to the petitioners.
     (3) A petition shall not be filed unless the certificate of the county clerk and the district secretary is attached thereto certifying that they have compared the signatures of the signers with the appropriate records, that they have ascertained therefrom the number of qualified signers appearing on the petition, and that the petition is signed by the requisite number of qualified signers. [1973 c.415 §4]
     548.920
Notice of petition filing; contents; election petition; signature requirements.
(1) If the petition is accepted and filed by the district secretary, the
secretary shall, within 30 days thereafter, cause a notice of the filing to be
published in one or more newspapers of general circulation within the district
or, if there is no such newspaper, in a newspaper of general circulation in
each county in which the district is located. The secretary may also cause the
notice to be published by radio and television stations broadcasting in the
district as provided by ORS 193.310 and 193.320.
     (2) The published notice shall state:
     (a) That a petition proposing a plan for the dissolution or reorganization of the district, as the case may be, has been filed with the district secretary.
     (b) That a copy of the petition is available at a reasonable fee for each person who desires a copy.
     (c) That unless a petition signed by not less than 10 percent of the qualified electors and landowners of the district requesting that an election be called by the district board is filed with the district secretary within 30 days of the date of the publication of the notice, the district board will file its petition in circuit court as provided by ORS 548.930 (2).
     (3) A petition requesting an election must be signed in the manner provided by ORS 548.915 (1) and shall be subject to the examination and requirements provided by ORS 548.915 (2) and (3). [1973 c.415 §§5,6]
     548.925
Special election; notice; ballot form. (1) Within 10 days after the filing
of a petition that meets the requirements of ORS 548.920 (3) and 548.920
(2)(c), the district board shall call a special election to be held not less
than 30 or more than 60 days after date the petition is filed.
     (2) The board shall cause notice of the election to be published once a week for three successive weeks, being three publications in all, in one or more newspapers meeting the requirements of ORS 548.920 (3). In addition, notice may be published by radio and television stations broadcasting in the district as provided by ORS 193.310 and 193.320.
     (3) The notice shall state the date of the election, and the fact that there will be submitted to the voters a proposal to dissolve or reorganize the district, as the case may be.
     (4) The election shall be held and the results determined and declared in all respects as nearly as practicable in conformity with the provisions governing the election of officers in irrigation districts. At the election, the ballot shall contain the words, “dissolution (or reorganization, as the case may be) of the district ___ Yes,” or “Dissolution (or reorganization) of the district ___ No,” or words equivalent thereto. [1973 c.415 §7]
     548.930
Vote result requirements; filing petition with circuit court if vote favors
reorganization or dissolution or if no election petition is filed. (1) Upon
canvass of the votes, if it is found and declared by the district board that a
majority of the qualified electors and landowners of the district, representing
at least one-half of the acres of land assessed by the district, voted against
the dissolution or reorganization of the district, the petition for dissolution
or reorganization shall be denied and no further action shall be taken upon it.
However, if it is found and declared that the majority voted for the
dissolution or reorganization of the district, the district board shall, within
60 days after the date of the election, file in the circuit court of the county
in which the registered office of the district is located, a petition
requesting the court to examine and determine the regularity and legality and
correctness of the proceedings and to determine and adjudicate the rights and
liabilities of all interested parties in a manner which is equitable,
reasonable and in the best interests of the parties. There shall be attached to
and made a part of the district board petition a copy of the petition for dissolution
or reorganization, as the case may be, of the electors and landowners as filed
with the district secretary.
     (2) If a petition for election is not filed as provided by this section within 30 days after the date of publication of notice as provided by ORS 548.920 (1) and (2), the district board shall file its petition in the circuit court within 90 days after the date notice is published. [1973 c.415 §8]
     548.935
Circuit court proceeding on petition; contents of court order. Proceedings
in the circuit court upon the petition shall be in the nature of a proceeding
in rem and shall be conducted as an action not triable by right to a jury and
any judgment or final order of the circuit court shall be subject to appeal in
the same manner as other cases in equity. The court may appoint masters or
referees as it considers desirable and shall have complete jurisdiction to
approve, disapprove, amend or change the plan proposed or to adopt any
amendments, changes or other plans proposed by any interested party which the
court finds to be equitable and reasonable to protect the rights of any party,
or may direct that the district shall continue in existence and operation
without dissolution or reorganization. The judgment may include provisions for
sale, transfer or conveyance of all or part of the assets of the district to
corporations, other districts, municipal corporations or governmental bodies or
agencies then in existence, or to be organized in accordance with the terms of
the judgment, which will continue to furnish some or all of the services
furnished by the district. As a condition of such sale, transfer or conveyance
the court may require such transferee or transferees to assume part or all of
the indebtedness of the district. The court may determine the validity of any
sales or assessments, the amount of any assessments due upon the various
parcels and lots of real estate within the district, the amounts of any
assessments theretofore paid upon such parcels and lots and may determine and
adjust the liabilities of all parties. The court may adjudicate any water
rights of the district and the lands therein and may direct the sale of any
assets of the district, either in one lot or in parcels, at public or private
sale, as the court finds best. The judgment shall make provision for the
payment of all indebtedness of the district. [1973 c.415 §9; 1979 c.284 §172]
     548.940
Jurisdiction of parties; service of summons and petition. (1) Jurisdiction
of all interested parties may be had by the publication of summons in the
manner provided by ORCP 7. Copies of the summons and the petition of the
district shall be mailed to each qualified elector and landowner at the mailing
address as shown by the records of the county clerk, the county tax collector
and the county assessor, and to all known creditors of the district.
     (2) The Water Resources Commission shall be served with a copy of the summons and petition. [1973 c.415 §1; 1979 c.284 §172; 1989 c.182 §43]
     548.945
Written assent of Secretary of Interior required before judgment if district
has federal contract. If a contract authorized by law has been made between
the district and the United States for the construction, operation or
maintenance of necessary works or for a water supply, a judgment may not be
entered by the court until written assent to the judgment by the Secretary of
the Interior has been filed with the court. [1973 c.415 §11; 2003 c.576 §517]
     548.950
Appearance of interested parties; costs and disbursements. Any interested
party may appear in the proceedings. Costs and disbursements may be allowed and
divided between the parties or taxed to the losing party or parties in the
discretion of the court. [1973 c.415 §12]
     548.955
Contents of judgment; filing with county treasurer and assessor, Secretary of
State and Water Resources Commission. The judgment of the court shall order
the clerk of the court to file certified copies of the judgment with the county
treasurer and the county assessor of each county in which any property located
within or assessed by the district is located, and with the Secretary of State
and the Water Resources Commission. [1973 c.415 §13; 2003 c.576 §518]
_______________
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