Source: http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/chapters/chapText072.html
Timestamp: 2017-10-22 03:03:18
Document Index: 168842296

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 6214', '§ 6215', '§ 6093', '§ 7613', '§ 8527', '§ 6222', '§ 6100', '§ 7620', '§ 8534', '§ 6217', '§ 6095', '§ 7615', '§ 8529', '§ 6217', '§ 6217', '§ 6217', '§ 6229', '§ 77', '§ 6107', '§ 7627', '§ 8541', '§ 6218', '§ 6096', '§ 7616', '§ 8530', '§ 6221', '§ 72', '§ 6227', '§ 6105', '§ 7625', '§ 8539', '§ 7830', '§ 7685', '§ 9124', '§ 9949', '§ 72', '§ 7831', '§ 7686', '§ 9125', '§ 9950', '§ 7832', '§ 7687', '§ 9126', '§ 9951', '§ 7834', '§ 7689', '§ 9128', '§ 9953', '§ 72', '§ 7835', '§ 7690', '§ 7836', '§ 7691', '§ 1', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 5', '§ 6', '§ 7', '§ 8', '§ 9', '§ 10', '§ 11', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 5', '§ 6', '§ 7', '§ 8', '§ 20', '§ 1']

Chapter 72 RSMO
Chapter: 77→ August 28, 2016
72.030. All cities and towns in this state containing three thousand or more inhabitants, which shall elect to be a city of the third class, shall be cities of the third class.
(RSMo 1939 § 6214, A.L. 1975 H.B. 398)
Fourth class cities--villages may vote to become.
72.040. 1. All cities and towns in this state containing five hundred and less than three thousand inhabitants, and all towns existing under any special law, and having less than five hundred inhabitants which shall elect to be cities of the fourth class, shall be cities of the fourth class.
2. Notwithstanding the population requirements of subsection 1 of this section, all incorporated villages as of August 13, 1982, may elect by majority vote of the voters therein to be a city of the fourth class and shall retain such classification at its option.
(RSMo 1939 § 6215, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1120)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 6093; 1919 § 7613; 1909 § 8527
Villages--certain towns declared to be, when--villages may vote tobecome fourth class cities.
72.050. 1. All towns not now incorporated in this state containing less than five hundred inhabitants are hereby declared to be villages.
May cause census to be taken, when.
72.060. Any city, town or village within this state, now incorporated under the provisions of this chapter, or under any special or local law, as a village, town or city, either of the second, third or fourth classes, as classified in said chapter, and in which the citizens thereof desire incorporation as a village, town or city of a higher class, and believe that since the taking of the last census, state or national, there has been sufficient increase in population to entitle it to such desired incorporation, may, by authority of an ordinance, and at the expense of such village, town or city, cause to be taken a census of its population, and should such census, when so taken, show that the village, town or city taking the same, has the requisite population to entitle it to the right to become incorporated as a village, town or city of the higher class, then such village, town or city may proceed to secure such incorporation as its population may then entitle it to, under and by authority of the provisions of this chapter; provided, that cities or towns that have permitted their organization to become dormant or ineffective, through a failure to elect corporate officers or levy a corporate tax for the two years immediately preceding, may, by a petition of the majority of the taxpayers of such city or town to the county commission, have an enumeration taken and be assigned to its proper class; and thereupon the county commission shall appoint the proper officers for such city or town, who shall hold their office until the next municipal election thereafter and until their successors are elected and qualified.
(RSMo 1939 § 6222, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 6100; 1919 § 7620; 1909 § 8534
Election by city or town to become city of different class--villageofficers to act on becoming city.
72.070. Any city, town or village in this state, existing by virtue of the present general law, or by any local or special law, may elect to become a city of the class to which its population would entitle it under the provisions of sections 72.030 to 72.140, or who may elect to become a city of a class to which it may be eligible as otherwise provided by section 72.040 or section 72.050 shall proceed by passing an ordinance or proposition, and submitting the same to the legal voters of such city, town or village, at an election to be held for that purpose, not less than twenty days nor more than thirty days after the passage of such ordinance or proposition; and if a majority of such voters voting at such election shall ratify such ordinance or proposition, the mayor or chief officer of such city, town, or village shall issue his proclamation, declaring the result of such election, and thereafter such city, town, or village shall, by virtue of such vote, be incorporated under the provisions of the general law providing for the government of the class to which such city belongs. Whenever any village shall elect to become a city of the class to which it is entitled, the officers of such village, until new officers shall be elected and qualified, shall be the officers of such city, with the powers and functions corresponding to the powers and functions of the officers of the former village, the chairman of the board of trustees to act as mayor and the remaining trustees to act as aldermen, with the power to divide the city into wards and to call an election of officers of such city and to submit to the voters of such city in the manner provided by law such other matters or propositions as they may deem proper and as may be authorized by law. Any city eligible for more than one classification shall alter that classification pursuant to the procedure contained in this section.
(RSMo 1939 § 6217, A.L. 1957 p. 249, A.L. 1982 H.B. 1120)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 6095; 1919 § 7615; 1909 § 8529
Cities and towns may be incorporated in their respectiveclasses--exception, certain cities must comply with boundarychange law--exception, Cass County--owners of majority of certainclass of property may object to incorporation, cause ofaction--definition--contents of petition.
72.080. 1. Any unincorporated city, town, or other area of the state may, except as otherwise provided in sections 72.400 to 72.420, become a city of the class to which its population would entitle it pursuant to this chapter, and be incorporated pursuant to the law for the government of cities of that class, in the following manner: whenever a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed to be incorporated shall present a petition to the governing body of the county in which such city, town, or area is situated, such petition shall describe, by metes and bounds, the area to be incorporated and be accompanied by a plat thereof, shall state the approximate population and the assessed valuation of all real and personal property in the area and shall state facts showing that the proposed city shall have the ability to furnish normal municipal services within a reasonable time after its incorporation is to become effective and praying that the question be submitted to determine if it may be incorporated. If the governing body shall be satisfied that a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed to be incorporated have signed such petition, the governing body shall submit the question to the voters.
2. The county may make changes in the petition to correct technical errors or to redefine the metes and bounds of the area to be incorporated to reflect other boundary changes occurring within six months prior to the time of filing the petition. Petitions submitted by proposing agents may be submitted with exclusions for the signatures collected in areas originally included in the proposal but subsequently annexed or incorporated separately as a city, town or village, although the governing body shall be satisfied as to the sufficiency of the signatures for the final proposed area. If a majority of the voters voting on the question vote for incorporation, the governing body shall declare such city, town, or other area incorporated, designating in such order the metes and bounds thereof, and thenceforth the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of .................................", or "the town of ................................", and the first officers of such city or town shall be designated by the order of the governing body, who shall hold their offices until the next municipal election and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified. The county shall pay the costs of the election.
4. Any unincorporated area with a private eighteen-hole golf course community and with at least a one hundred acre lake located within any county of the first classification with more than eighty-two thousand but less than eighty-two thousand one hundred inhabitants may incorporate as a city of the class to which its population would entitle it pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any proposed annexation of the unincorporated area by any city of the third or fourth classification or any home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county. If any city of the third or fourth classification or any home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county proposes annexation by ordinance or resolution of any unincorporated area as defined in this subsection, no such annexation shall become effective until and only after a majority of the qualified voters in the unincorporated area proposed to be incorporated fail to approve or oppose the proposed incorporation by a majority vote in the election described in subsection 2 of this section.
5. Prior to the election described in subsection 2 of this section, if the owner or owners of either the majority of the commercial or the majority of the agricultural classification of real property in the proposed area to be incorporated object to such incorporation, such owner or owners may file an action in the circuit court of the county in which such unincorporated area is situated, pursuant to chapter 527, praying for a declaratory judgment requesting that such incorporation be declared unreasonable by the court. As used in this subsection, a "majority of the commercial or agricultural classification" means a majority as determined by the assessed valuation of the tracts of real property in either classification to be determined by the assessments made according to chapter 137. The petition in such action shall state facts showing that such incorporation including the real property owned by the petitioners is not reasonable based on the same criteria as specified in subsection 3 of section 72.403 and is not necessary to the proper development of the city or town. If the circuit court finds that such inclusion is not reasonable and necessary, it may enjoin the incorporation or require the petition requesting the incorporation to be resubmitted excluding all or part of the property of the petitioners from the proposed incorporation.
(RSMo 1939 § 6217, A.L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1989 H.B. 487, A.L. 1993 S.B. 219, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 2003 H.B. 166 merged with S.B. 238, A.L. 2007 S.B. 22, A.L. 2008 S.B. 765)
Unincorporated city entitled to become third class city--mayincorporate and adopt commission form, when.
72.090. Provided, that any city or town of the state of Missouri, not incorporated, having sufficient population to entitle it to become a city of the third class, in making application for incorporation as a city of the third class, may include in its petition for such incorporation a request that it be authorized to avail itself of the provisions of sections 78.010 to 78.420, and the county commission, in passing upon such application, shall have power in its order of incorporation to authorize said city to be governed by the provisions of sections 78.010 to 78.420 as fully as if the provisions of sections 78.010 to 78.420 had been adopted by a formal election of the inhabitants of the territory comprised therein; and thereupon such county commission shall appoint the officers of such city provided by sections 78.010 to 78.420.
(RSMo 1939 § 6217)
City or town situated on county line.
72.100. Provided, that when any city, town or other area is or may be situated on the county line, and in two counties, the petition shall be signed by a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed in each county to be incorporated of such city, town or other area in each county, and presented to the governing body of each county, and designating that each of the two governing bodies equally shall designate the officers therefor. If the governing body of each county shall be satisfied that a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed in each county to be incorporated have signed such petition, the governing bodies of each county shall submit the question to the voters. If a majority of the voters voting on the question, of each of the counties in such city or town, vote for incorporation, the governing bodies of each county shall declare such city or town incorporated and the inhabitants thereof shall thenceforth be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of ..............", or "the town of .............", and provided further, that appeals taken from the decision of the mayor, judge or other officer before whom any cause is tried, acting for said city, town or other area may be sent to the circuit court of either county wherein such city or town is situated, as may be specified in the order granting such appeal.
(RSMo 1939 § 6217, A.L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Jurisdiction to remain same.
72.110. The jurisdiction of any city which shall be reorganized under this chapter shall not in any wise be affected or changed in consequence of such reorganization, but such limits, wards and boundaries shall remain after such reorganization the same as before such reorganization; and all laws or parts of laws or ordinances, not inconsistent with the provisions of the chapter dealing with the class into which such city is reorganized, which were operative in such city prior to its reorganization, shall continue to be in force until repealed or otherwise changed by ordinance.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 6229, 6606, 6866, 7097, A. 1949 H.B. 2024 § 77.11)
Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 6107, 6483, 6720, 6947; 1919 §§ 7627, 7973, 8207, 8398; 1909 §§ 8541, 9144, 9300
Rights of property retained.
72.120. All rights and property of every kind and description, which were vested in any city under its former organization, shall be deemed and held to be vested in such city upon its becoming reorganized as provided in sections 72.090 to 72.110, but no rights or liabilities, either in favor of or against such city, existing at the time of so becoming reorganized, and no suit or prosecution of any kind shall be affected by such change, but the same shall stand and progress as if no change had been made.
(RSMo 1939 § 6218)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 6096; 1919 § 7616; 1909 § 8530
No incorporation within two miles of existing city, where,exceptions.
72.130. Except as provided in sections 72.400 to 72.420, no city, town, village or other area shall be organized within this state under and by virtue of any law thereof, adjacent to or within two miles of the limits of any city of the first, second, third or fourth classification or any constitutional charter city, unless the city, town, village or other area be in a different county from the city or unless the city, town, or village is located within any county of the first classification with more than eighty-two thousand but less than eighty-two thousand one hundred inhabitants, except that a city, town, village or other area may be incorporated within the two-mile area if a petition signed by a number of voters equal to fifteen percent of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election in the area proposed to be incorporated is presented to the existing city requesting that the boundaries of the existing city be extended to include the area proposed to be incorporated and if action taken thereon by the existing city is unfavorable to the petition, or if no action is taken by the existing city on the petition, then the city, town, village or other area may be incorporated after the expiration of one year from the date of the petition and upon a favorable majority vote on the question.
(RSMo 1939 § 6221, A.L. 1959 H.B. 207, A.L. 1965 p. 192, A.L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1973 H.B. 640, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 2003 H.B. 166 merged with S.B. 238)
Effective 5-15-03 (S.B. 238)
8-28-03 (H.B. 166)
Signers to state name, address and date when signing petition--timelimit on petition.
72.132. 1. Every inhabitant signing such petition shall state his street address or rural post-office box number and route together with the month, day and year on which he affixed his signature thereto.
2. Every such petition shall be presented to the appropriate county commission or county council within two hundred eighty days following the date on which the first signature was affixed to such petition, or any part thereof. Failure to so present such petition within the foregoing time period shall render such petition absolutely void.
(L. 1971 H.B. 28 § 72.136)
Resubmission within year prohibited.
72.135. No such question shall be resubmitted for substantially the same area within one year after defeat of the question.
(L. 1971 H.B. 28, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Reorganization to take effect, when--officers hold, how long.
72.140. Any city which may organize under this chapter shall continue as before in every respect with all former rights and obligations until the time fixed for such reorganization to take effect; and all its officers and employees shall continue to discharge the duties of their respective offices and shall hold their offices until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified, except as herein otherwise provided.
(RSMo 1939 § 6227)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 6105; 1919 § 7625; 1909 § 8539
Certain adjoining municipalities may consolidate--certain cities tocomply with boundary changes law--consolidation of certaincities, towns, or villages in counties of the first, second, orthird classification.
Cities separated by street or stream may consolidate as thoughcontiguous.
72.153. If the cities, towns or villages proposing to consolidate are separated only by a street, road or other public way, or a stream, or vacant land, they may consolidate as though they were adjoining and contiguous by taking in the street, road or other public way, or stream or vacant land as part of the consolidated municipality. The question submitted to the voters of each city, town or village shall include a provision that the street, road or other public way, or stream or vacant land to the extent set out by appropriate description in the proposition shall become a part of the consolidated municipality upon approval of the voters voting on the question.
(L. 1965 p. 192, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Consolidation ordinance when initiated by municipality--contents.
72.155. 1. Consolidation of municipalities may be instituted by the governing bodies of any cities, towns or villages, or any combination thereof, by ordinance, adopted by the governing bodies of the respective municipalities. The ordinance shall contain the following:
Petition of voters for election--county commission to orderelection, how and when.
72.160. Whenever a petition containing the signatures of one hundred voters, or fifteen percent of the total number of votes cast in the last preceding election, whichever is greater, in each of the affected municipalities (provided, however, that in the event any affected municipality has a population of less than one thousand the one hundred or more minimum signature requirement shall not apply, and only the fifteen percent requirement shall apply as to such municipality) shall petition the county commission to order the question of consolidation of such cities, towns or villages into one city, town or village, the county commission at the next regular or special term of said commission shall submit the question to the voters.
(RSMo 1939 § 7830, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 7685; 1919 § 9124; 1909 § 9949
Petition for consolidation, contents, verification.
72.163. 1. A petition for consolidation shall contain the following:
County commission to submit question, when.
72.165. The county commission may submit the question of consolidation when it receives ordinances from one or more municipalities and petitions from residents of one or more other municipalities requesting the submission of the question, if the ordinances and petitions propose the same terms and conditions for consolidation and fulfill the requirements of sections 72.150 to 72.205.
(L. 1963 p. 128 § 72.167, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Approval of municipality of petition by citizens, procedureon--certification to county commission, contents.
72.167. 1. When the petition for a proposed consolidation of municipalities originates from a group of citizens within a municipality to be included in the proposal, the petition shall be filed with the governing body of the municipality affected. The governing body of the municipality shall then have ninety days, from the filing of the petition, to study and investigate the proposal and endorse thereon their approval or disapproval. In either alternative, the governing body shall forward the petition with a certification of the municipality's clerk, stating the action taken by the governing body, to the county commission. The certification may, but shall not be required to, contain reasons for approval or disapproval of the petition, but whether approved or disapproved, the certification shall also contain the following information:
72.170. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:
Shall ....... and ....... consolidate?
(RSMo 1939 § 7831, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 7686; 1919 § 9125; 1909 § 9950
Consolidation effective, when--more than two cities, vote against,effect.
72.180. If it shall appear that a majority of the votes cast in each one of said municipalities on the question shall be in favor of consolidation, the certificate of the clerk shall be recorded in the journal of the council, board of trustees or board of aldermen of each of said cities, towns or villages, and consolidation of such cities, towns or villages thereafter be consummated. Where more than two cities, towns or villages as provided in section 72.150, seek consolidation, a majority of the votes cast in any one city, town or village against the consolidation shall not prevent the consolidation of the remaining cities, towns or villages if a majority of the votes cast in such remaining cities, towns or villages are in favor of consolidation unless a majority of the votes in the largest of the cities, towns or villages seeking consolidation is against consolidation, in which case the consolidation shall be deemed to have been defeated.
(RSMo 1939 § 7832, A.L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 7687; 1919 § 9126; 1909 § 9951
Charter commission to recommend name and form of government ofconsolidated municipality--approval by election.
72.185. In the event that the question as voted upon does not contain the name and form of government of the proposed consolidated municipality and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise, then the governing body of each affected municipality shall select five commissioners if only two cities, towns or villages are involved or if more than two cities, towns or villages are involved, three or more commissioners from each involved city, town or village, with an equal number being appointed from each city, town or village and not less than ten commissioners being appointed in all, to meet with similar commissioners appointed from the other affected municipalities, the commissioners to study and recommend an appropriate name and form of government of the consolidated municipality and the details of the transition. The commissioners shall recommend the name and form of government of the consolidated municipality and the details of the transition, and, if the question fails to pass by a simple majority in both or all of the same affected municipalities, a new charter commission shall be appointed which shall submit a second recommendation to the voters. If the second recommendation as to name and form of government and the details of the transition shall also fail to pass by a simple majority, the results of the two submissions shall be compared and the question receiving the highest total number of votes in favor thereof shall be considered as having passed by a simple majority.
(L. 1961 p. 193, A.L. 1963 p. 128, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571)
Bonded indebtedness of municipalities to become debt ofconsolidated municipality--when.
72.195. Unless otherwise provided in the proposition as voted upon, the bonded indebtedness of each municipality at the time of the consolidation which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing local improvements or facilities for the residents of the municipality shall continue to be the debt of the taxpayers in the area of the former municipality and a special tax sufficient to retire the indebtedness shall be levied against the property within the area of the former municipality, but the bonded indebtedness of any municipality which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing improvements or facilities which are to be used generally by the consolidated municipality shall become the indebtedness of the consolidated municipality. The question as originally submitted shall list each separate bonded indebtedness of the municipalities and shall clearly indicate whether the tax necessary to retire it is to be levied generally or locally.
(L. 1965 p. 193, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Elections governed by laws governing bond issue elections.
72.200. All elections authorized in sections 72.150 to 72.220 shall be conducted procedurally in all respects as elections to authorize bond issues, whether bond issues are authorized in affected municipalities or not.
(RSMo 1939 § 7834, A.L. 1961 p. 193)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 7689; 1919 § 9128; 1909 § 9953
Three-year limit on elections on petition of citizens.
72.205. No election may be required to be held as a result of petition by citizens of an affected municipality if the petition is filed within three years of the date of unsuccessful election for consolidation. Where an election is held as a result of action originating within the governing body of the municipality affected, no limitation on the number or frequency of elections applies.
(L. 1961 p. 193 § 72.165)
Two or more cities may consolidate--procedure.
72.210. When two or more cities in this state, each containing a population of less than five hundred thousand inhabitants, adjoining and contiguous to each other in adjoining counties shall be desirous of being consolidated, it shall be lawful for them to consolidate under one government of the highest class under which either of said cities is organized and take the name of said city in the same manner and subject to the provisions of this chapter prescribed for the consolidation of adjoining cities in the same county and furnishing bonds by those petitioning for such elections, the subdivisions of the consolidated city into wards and the calling of an election for officers in such consolidated city shall be done by the respective county commissions of the counties in which such cities are situated and said elections shall be held simultaneously on the same day.
(RSMo 1939 § 7835, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Prior revision: 1929 § 7690
Procedure--form of ballot to be used.
72.220. 1. Whenever twenty-five percent of the voters of such adjoining cities in adjoining counties shall petition their respective county commissions to order the submission of the question on the consolidation of such cities into one city, said county commissions at their next regular or special term of said commissions shall order the submission of the question to the voters.
Shall . . . . . . and . . . . . . consolidate?
(RSMo 1939 § 7836, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Prior revision: 1929 § 7691
Absorption of municipalities authorized (certain third classcounties).
72.300. Any two or more municipalities which are adjoining or contiguous to each other on two or more sides and which are located in a county of the third class having a population of not less than twenty-five thousand nor more than thirty thousand may provide for the absorption of the corporate existence and the territorial limits of one or more of the municipalities by another such municipality in the manner provided in sections 72.300 to 72.350.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 1)
Resolution to absorb, contents of.
72.305. The governing body of each of the municipalities involved in the proposed absorption shall adopt a resolution which sets forth:
(1) The name of each municipality which is to be absorbed;
(2) The name of the municipality which will absorb the other municipality;
(3) A statement that each municipality being absorbed accepts and will be governed by each and every provision and ordinance of the municipality which is absorbing them;
(4) The proposed effective date of the merger;
(5) A listing of each separate bonded indebtedness of each municipality which will be absorbed and a statement whether the tax necessary to retire it is to be levied locally or generally.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 2)
Election, how ordered.
72.310. Upon adoption of the resolution setting forth the plan of absorption, the governing body of each municipality involved shall order the submission of the question of absorption to the voters of each municipality involved.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 3, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
72.320. 1. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:
Shall the municipality of . . . . . . . . . . absorb the municipality of . . . . . . . . . .?
2. If a majority of the voters voting on the proposition in each of the municipalities involved vote for the absorption, such absorption shall be consummated as provided in sections 72.300 to 72.350 and not otherwise.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 5, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Procedure for, and effect of absorption.
72.325. Upon approval of the question in each of the municipalities involved, the absorption shall be accomplished on the date contained in the resolutions by the municipality specified in the resolution as the one which is to absorb the other municipalities shall succeed to the corporate existence and the territorial limits of the municipalities being absorbed and the municipalities absorbed shall cease to exist as separate municipal entities. All the property, real, personal and mixed, and all rights of every kind and nature belonging to and vested in each municipality being absorbed shall be transferred to and vested in the municipality which is absorbing the others on the effective date of the resolutions. All debts and liabilities and all other choses in action, and all and every interest of or belonging to each of the municipalities absorbed shall be taken and transferred to and vested in the municipality which is absorbing the others on the effective date of the resolutions. The title to any real estate, or any interest therein, vested in any municipality which is absorbed shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the absorption.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 6, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Liabilities or legal actions, effect on.
72.330. The municipality which absorbs the other municipalities shall assume and be responsible and liable for all the liabilities and obligations of each of the municipalities being absorbed. Any claim existing or action or proceeding pending by or against any of the municipalities being absorbed may be prosecuted to judgment as if the absorption had not taken place, or the municipality which has absorbed the other municipality may be substituted in its place. Neither the rights of creditors nor any liens upon the property of any municipality which is absorbed shall be impaired by reason of the absorption.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 7)
Bonded indebtedness, effect on--notice of indebtedness required inresolution and election notice.
72.335. The bonded indebtedness of each municipality being absorbed at the time of the absorption which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing local improvements or facilities for the residents in the area of a municipality being absorbed shall continue to be the debt of the taxpayers in the area of the municipality being absorbed and a special tax sufficient to retire the indebtedness shall be levied against the property within the area of the municipality being absorbed, but the bonded indebtedness of any municipality involved in the absorption which was incurred for the purpose of purchasing, constructing or repairing improvements or facilities which are to be used generally by the entire area of the municipality which absorbs the others shall become the indebtedness of the entire area of the absorbing municipality and the area which it absorbed. The question as originally submitted by resolutions and the notice of the election shall list each separate bonded indebtedness of the municipalities involved and shall clearly indicate whether the tax necessary to retire it is to be levied generally or locally.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 8, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Ordinances, effect on--corporate existence to cease, when.
72.340. All ordinances including all ordinances adopted at elections by a vote of the people of the municipality which absorbs the other municipalities shall remain in full force and effect and shall govern in the territory of the absorbing municipality and of the municipalities which are absorbed. All ordinances and the corporate existence of the municipalities being absorbed shall cease to exist and be null and void and of no force and effect upon the effective date of the absorption.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 9)
Notice of approval of absorption, who to send and receive.
72.345. Upon the approval of the question of absorption by the voters in each of the municipalities involved, the governing body of the municipality which is absorbing the other municipalities shall send notice containing the results of the election and a copy of the resolutions of absorption to the clerk of the county in which the municipalities involved are located and to the secretary of state.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 10, A.L. 1978 H.B. 971)
Courts to take judicial notice of absorption.
72.350. After the effective date of the absorption, the courts of this state shall take judicial notice of the absorption and of the new corporate boundaries of the municipality which absorbed the other municipalities.
(L. 1976 H.B. 1017 § 11)
72.400. As used in sections 72.400 to 72.423, the following terms mean:
(3) "Commission", a boundary commission established pursuant to this section;
Law to be exclusive for boundary changes if commission established(St. Louis County)--procedure for boundary change--commissionmembers, qualifications, appointment, vacancies--notice ofordinance establishing commission--list ofappointees--terms--succession--conflict of interest--boundaryadjustment and certain annexations not subject to commissionreview and not prohibited by existence of establishedunincorporated area, when.
3. The commission shall be composed of eleven members as provided in this subsection. No member, employee or contractor of the commission shall be an elective official, employee or contractor of the county or of any political subdivision within the county or of any organization representing political subdivisions or officers or employees of political subdivisions. Each of the appointing authorities described in subdivisions (1) to (3) of this subsection shall appoint persons who shall be residents of their respective locality so described. The appointing authority making the appointments shall be:
(5) The county executive of the county, who shall name four members of the commission, three of whom shall be from the unincorporated area of the county and one of whom shall be from the incorporated area of the county.
The seat of a commissioner shall be automatically vacated when the commissioner changes his or her residence so as to no longer conform to the terms of the requirements of the commissioner's appointment. The commission shall promptly notify the appointing authority of such change of residence.
(L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1557 & 1489, A.L. 1998 S.B. 809, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967, A.L. 2012 S.B. 665, A.L. 2015 H.B. 511)
Rules and regulations, commission shall promulgate--procedure.
72.402. The commission shall enact and adopt all rules, regulations and procedures that are reasonably necessary to achieve the objectives of sections 72.400 to 72.423 no sooner than twenty-seven calendar days after notifying all municipalities and the county of the proposed rule, regulation or procedure enactment or change. Notice may be given by ordinary mail or by publishing in at least one newspaper of general circulation qualified to publish legal notices. No new or amended rule, regulation or procedure shall apply retroactively to any boundary change or unincorporated area proposal pending before the commission.
(L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967)
Powers and duties of commission to review all boundary changes--nochanges submitted to commission until April 15, 2001, exceptions,procedures--plan of intent--notice, publication of--approval ofchange, factors to be considered--commission may provide advice toproposing agents.
72.403. 1. The commission shall review all proposed boundary changes of any area wholly or partially within the county. After June 27, 2000, no boundary change or unincorporated area proposal shall be submitted to or considered by the commission until April 15, 2001, except for consolidations. Any boundary change or unincorporated area proposal pending before the commission on June 27, 2000, shall be suspended on June 27, 2000, and shall be further considered after April 15, 2001, only if such proposal is reflected in a map plan submitted to the commission pursuant to section 72.423, except an annexation proposal by a village with a population under three thousand five hundred where the initial public hearing will occur prior to July 1, 1999, such proposal shall continue notwithstanding other provisions of law to the contrary. Review shall begin no later than thirty days after the plan of intent for the boundary change has been submitted to the commission by the proposing agent or thirty days after April 15, 2001, for boundary changes or unincorporated area proposals which are pending on June 27, 2000. The plan of intent shall address the criteria set forth in subsection 3 of this section. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "pending" means any proposal submitted to the commission which has not yet been approved by the commission as a simplified annexation or approved for submission to the qualified voters of the voting jurisdictions. No simplified boundary change involving territory already described in an annexation resolution or incorporation petition filed with the commission shall occur unless the annexation or incorporation proposal has been disapproved by the commission or defeated by voters. If more than one proposed change is received from the same proposing agency, the review of each additional proposed change shall begin not later than thirty days after the date that review was commenced for the next preceding proposed change or thirty days after receipt of the proposed changes were received by the commission; except that, if more than one proposed change is received by the commission from the same proposing agency on the same date, the commission may establish the order of review.
2. When a boundary change proposal has been submitted to the commission, the commission shall, within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, publish notice of such proposal and the date of the public hearing thereon in at least one newspaper of general circulation qualified to publish legal notices. Within twenty-one days of receipt of such proposal, the commission shall also mail written notification of such proposal and public hearing date to the county clerk, and to the city or village clerk of each municipality or village, and to any other political subdivision which, in the opinion of the commission, is materially affected by the proposal. The costs of publication and notification shall be borne by the proposing agent. The commission shall hold such public hearing concerning the proposal not less than fourteen nor more than sixty days after such publication and notification are complete. At such public hearing, the county, the proposing agent and affected municipalities shall be parties, and any other interested person, corporation, or political subdivision may also present evidence regarding the proposed boundary change. A boundary change proposal which has been disapproved by the commission and which is resubmitted with changes to the commission shall be subject to the public hearing requirement of this section, unless the commission determines that a public hearing on the resubmitted proposal is not necessary to achieve the objectives of sections 72.400 to 72.423.
3. In reviewing any proposed boundary change, the commission shall approve such proposal if it finds that the boundary change will be in the best interest of the municipality or municipalities and unincorporated territories affected by the proposal and the areas of the county next to such proposed boundary. In making its determination, the commission shall consider the following factors:
(a) The area subject to the proposed boundary change and its residents;
(b) The existing municipality or municipalities, if any, proposing the boundary change and the residents thereof;
(c) Adjoining areas not involved in the boundary change and the residents thereof; and
(d) The entire geographic area of the county and its residents;
(2) A legal description of the area to be annexed, incorporated, consolidated, or subject to the transfer of jurisdiction;
(3) The creation of logical and reasonable municipal boundaries in the county, and for such purpose the commission shall have the ability to make additions, deletions and modifications which address legal boundaries, technical or service delivery problems or boundaries which overlap those of other proposals; however, such additions, deletions and modifications shall not make substantial changes to any proposed boundary petition;
(4) The present level of major services provided by the municipality or other provider, provided to the unincorporated area by the county, and proposed to be provided by the annexing municipality or municipality to be incorporated or consolidated, including, but not limited to, police protection, fire protection, water and sewer systems, street maintenance, utility agreements, parks, recreation, and refuse collections;
(5) A proposed time schedule whereby the municipality or proposed municipality plans to provide such services to the residents of the area to be annexed, incorporated or consolidated within three years from the date the municipal boundary change is to become effective;
(6) The current tax rates of the areas subject to the proposal;
(7) What sources of revenue other than property tax are collected or are proposed to be collected by the municipality or proposed municipality;
(8) The extraordinary effect the boundary change will have on the distribution of tax resources in the county;
(9) How the municipality or proposed municipality proposes to zone any area not presently incorporated;
(10) The compactness of the area subject to such proposal;
(11) When the proposed boundary change shall become effective.
4. The provisions of section 71.910 shall not apply to a proposing agent proceeding before the commission.
5. Nothing in sections 72.400 to 72.423 shall be construed to prevent the boundary commission or its staff from advising proposing agents on issues related to proposals. The commission may meet informally, subject to the requirements of chapter 610, with the representatives of municipalities, other government entities or county residents with regard to future boundary changes.
(L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 2, A.L. 1991 S.B. 402, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967)
Boundary changes, approval or disapproval--commission may modifyproposal--minor corrections allowed, when--simplified boundarychange, procedure--noncontiguous boundary changes, requiredproposals--prohibited boundary changes, exception--proposing agentmay modify proposal--commission may defer final action until afterelection, when.
72.405. 1. For any proposed boundary change submitted after August 28, 1995, the commission shall issue a finding approving or disapproving such proposals within nine months after such submittal, except that final action may be deferred on part or all of a boundary change proposal when necessary to accommodate an overlapping boundary change or unincorporated area proposal as more particularly provided in subsection 10 of this section. If the commission finds in favor of a proposed boundary change, it shall submit the question to the voters residing within the areas subject to the proposed boundary change, except as provided in subsection 6 of this section.
Adoption of boundary change by voters, procedure--unincorporatedpocket defined--cost of election, how paid--proposal concerningannexation and incorporation not to be submitted at same election,election void, when.
72.407. 1. Boundary changes may be adopted by the voters in the following manner:
Limitation on resubmission--void petition, when.
72.408. 1. If a boundary change is disapproved by the voters, no boundary change which contains more than sixty percent of the area of the disapproved boundary change shall be submitted to or processed by the commission any sooner than two years after the date of the disapproved boundary change.
Boundary change, effective when--transition committee established,members, how selected--to disband when delay in declaring newincorporated municipality, when--conflict of laws, this section toprevail.
72.409. 1. If a proposed boundary change is approved by the voters, such proposal shall be effective six months following the date of the election or the date specified in such proposal, whichever date is later. Immediately following the certification of the election, the commission shall establish a committee to determine the details of the transition. The governing body of each affected municipality shall select two members and the governing body of the county in which each unincorporated territory is situated shall select two members from the affected unincorporated territory to meet with similar members appointed from other affected municipalities and the unincorporated territory. The committee shall disband no later than the date the boundary change becomes effective. The governing body of the county may delay declaring a newly incorporated municipality for a period not to exceed six months at the request of the boundary commission to provide for an orderly transition from unincorporated to incorporated status.
Commission independent of county--budget request, appropriationlevel--application fee for annexation, use.
72.412. 1. The commission, once established, shall not be a county commission but shall act as an independent commission. The commission may hire such staff and acquire such facilities as it finds necessary to carry out its duties.
2. The commission shall submit a budget requesting the funds necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.423. The county shall appropriate and provide a reasonable and necessary level of funding for the commission to carry out its statutory duties. In addition, the county shall upon request provide petitioners with such available information as may be necessary to develop a plan of intent. Funding must provide for at least one professional staff person, one attorney or the equivalent funds for legal services, and clerical support for the professional staff and attorney. All salary levels shall be based upon the personnel system in use for county employees.
3. The commission shall provide by rule for an application fee for municipal annexations in the amount of one dollar per resident of the proposed annexation area to defray the commission's cost of processing and reviewing proposals.
(L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 4, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967)
Approval of change, governing body to declare a municipalityand designate metes and bounds--first officers designated bygoverning body.
72.414. If the approval of the boundary change creates a new municipality, the governing body of the county shall declare such municipality, designating in such order the metes and bounds thereof, and henceforth the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of .............." and the first officers of such city shall be designated by the order of the governing body of the county, and they shall hold their offices until the next municipal election and until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified.
(L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 5, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571)
Civil actions against commission, who may bring, cost and attorneysfees paid to commission, when.
72.416. The county, an interested municipality, or any other interested party may bring an appropriate civil action against the commission regarding a proposed boundary change, unincorporated area proposal, or other commission action or failure to act. In any civil action brought against the commission regarding a proposed boundary change, if the commission prevails in the action, the court may require the party who initiated the action to pay to the commission the reasonable costs incurred by the commission in opposing the action, including attorney's fees.
(L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 6, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967)
New city not to provide fire services, when--annexation, continuationof services--city to pay fire protection district, amount--votingprovisions.
72.418. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no new city created pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.423 shall establish a municipal fire department to provide fire protection services, including emergency medical services, if such city formerly consisted of unincorporated areas in the county or municipalities in the county, or both, which are provided fire protection services and emergency medical services by one or more fire protection districts. Such fire protection districts shall continue to provide services to the area comprising the new city and may levy and collect taxes the same as such districts had prior to the creation of such new city.
2. Fire protection districts serving the area included within any annexation by a city having a fire department, including simplified boundary changes, shall continue to provide fire protection services, including emergency medical services to such area. The annexing city shall pay annually to the fire protection district an amount equal to that which the fire protection district would have levied on all taxable property within the annexed area. Such annexed area shall not be subject to taxation for any purpose thereafter by the fire protection district except for bonded indebtedness by the fire protection district which existed prior to the annexation. The amount to be paid annually by the municipality to the fire protection district pursuant hereto shall be a sum equal to the annual assessed value multiplied by the annual tax rate as certified by the fire protection district to the municipality, including any portion of the tax created for emergency medical service provided by the district, per one hundred dollars of assessed value in such area. The tax rate so computed shall include any tax on bonded indebtedness incurred subsequent to such annexation, but shall not include any portion of the tax rate for bonded indebtedness incurred prior to such annexation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the residents of an area annexed on or after May 26, 1994, may vote in all fire protection district elections and may be elected to the fire protection district board of directors.
3. The fire protection district may approve or reject any proposal for the provision of fire protection and emergency medical services by a city.
(L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 7, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1993 S.B. 256, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446, A.L. 1996 S.B. 735, A.L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967)
Consolidation of multiple municipalities and unincorporated areas,must be contiguous--procedure, petition content--costs ofelection--ballot form--effective when--transition committee, howselected, duties.
72.420. 1. The provisions of this section shall apply to the consolidation of two or more cities, towns, villages, unincorporated areas, or any combination thereof, in any county with a charter form of government where fifty or more cities, towns and villages have been incorporated. If a boundary commission has been established pursuant to section 72.400, such proposal shall be submitted to the commission, but if no such commission has been established, consolidation of such areas shall be accomplished pursuant to this section. All municipalities and unincorporated areas which may be consolidated under the procedures established in this section must be contiguous to each other, so that if the consolidation is approved by the voters pursuant to subsections 7 to 9 of this section, there will be one municipality with all parts contiguous to at least one other portion of the new municipality.
2. Whenever a petition for consolidation containing the signatures of at least fifteen percent of the qualified voters of each municipality or unincorporated area, determined on the basis of the number of votes cast for governor at the last gubernatorial election held prior to the filing of the petition, is received by the governing body of the county, the governing body of the county shall submit the question of consolidation to the qualified voters of each municipality and unincorporated area named in the petition at the next state or county primary, general or special election. The petition need not contain signatures of qualified voters of a municipality if the governing body of such municipality adopts an ordinance approving the proposed consolidation which meets the requirements of subsection 5 of this section, and sends a copy of the ordinance to the governing body of the county in conjunction with the petition prescribed by this subsection.
3. A petition for consolidation shall contain the following:
(1) The names of the municipalities and a description of any unincorporated area to be consolidated;
(3) The number of votes cast in the last election in each municipality and unincorporated area; and
(4) A statement that all signers are registered voters in the affected municipalities or unincorporated areas.
The petition may contain the form of government, the name of the municipality as consolidated and the details of transition, such as which officers will serve, which employees shall be retained, what taxes will be collected, what ordinances will be in effect and similar matters for the operation of the consolidated municipality until the new governing body provides otherwise.
4. All persons signing the petition for consolidation shall designate their address opposite their signatures, and such signatures shall be affixed before a person who shall certify, by affidavit acknowledged before a notary public, that such signatures were affixed in his presence.
5. Any ordinance approving a proposed consolidation shall contain the following:
(2) The proposed effective date of the consolidation;
(3) The number of votes cast in the last election in that municipality.
The ordinance may contain the form of government, the name of the municipality as consolidated, and the details of transition prescribed in subsection 3 of this section.
6. The costs of an election held under this section shall be assessed proportionately to each municipality; however, when a voting jurisdiction is composed of unincorporated territory or territories, all costs of the election in such voting jurisdictions shall be paid proportionally by each municipality in the proposed consolidation. Proportional election costs paid under this section shall be assessed by charging each municipality the same percentage of the total cost of the election as the number of registered voters of the municipality on the day of the election is to the total number of registered voters on the day of the election, derived by adding together the number of registered voters in each municipality.
7. The question shall be submitted separately, but on the same date, to each municipality and unincorporated area described in the petition or ordinances filed pursuant to subsections 2 to 5 of this section. The question shall be submitted in substantially the following form:
Shall the municipalities of ................. (list all municipalities) be consolidated into one municipality?
The consolidation shall only become effective if a separate majority of the votes cast on the proposal in each municipality and unincorporated area affected by such proposal are in favor of the consolidation. If the voters of any municipality or unincorporated area vote against such proposal, the consolidation shall not take effect, even if the voters of all other municipalities and unincorporated areas vote in favor of the proposal.
8. If a consolidation is approved by the voters, such proposal shall be effective six months following the date of the election or the date specified in such proposal, whichever date is later. Immediately following the certification of the election, the governing body of each affected municipality shall select two members and the governing body of the county in which each unincorporated territory is situated shall select two members from each affected unincorporated territory to meet with similar members appointed from other affected municipalities and unincorporated territories in order to determine the details of the transition.
9. If the consolidation is approved, it shall create a new municipality, and the governing body of the county shall declare such municipality, designating in such order the metes and bounds thereof, and henceforth the inhabitants within such bounds shall be a body politic and incorporate, by the name and style of "the city of ...........................".
(L. 1989 H.B. 487 § 8, A.L. 1992 S.B. 571, A.L. 1995 H.B. 446)
Petition to remain unincorporated--unincorporated area proposal,procedure for creating established unincorporated areas--no boundarychange to affect established unincorporated area prior to expiration.
72.422. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of sections 72.400 to 72.420 to the contrary, residents of an unincorporated area of a county may remain unincorporated and not subject to any boundary change pursuant to sections 72.400 to 72.420 if the following are satisfied:
Five-year planning cycle, procedures, map plans, review.
72.423. 1. In any county in which a boundary commission has been established pursuant to section 72.400, all boundary changes and unincorporated area proposals shall be subject to the five-year planning cycle mandated in this section. No municipality nor other person shall file, nor shall the commission accept or review, any boundary change or unincorporated area proposal which has not previously been submitted to the commission for map plan review and comment as provided in this section, except that consolidations of municipalities and transfers of jurisdiction pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 6 of section 72.405 may be sought at any time without prior submission for map plan review and comment as provided in this section.
2. Between January 1, 2000, and July 1, 2000, and between January first and July first of each sixth year thereafter, each municipality, the county, and any citizen group may present general maps of proposed boundary changes and proposed established unincorporated areas to the commission for map plan review. Proposed incorporations and unincorporated areas, if not submitted by the county, shall be submitted by petition of no less than five percent of the registered voters within the proposed area. Boundary change and unincorporated area maps shall not be accompanied by a plan of intent, but shall be depicted with sufficient detail and accuracy to permit review and comment.
3. Between August 1, 2000, and December 31, 2000, and each sixth year thereafter, the commission shall solicit written comments on all boundary change and established unincorporated area map plans and shall hold informational public hearings in or near the affected areas, at which the county, any municipality, or other interested person shall be heard. The commission may encourage negotiation between parties involved in competing map plans. Map plans may be amended by the submitting parties until April fifteenth of the year following map plan submission based on negotiation or based on the hearings or other comments, but no such amendment shall enlarge the boundary change or unincorporated area map plan beyond the area originally submitted, except for minor technical amendments necessary to address boundary issues.
4. The commission may by April first of the year following map plan submission issue written comments regarding each boundary change and unincorporated area map plan to notify proponents of the merits or demerits of such map plan based on planning and public policy considerations. The map plan as submitted or as amended by April fifteenth shall remain on file with the commission, and shall be the limit of permissible boundary changes and unincorporated area proposals as provided in subsection 1 of this section.
5. Proposals shall be submitted to the commission no later than July first of the third year following conclusion of map plan review. Any proposal which has not been approved by the commission by January first of the next review period year as provided in subsection 2 of this section shall expire without further action.
(L. 1999 S.B. 160 & 82 § 20, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1967)
Standing for proposed boundary change.
72.430. A county or any other interested municipality or person may bring an action against the commission established pursuant to section 72.400 contesting a proposed boundary change or other commission action.
(L. 1999 S.B. 1, et al. § 1)