2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 37 - WATER AND IRRIGATION (§§ 37-1-101 — 37-99-103) › WATER CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION DISTRICTS (§§ 37-40-101 — 37-50-142) › CONSERVATION AND IRRIGATION DISTRICTS (§§ 37-41-101 — 37-50-142) › Article 48 - RIO GRANDE WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT (§§ 37-48-101 — 37-48-195) › Section 37-48-125 - Filing of protest - procedure - decree - fee

(1)
At any time after the filing of a petition for the organization of a subdistrict, and not less than thirty days prior to the time fixed by the order of the court for the hearing upon said petition, and not thereafter, a protest may be filed in the office of the clerk of the court wherein the proceedings for the organization of such subdistrict is pending, signed by a majority of the owners of the land in said proposed subdistrict protesting the organization or creation of said subdistrict. It is the duty of the clerk of the court forthwith, upon filing of said protest, to make as many certified copies thereof, including the signatures thereto, as there are counties into any part of which said proposed subdistrict extends and forthwith to place in the hands of the county treasurer of each of such counties one of said certified copies.
(2)
It is the duty of each of such county treasurers to determine from the last tax rolls of his county and to certify to said district court under his official seal, prior to the day fixed for the hearing, the total number of owners of land situate in such proposed subdistrict within his county and the total number of owners of land situate in such proposed subdistrict within his county who have signed such protest. Such certificate shall constitute prima facie evidence of the facts so stated therein and shall be so received and considered by the court.
(3)
Upon the day set for the hearing upon the original petition, if it appears to the court from such certificate and from such other evidence as may be adduced by any party in interest that the said protest is not signed by a majority of the owners of land within the proposed subdistrict, the court shall thereupon dismiss said protest and shall proceed with the hearing on the petition. If it appears to the court at said hearing that the protest is signed by any person or corporation who signed the original petition for the organization of said subdistrict, either to the court or to the district, then the signature of any such landowner upon the protest shall be disregarded and not counted. The board of county commissioners of any county in which any part of said proposed subdistrict is situate, or any owner of real property in said proposed subdistrict who has not signed the petition for the organization of said subdistrict, on or before the date set for the cause to be heard, may file objections to the organization and incorporation of the district. Such objections shall be limited to a denial of the statements in the petition and shall be heard by the court as an advanced case without unnecessary delay.
(4)
Upon said hearing, if it appears that said petition has been signed and presented in accordance with the requirements of this article and that the allegations of the petition are true, the court shall enter a decree and therein adjudicate all questions of jurisdiction and declare the subdistrict organized and designate the name of said subdistrict, by which in all subsequent proceedings it shall thereafter be designated and known; and thereafter said subdistrict shall be deemed a special improvement district.
(5)
Such order shall be binding upon the real property within the subdistrict, and no appeal or other remedy lies therefrom, and entry of such order shall finally and conclusively establish the regular organization of said subdistrict against all persons, except the state of Colorado, in an action in the nature of quo warranto to be commenced by the attorney general within three months after said decree is entered, and not otherwise. Within ten days after such subdistrict has been declared duly organized by the court, the clerk of said court shall transmit to the county clerk and recorder, in each of the counties having lands in said subdistrict, copies of the findings and decree of the court establishing said subdistrict. The same shall be filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk and recorder, where they shall become permanent records. The county clerk and recorder in each county shall collect a fee of two dollars for filing and preserving the same.
L. 75: Entire section added, p. 1375, § 7, effective July 18.