(1) The rail district organizational commission appointed pursuant to section 32-12-106 shall meet within twenty days after its appointment on a date designated by the district court. The rail district organizational commission shall elect a chairman and a vice-chairman from among its membership. Further meetings of the commission shall be held upon call of the chairman or a majority of the members of the commission. All meetings shall be open to the public. A majority of the commission shall constitute a quorum. The commission may adopt other such rules for its operations and proceedings as it deems necessary or desirable. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred during the performance of their official duties as organizational costs. Such organizational costs may be paid from the bond or cash deposit provided in section 32-12-105 (4) if the organization is not effected or by the rail district if the organization is effected.
(2) (a) The rail district organizational commission shall determine which rail facilities are to be acquired and rehabilitated and what rail services are to be provided, together with the maximum ad valorem tax mill levy, if any, necessary to support the acquisition and rehabilitation by the proposed rail district upon its formation, subject to the approval of the eligible electors as provided in this article.
(b) The rail district organizational commission shall determine the manner in which the railroad facility acquisitions and services are to be submitted for consideration by the eligible electors at the formation election to be called by the district court, as provided in section 32-12-108. Prior to the submission of the report to the district court, pursuant to paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section, the commission shall conduct a public hearing and cause notice to be published, stating the time and place of the public hearing, and shall apprise the general public of its right to attend the hearing and make comments regarding the proposals to be placed on the ballot.
(3) (a) Within ninety days after its initial meeting, the commission shall present to the district court a report listing proposed railroad facilities to be acquired and proposed services to be considered by the eligible electors in each county included in the rail district. A majority vote of the members of the rail district organizational commission shall determine the proposed railroad facilities acquisitions, the proposed services, and the maximum mill levy that shall be presented to the eligible electors for their approval or rejection.
(b) The commission report shall also divide the rail district into five zones of approximately equal population in accordance with the provisions of section 32-12-109 for the purpose of electing candidates to the board. The board shall consist of seven members, including one member from each of the five zones and two at-large members. Such zones shall be numbered consecutively starting with number one, and the terms of office shall be as specified in section 32-12-109.
(c) The commission shall specify the date for a special election for formation of the rail district, but, if the organizational commission's report is completed not more than one hundred eighty days and not less than eighty days before the next general election, the election may be held jointly or concurrently with the next general election.
(d) The rail district organizational commission shall be dissolved as of the day on which the election is held pursuant to section 32-12-108.
Source: L. 82: Entire article added, p. 506, � 1, effective April 23. L. 92: (2), (3)(a), and (3)(c) amended, p. 919, � 185, effective January 1, 1993.
32-12-108. Election for formation - acquisitions - services - mill levy limit - board. (1) (a) Within seven days after receipt of the rail district organizational commission's report, the district court shall direct the election committee, as provided in section 32-12-106 (2), to conduct an election on the date designated by the organizational commission for the purpose of deciding whether a rail district is to be formed, to provide an opportunity for the eligible electors to approve the proposed railroad facilities to be acquired, the maximum mill levy, and the services proposed for the rail district, and to elect the board of directors of the rail district.
(b) The court shall direct the election committee to publish notice of the election setting forth the list of proposed railroad facilities acquisitions, proposed services, and maximum mill levy and to conduct the election pursuant to articles 1 to 13 of title 1, C.R.S.
(2) (Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 920, � 186, effective January 1, 1993.)
(3) At the election, eligible electors shall approve or disapprove the formation of the rail district, the railroad facilities proposed to be acquired, the services proposed, and the maximum mill levy and shall elect candidates to serve on the board of directors of the rail district. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes within each zone shall be elected, and the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes within the entire rail district shall be elected members at large. In the event of tie votes for the last available vacancy for the board, the committee shall determine by lot the person who shall be elected. No rail district may be formed, no facility acquired, no service established, and no maximum mill levy established unless approved by a majority of the eligible electors voting thereon in each county, or portion thereof, within the rail district.
(4) Within seven days following the election, the committee shall certify the results of the election to the court. If a majority of the eligible electors in each county, or portion thereof, voting thereon approve formation, the court shall declare, by order entered of record, that the rail district is formed in the corporate name designated in the petition and shall designate those railroad facilities to be acquired, the services to be provided, and the maximum mill levy which were authorized by a majority of the eligible electors voting thereon in each county, or portion thereof, at the election. Upon the filing with the court of the oath of office of members elected to the board, the court, by order entered of record, shall declare the members of the board elected and qualified, and the formation shall be complete. At that time, the election committee shall be dissolved. The board shall be charged with acquiring, rehabilitating, and operating those approved facilities in accordance with this article.
(5) The entry of an order forming a rail district shall finally and conclusively establish its regular formation against all persons except the state of Colorado, which may commence an action in the nature of quo warranto, within thirty-five days after entry of such order, and not otherwise. The formation of the rail district shall not be directly or collaterally questioned in any suit, action, or proceeding, except as expressly authorized in this section.
(6) All necessary expenses for the elections and other proceedings conducted pursuant to sections 32-12-106 and 32-12-107 and this section, including the expenses and reimbursements for the organizational commission, shall be paid from the bond or cash deposit required pursuant to section 32-12-105 (4) if the organization is not effected or by the rail district if the organization is effected.
(7) Within fifteen days after the entry of the order forming a rail district, the clerk of the court shall file a copy of the decree with the board of county commissioners and the assessor of each county, or portion thereof, within the rail district and with the division of local government.
Source: L. 82: Entire article added, p. 507, � 1, effective April 23. L. 92: (1) to (4) amended, p. 920, � 186, effective January 1, 1993. L. 94: (1)(b) amended, p. 1644, � 72, effective May 31. L. 98: (1)(b) amended, p. 827, � 47, effective August 5. L. 2012: (5) amended, (SB 12-175), ch. 208, p. 882, � 151, effective July 1.