Title IX, LOCAL GOVERNMENT (Ch. 331 - 420)

1. The district may be enlarged and additional territory annexed to the district by either of the following methods: a. By petitions signed by the owners of all the property to be annexed to the district. If a petition requesting annexation is presented to the trustees and approv…

When a city or real estate improvement district proposes that the district be annexed by the city, either wholly or partially, an owner of property in the district shall not object to the annexation if a city annexes all the territory within the boundaries of a real estate improv…

A merger shall be effective thirty days after the effective date of the ordinance annexing the territory within the district. However, if the validity of the ordinance annexing the territory is challenged by a court proceeding, the effective date of the merger shall be thirty day…

When a majority of the board of trustees of a district desire that the district be wholly dissolved, the trustees shall first propose a resolution declaring the advisability of the dissolution and setting out the terms and conditions of the dissolution, and also setting out the t…

1. When a majority of the board of trustees of a district desires that any property within the district be detached from the district, the trustees shall first propose a resolution declaring the advisability of the detachment and setting out the terms and conditions of the detach…

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to facilitate the development of land for housing. 95 Acts, ch 200, §23

1. A majority of the owners having an interest in the real property within the limits of a proposed district may file a petition in the office of county auditor of the county in which the proposed district or major part of the proposed district is located, requesting that the que…

1. A district may acquire, construct, reconstruct, install, maintain, and repair any of the public improvements listed in subsection 2 . 2. A public improvement includes the principal structures, works, component parts, and accessories of any of the following: a. Underground gas,…

1. The board of supervisors to which the petition is addressed, at its next meeting, shall set the time and place for a hearing on the petition. The board shall direct the county auditor in whose office the petition is filed to cause notice to be given to all persons whom it may …

The board of supervisors to whom the petition is addressed shall preside at the hearing provided for in section 358C.5 and shall continue the hearing in session, with adjournments from day to day, if necessary, until completed, without being required to give any further notice of…

In its order for the election the board of supervisors shall direct the county commissioner of elections of the county in which the petition is filed to cause notice of the election to be given at least thirty days before the date of election by publication of the notice as provi…

1. Each registered voter resident within the proposed district shall have the right to cast a ballot at the election and a person shall not vote in any precinct but that of the person’s residence. Ballots at the election shall be in substantially the following form, to wit: For R…

The election held pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted by the county commissioner of elections. All expenses incurred in carrying out sections 358C.5 and 358C.6 , and the costs of the election, as determined by the county commissioner of elections, shall be paid by those w…

As used in this chapter , unless the context otherwise requires, “book” , “list” , “record” , or “schedule” kept by a county auditor, assessor, treasurer, recorder, sheriff, or other county officer means the county system as defined in section 445.1 . 2000 Acts, ch 1148, §1

When a new township is formed, in which township officers are to be elected, the board of supervisors shall call the first township election, to be held at such place as it may designate, on the day of the next general election. If at any time a new township has been created in a…

At the election there shall be elected two trustees for a term of two years and one trustee for a term of four years, and one clerk for a term of four years. [S13, §1074-a; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5537; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §359.11 ] 2010 Acts, ch 1033,…

The county commissioner of elections shall issue an order for the first election, stating the time and place of the election, the officers to be elected, and any other business to be transacted. Business not named in the order shall not be transacted at the election. [C51, §232; …

The order for election issued under section 359.12 may be directed to any citizen of the same township, by name, and shall be served by posting copies of the order, in three of the most public places in the township, fifteen days before the day of the election. The original order…

1. Eligible electors of a township wishing to change its name may petition the board of supervisors. 2. If it appears to the board that a majority of the eligible electors of the township are in favor of the change, the board shall cause notices, attested by the auditor, to be po…

If, at the time fixed for the hearing of a petition filed under section 359.14 , the board is satisfied that there is a majority in favor of the change of name, the board shall make an order granting the name change, which shall be attested by the auditor, and recorded in the off…

If it appears to said board that a majority of the citizens of such township are opposed to such change, such petition shall be dismissed. The cost of the proceeding in all cases shall be taxed against the petitioners. [C73, §414; C97, §582; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5542; C46, 50, …

1. The board of township trustees in each township shall consist of three registered voters of the township. However, in townships with a taxable valuation for property tax purposes of two hundred fifty million dollars or more, the board of township trustees shall consist of five…

In counties having a population of less than twenty-five thousand, where the trustees institute, or are made parties to, litigation in connection with the performance of their duties, as provided in this chapter , the county attorney, as a part of the county attorney’s official d…

When litigation shall arise in any case not covered by section 359.18 , involving the right or duty of township trustees with reference to any matter within their jurisdiction, and the trustees become or are made parties to such litigation, they shall have authority to employ att…

The board of supervisors shall divide the county into townships, as convenience may require, defining the boundaries thereof, and may, from time to time, make such alterations in the number and boundaries of the townships as it may deem proper. [C51, §219; R60, §441; C73, §379; C…

1. The township clerk shall keep a record of all the proceedings and orders of the trustees, and of all acts done by the township clerk, including the filing of certificates of official oaths having been taken before other officers, and perform such other acts as may be required …

1. Each township clerk shall receive, collect, and disburse, under the orders of the township trustees, all funds belonging to the township, including the cemetery fund. A claim shall not be paid until it has been audited by the trustees. 2. Before the fifteenth day of each month…

1. Each township clerk shall prepare, on or before September 30 of each year, a statement in writing, showing all receipts of money and disbursements in the clerk’s office for each separate tax levy authorized by law for the preceding fiscal year, showing the current public debt …

Where a city constitutes one or more civil townships the boundary lines of which coincide throughout with the boundary lines of the city, the offices of township clerk and trustee are abolished. [C97, §560; S13, §560; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5553; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, …

The duties required by law of the township clerk in cities described in section 359.24 shall be performed by the city clerk, and those required of the board of trustees shall be performed by the city council. [C97, §561; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5554; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 7…

The moneys and assets belonging to each civil township described in section 359.24 shall become the moneys and assets of the city in which the civil township is situated. The township clerks shall turn such moneys and assets over to the city treasurer or clerk, to be disbursed by…

County treasurers are hereby authorized to pay over to the treasurers or clerks of cities which come under the provisions of sections 359.24 , 359.25 and 359.26 all funds which would otherwise be paid over to the township clerks of such townships. [C97, §563; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39,…

The township trustees are hereby empowered to condemn, or purchase and pay for out of the general fund, or the specific fund voted for such purpose, and enter upon and take, any lands within the territorial limits of such township for the use of cemeteries, a community center or …

Civil townships are hereby authorized and empowered to receive by gift, devise, or bequest, money or property for the purpose of establishing and maintaining libraries, township halls, cemeteries, or for any other public purpose. All such gifts, devises, or bequests shall be effe…

Where the boundaries of any city have been changed, the board of supervisors of the county in which the city is situated shall have power to change the boundary lines of townships so as to make them conform to the boundaries of the city, and to make such other changes in township…

Township trustees shall, at the regular meeting in November, levy a tax sufficient to pay for any lands so condemned or purchased, or for the necessary improvement and maintenance of cemeteries thus established, and for the necessary improvement and the maintenance of public park…

Township trustees shall control any such cemeteries, or appoint trustees for the cemeteries, or sell the property to any private corporation for cemetery purposes. [C97, §586; SS15, §586; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5561; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §359.31 ] 2020…

Township trustees shall have authority to provide for the sale of lots, or portions thereof, in any cemetery under their control, and make rules in regard thereto. Township trustees may provide for perpetual upkeep by the establishment of a perpetual upkeep fund from the proceeds…

Township trustees may levy a tax not to exceed six and three-fourths cents per thousand dollars of assessed value of taxable property to improve and maintain any cemetery not owned by the township, provided the cemetery is devoted to general public use. [C97, §586; SS15, §586; C2…

The levy authorized in sections 359.30 and 359.33 may be extended to property within the limits of any city so far as same is situated within the township, unless such city is already maintaining a cemetery, or has levied a tax in support thereof. The said tax may be so expended …

Cemetery tax funds of a township may be used for the maintenance and support of cemeteries in adjoining counties and townships and in cities, if such cemeteries are utilized for burial purposes by the people of the township and, when any such cemetery has been so utilized for mor…

A city council and the trustees of a township may join in the common purpose of improving, maintaining, and supporting a township cemetery. In such case the two official bodies shall constitute a joint cemetery board and shall have equal voting power. [C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5565…

1. The trustees, board of directors, or other officers having the custody and control of any cemetery in this state, shall have power, subject to the bylaws and regulations of such cemetery, to do all of the following: a. To enclose, improve, and adorn the ground of such cemetery…

Such trustees, directors, or other officers may appoint as many day and night watchpersons of their grounds as they may think expedient, and such watchpersons, and also all their sextons, superintendents, gardeners, and agents, stationed upon or near said grounds are hereby autho…

Upon the taking of such oath, such watchpersons, sextons, superintendents, gardeners, and agents shall have and exercise all powers of police officers within and adjacent to the cemetery grounds and each shall have power to arrest any and all persons engaged in violating the laws…

The description of the boundaries of each township, and all alterations in them, and of all new townships, shall be recorded in full in the records of the board of supervisors, and of the township. [C51, §220; R60, §442; C73, §381; C97, §553; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 5530; C46, 50,…