Any 25 occupiers of land lying within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into a district may file a petition with the State Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry asking that a soil and water conservation district be organized to function in the territory described in the petition. Such petition shall set forth: [PL 1969, c. 477, §1 (AMD); PL 1995, c. 532, §17 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV).]
1. Name. The proposed name of said district;
2. Need. That there is need, in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare, for a district to function in the territory described in the petition;
3. Description. A description of the territory proposed to be organized as a district;
4. Referendum. A request that the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry duly define the boundaries for such district; that a referendum be held within the territory so defined on the question of the creation of a soil and water conservation district in such territory; and that the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry determine that such a district be created.
Where more than one petition is filed covering parts of the same territory, the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry may consolidate all or any such petitions.