Title 31, Highways, Roads, Bridges and Ferries

As used in this chapter unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “County board” means board of county commissioners or county court of a county. (2) “County” means the county in which the district, or the greatest length of highway to be illuminated, is located. (3) “District” …

The abutting property owners or the electors resident along any highway may organize a highway lighting district for the purpose of illuminating the highway abutting their respective properties in the manner provided by this chapter. [Amended by 1971 c.514 §2; 1971 c.727 §109]

A highway lighting district may be entirely outside the limits of a city or it may be both outside and inside such limits. The boundary lines of the district shall include only territory that abuts a portion, not less than 600 feet in length, of a highway. [Amended by 1971 c.514 …

A petition for the formation of a district, in addition to other matters required, shall set forth: (1) The number of owners of property abutting the highway within the proposed district. (2) The estimated initial cost of the acquisition and installation of the lighting equipment…

(1) The county board may be established as the governing board of a district. If the petition for formation filed under ORS 372.040 requests the county board to be the governing board of the district and the district is formed as provided by ORS 198.795 to 198.845, the county boa…

Upon the filing of the petition for formation, the county board shall, by order, direct the county engineer to: (1) Make an inspection and investigation of the proposed lighting project and of the area described in the petition with respect to feasibility and public convenience a…

A highway lighting district may: (1) Make contracts. (2) Hold, receive and dispose of real and personal property within and without its described boundaries. (3) Do all other acts and things requisite, necessary or convenient in carrying out the objects of the district or exercis…

(1) The plans and specifications for the illumination of a state highway shall be submitted to and be approved by the Department of Transportation before a district is authorized to acquire the equipment for illumination or to install it on any state highway. (2) A district shall…

(1) The district may assess, levy and collect assessments upon all real property situate within its boundaries and which is by law taxable for state and county purposes in each year, on any reasonable basis of assessment. However, the assessment shall not exceed $1 per each front…

For purposes of ad valorem taxation, a boundary change must be filed in final approved form with the county assessor and the Department of Revenue as provided in ORS 308.225. [2001 c.138 §25]

(1) The district board each year shall estimate assessments needed, and the amount thereof shall be levied and returned to the county officer whose duty it is to extend the tax roll at the time required by law for other taxes to be levied and returned. (2) All assessments levied …

Except for railroad right of way that abuts on the highway at a grade crossing, railroad right of way shall not be subject to assessment by a district. [Amended by 1971 c.514 §19]

(1) The power given to districts, except as otherwise provided by this chapter, is vested in and shall be exercised by a board of five commissioners. Except as provided by ORS 372.210, each commissioner shall be appointed to serve for a term of four years. The order by which the …

(1) Within 10 days after the issuance of the order proclaiming the formation of a district, the commissioners shall meet and organize by each first taking and subscribing an oath of office. (2) After qualifying, the commissioners first appointed shall determine by lot the length …

(1) The district board shall hold meetings at the times and places within the district as it determines. It shall hold at least one regular meeting annually in January on a day to be fixed by the board. The board may hold special meetings as it may provide by rule. (2) The board …

The district board may employ engineers, superintendents, mechanics, clerks, secretaries or other persons as requisite, necessary or convenient, in carrying on any of its work, at a rate of remuneration fixed by the board. [Amended by 1971 c.403 §6; 1971 c.514 §23]

(1) All moneys of a district shall be deposited in one or more banks designated by the district board. Moneys shall be paid out only when previously ordered by vote of the board and upon a check signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the president, or in the absence or inab…

All the proceedings of the district board shall be entered at large in a record book. All books, maps, plans, documents, correspondence, vouchers, reports and other papers and records pertaining to the business of the district shall be carefully preserved, and shall be open to in…

The electors of a district may exercise the initiative and referendum powers with reference to legislation of the district, in accordance with ORS 255.135 to 255.205. [Amended by 1971 c.514 §26; 1983 c.350 §247]

Land abutting a highway may be annexed to a highway lighting district. The petition shall set forth in addition to other matters the information required by ORS 372.040 as applied to the area proposed to be annexed. [1955 c.80 §3; 1971 c.514 §37; 1971 c.727 §112]

In an order of consolidation or merger of two or more districts, the county board: (1) Shall appoint, except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, five electors of the surviving or successor district as members of the first district board of the consolidated district. (2…

(1) The landowners within a district may petition the county board for withdrawal of a designated and described contiguous area lying along the boundary of and included in the district. (2) The county board, where it appears that the petition has been signed by 10 percent of the …

At the time of filing the petition for withdrawal, the petitioners shall deposit with the county clerk a sum of money sufficient to defray all the costs of publication and the expenses of preparing and filing with the county board the description of the boundaries of the district…

(1) If at the time and place set for hearing upon the withdrawal petition no remonstrance is filed, either orally or in writing, the county board shall enter an order withdrawing the designated and described contiguous area from the district. If at the hearing any remonstrance is…

The area withdrawn shall, after the date of entry of the withdrawal order, be free from assessments and taxes levied thereafter by the district. However, the withdrawn area shall be taxed for its proportionate share of any indebtedness existing at the time of the order. The propo…

Dissolution of a district may be initiated: (1) By a petition for dissolution of the district, filed with the district board, signed by the owners representing not less than 50 percent of the front footage abutting the highway included in the district. (2) By resolution of the di…

(1) When the dissolution of a district is proposed, the board shall make findings of fact which shall include: (a) The amount of each outstanding indebtedness, together with a general description thereof and the holders thereof, so far as known. (b) The estimated cost of dissolut…

(1) When the district board has complied with ORS 372.460, it shall thereupon file the petition or resolution with the county board of the county and request dissolution of the district in accordance with the plan. No proposal shall be filed until the assent of all known holders …

(1) After the hearing, if the county board determines it is in the best interest of the district to dissolve, it shall grant the petition and enter an order dissolving the district or the county board may deny the petition. If an order is entered dissolving the district, the dist…