ORS Chapter 545
Chapter 545 — IrrigationDistricts
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2009 EDITION
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IRRIGATIONDISTRICTS
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WATERLAWS
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GENERALPROVISIONS
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545.001Â Â Â Â Shorttitle
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545.002Â Â Â Â Definitions
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545.007Â Â Â Â Votingrights
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FORMATIONOF DISTRICTS
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545.025Â Â Â Â Purposesof irrigation district; process for formation
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545.029Â Â Â Â Hearingof petition by county court; authority as to boundaries of district; landsincluded; order; formation of district without election
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545.033Â Â Â Â Namingand division of districts
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545.037Â Â Â Â Noticeof election for determining organization of district; contents; publication;mailing
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545.041Â Â Â Â Conductof election; contents of nominating petition; verification of electors bycounty assessor; order declaring result; inclusion of portion of district inanother district; commencement of duties by directors
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545.043Â Â Â Â Qualificationsof directors; terms of office; oath
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CHANGEOF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES
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(Generally)
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545.051Â Â Â Â Changeof boundaries authorized; effect on existing rights and liabilities
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(Additionof Land)
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545.057Â Â Â Â Petitionfor inclusion of lands within district
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545.059Â Â Â Â Noticeof petition; publication; deposit for costs
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545.061Â Â Â Â Hearingon petition
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545.067Â Â Â Â Liabilityof petitioners for obligations of district
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545.071Â Â Â Â Acceptanceor rejection of petition; inclusion of land when owner objects
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545.075Â Â Â Â Requirementsthat may be imposed upon petitioners in western Oregon district; charges orassessments
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545.079Â Â Â Â Recordingof order including lands in district; effect of order; appeal
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545.085Â Â Â Â Recordof petition; admissibility in evidence
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545.089Â Â Â Â Redivisionof district; election of directors
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545.091Â Â Â Â Inclusionof lands not subject to charges of district
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(Subdistricts)
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545.093Â Â Â Â Creationof subdistricts; purpose; change in subdistrict boundaries
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545.094Â Â Â Â Engineeringplan for improvements within subdistricts; notice; hearing; remonstrance
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545.095Â Â Â Â Chargesor assessments for improvements within subdistrict
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(Exclusionof Land)
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545.097Â Â Â Â Exclusionof tracts; effect on status of district, rights and liabilities
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545.099Â Â Â Â Petitionfor exclusion of lands from district; approval by board; payment of costs ofexclusion
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545.101Â Â Â Â Exclusionof subdivisions with three or more tracts on each acre of land; exceptions
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545.105Â Â Â Â Assentof bondholders; acknowledgment; filing; recording
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545.109Â Â Â Â Recordingminutes of board
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545.113Â Â Â Â Stateagency to pay assessment and charges or to petition for exclusion
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545.123Â Â Â Â Redivisionof district; election of director
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545.126    Liabilityof excluded lands for district’s obligations
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(Unionor Merger of Districts)
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545.131Â Â Â Â Unionor merger of districts; petition; approval of board; election; indebtedness
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DISTRICTELECTIONS AFTER FORMATION
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(Generally)
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545.135Â Â Â Â Electionssubsequent to organization of district; election of directors
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545.137Â Â Â Â Noticesof election; board of election; place of holding election; nomination ofcandidates; advertising openings on district board; certificate of election tosole candidate; ballots
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545.139Â Â Â Â Boardof election; polls; ballots
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545.141Â Â Â Â Conductof election; challenge and verification of qualifications of elector; countingballots
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545.145Â Â Â Â Certificateof vote; stringing of ballots; sealing of returns; delivery to board secretary;recount
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545.149Â Â Â Â Canvassof returns; standard for rejecting certain election documents; canvass to be inpublic
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545.153Â Â Â Â Statementof result; contents; certificate of election; effect of informalities inconduct of election
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(Electionsby Mail)
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545.163Â Â Â Â Proceduresfor conducting election by mail
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(ElectoralDistricts)
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545.167Â Â Â Â Divisionof district for election of directors; procedure
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545.169Â Â Â Â Electionof directors from newly created divisions
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545.171Â Â Â Â Electionprecincts in divisions; alteration
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BOARDOF DIRECTORS
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(Organization)
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545.181Â Â Â Â Organizationof board; officers; establishment of meeting dates; collection, custody anddisbursement of moneys
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545.183Â Â Â Â Compensationand expenses of officers and employees; membership fees in associations
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545.185Â Â Â Â Meetingsof board; quorum; public inspection of records
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545.187Â Â Â Â Vacancyin office when director ceases to be resident or landowner; appointment of successor
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545.188Â Â Â Â Fillingvacancy in office of director
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545.189Â Â Â Â Recallof director; procedure; required number of signatures for recall petition
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(Changein Number of Directors)
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545.199Â Â Â Â Increasein number of directors upon determination of board or petition; election onincrease
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545.203Â Â Â Â Electionof additional directors; terms of office
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545.207Â Â Â Â Redivisionof district upon increase in directors; representation of divisions; votingqualifications
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545.211Â Â Â Â Decreasein number of directors; redivision of district; terms of office
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(GeneralPowers and Duties)
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545.221Â Â Â Â Powersand duties of board as to management of district; water deliveries
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545.225Â Â Â Â Contracts;conveyances; suits; judicial knowledge concerning district; audit reports
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POWERSOF DISTRICTS
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(Acquisitionof and Entry Onto Land)
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545.237Â Â Â Â Rightto enter upon lands for inspection and maintenance of water works
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545.239Â Â Â Â Rightto enter upon and acquire lands and water rights; right of condemnation
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545.241Â Â Â Â Bondor other security as condition of immediate possession in condemnation byirrigation or drainage district
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545.245Â Â Â Â Rightto immediate possession in condemnation proceeding
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545.249Â Â Â Â Rightto condemn for irrigation purposes is a superior right
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545.253Â Â Â Â Titleto and rights in property acquired
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545.257Â Â Â Â Authorityof irrigation district to acquire domestic or municipal water works; assumptionof obligations; sale of surplus water; impairment of irrigation serviceforbidden
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(Distributionof Water)
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545.271Â Â Â Â Furnishingwater
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545.275Â Â Â Â Lienon crops for water supplied for irrigation; enforcement; attorney fees
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545.279Â Â Â Â Districtmay require water control devices and measuring devices; notice to water user;objections; hearing
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545.283Â Â Â Â Joinderof districts in acquisition or construction of irrigation or other water useworks
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545.287Â Â Â Â Directorsmay construct or maintain improvements, levy assessments or provide for charges
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545.291Â Â Â Â Apportionmentof water to tracts; employment of person to distribute water; assessment orcharge; lien on land
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545.293Â Â Â Â Resolutionfor water distribution works or services; hearing of objections; construction,repair or maintenance of improvement; apportionment of costs; assessment
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545.295Â Â Â Â Conditionsrequired in certain districts before delivering water to additional lands;order; charges and assessments
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(Finances)
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545.301Â Â Â Â Financingacquisition of water works; contracts with federal government; approval byelectors
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545.303Â Â Â Â Waterworks system to be self-sustaining; payment of indebtedness; rates; separateaccounts
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545.305Â Â Â Â Electionconcerning acquisition of water works
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545.307Â Â Â Â Investmentof surplus funds in federal or state bonds
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(Constructionof Improvements)
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545.315Â Â Â Â Petitionto construct improvements for irrigation; contents; assent of petitioners toassessment of cost of improvement
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545.319Â Â Â Â Electionson question of constructing improvement; resolution of directors