87.03.760 - Exclusion of nonirrigable land when state holds all outstanding bonds -- Adoption of resolution -- Appellate review.

Exclusion of nonirrigable land when state holds all outstanding bonds — Adoption of resolution — Appellate review.

At the conclusion, or final adjournment, of the hearing provided for in RCW 87.03.755, the board of directors of the district shall have the power, by unanimous resolution to adopt the proposed plan, or such modification thereof as may be determined by the board, and reduce the boundaries of the district to such area as, in the judgment of the board, can be furnished with sufficient water for successful irrigation by the irrigation system of the district, and to exclude from the district all lands lying outside of such reduced boundaries, and provide for the repayment to the owners of any such excluded lands, respectively, of any sums paid for assessments levied by the district, and to cancel all unpaid assessments levied by the district against the lands excluded and release such lands from further liability therefor. Any person interested and feeling himself aggrieved by the adoption of such final resolution reducing the boundaries of the district and excluding lands therefrom, shall have a right of appeal from the action of the board to the superior court of the county in which the district is situated, which appeal may be taken in the manner provided by law for appeals from justices' courts, and if upon the hearing of such appeal it shall be determined by the court that the irrigation system of the district will not furnish sufficient water for the successful irrigation of the lands included within the reduced boundaries of the district, or that any lands have been excluded from the district unnecessarily, arbitrarily, capriciously or fraudulently or without substantial reason for such exclusion, the court shall enter a decree canceling and setting aside the proceedings of the board of directors, otherwise the court shall enter a decree confirming the action of the board. Any party to the proceedings on appeal in the superior court, feeling himself aggrieved by the decree of the superior court confirming the action of the board of directors of the district reducing the boundaries of the district and excluding lands therefrom, may seek appellate review within thirty days after the entry of the decree of the superior court in the manner provided by law. If, at the expiration of thirty days from the entry of the final resolution of the board of directors of the district reducing the boundaries of the district and excluding lands therefrom, no appeal has been taken to the superior court of the county in which the district is situated, or if, after hearing upon appeal the superior court shall confirm the action of the district, and at the expiration of thirty days from the entry of such decree, no appellate review is sought, the boundaries of the district shall thereafter be in accordance with the resolution of the board reducing the boundaries, and all lands excluded from the district by such resolution shall be relieved from all further liability for any indebtedness of the district or any unpaid assessments theretofore levied against such lands, and the owners of excluded lands, upon which assessments have been paid, shall be entitled to warrants of the district for all sums paid by reason of such assessments, payable from a special fund created for that purpose, for which levies shall be made upon the lands remaining in the district, as the board of directors may provide.

[1988 c 202 § 86; 1971 c 81 § 171; 1925 ex.s. c 138 § 3; RRS § 7505-3. Formerly RCW 87.44.270.]

Notes: Severability -- 1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.

District courts -- Civil procedure -- Appeals: Chapter 12.36 RCW.