Section 73-9-3 - Petition to establish irrigation district; contents; signatures; filing; cost bond; publication of petition and notice; "resident freeholder" defined; agency. - New Mexico Statutes

73-9-3. [Petition to establish irrigation district; contents; signatures; filing; cost bond; publication of petition and notice; "resident freeholder" defined; agency.]

For the purpose of the establishment of an irrigation district as provided by this act, a petition shall be filed with the board of county commissioners of the county which embraces the largest acreage of the proposed district praying that said board define and establish the boundaries of said proposed district and submit the question of the final organization of the same to the vote of the qualified electors resident therein. Said petition shall state that it is the purpose of the petitioners to organize an irrigation district under the provisions of this act and shall also contain a general description of the boundaries of such proposed district, the means proposed to supply water for the irrigation of the lands embraced therein, the name proposed for such district, and the name proposed need not use the words "irrigation district" but may use the words "water district" or "conservancy district," or other suitable designation, and such petition shall also contain the names of three of said petitioners selected as a committee to present such petition to the board of county commissioners. Said petition shall be signed by a majority of the resident freeholders within said proposed district, and who shall also be the owners in the aggregate of a majority of the whole number of acres of land within the said proposed district. The said petition shall also be accompanied by a good and sufficient bond, to be approved by said board of county commissioners in double the amount of the probable cost of organizing such district, conditioned for the payment of all costs incurred in said proceeding in case said organization shall not be effected, but in case such organization is so effected, then said expenses incurred by the board of county commissioners shall be paid back to said county by said district. Such petition shall be published both in English and Spanish for at least two weeks before the time at which the same is to be presented, in some newspaper of general circulation published in the county where said petition is to be presented, together with a notice signed by the committee of said petitioners selected by the petition for that purpose stating the time and place of presentation of the same to said board of county commissioners. The last publication shall be made not less than five days prior to the time fixed by said notice for presenting said petition.   

For the purpose of this act the term "resident freeholder" shall be construed to mean any citizen of the United States who owns lands within the district or the evidence of title to said land, or who is an entryman under the public land laws of the United States or a purchaser under contract for purchase of state lands, and shall also include corporations, associations and copartnerships owning land within the district. The president or vice president of such corporation or association, or any member of such copartnership, if a citizen of the United States, may represent such corporation, association or copartnership respectively in signing such petition or any other petition or protest provided for in this act.