KRS 104.540: Court action opposing creation of district.

Any owner of real property in the proposed district who has not signed the original

petition for the creation of the district and who wishes to object to the organization of the

district shall, within sixty (60) days after the giving of notice by the secre tary, file his

petition in the Circuit Court of the county in which the larger part of the proposed district

is located, naming the secretary defendant and setting out in the petition his objections to

the organization of the district. The secretary shall be represented in the Circuit Court by

the county attorney and in the Court of Appeals by the Attorney General and he also may

require his defense to be made by the petitioners or some of them. The issues may be

made up and the case may be docketed for hea ring as in an action for a declaration of

rights, and an appeal may be taken and judgment shall become final as provided for in

such procedure. The burden of proof shall be upon the plaintiff to show cause why the

district should not be organized. If the c ourt renders judgment against the secretary, the

judgment shall point out the changes required for the establishment of a district, which, if

met by the secretary, shall authorize the creation of the district. If the changes are not met

by the secretary, t he proposed district shall not be organized unless new proceedings are

instituted for the creation of a district, but such new proceedings shall not be instituted for

a period of six (6) months after the date of judgment. If the court gives judgment agains t

the plaintiff, the secretary shall organize the district. An appeal taken as authorized in this

section shall suspend the judgment until the case has been passed upon by the Court of

Appeals and final judgment rendered. Either the plaintiff or the secret ary may appeal

from the judgment of the Circuit Court to the Court of Appeals, but the secretary shall not

be required to make any appeal bond. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the

pleadings and practice shall be the same as in other suits in equity.