(a) Upon the merger's becoming effective, the new board of directors of the merged drainage district shall consist of one (1) member from each of the merging districts' boards of directors to be selected by each board and named in its resolution of merger, but in no event shall a new board of directors consist of less than three (3) members. In the event only two (2) districts have merged, the merging district with the majority of the value of real property within the merged district shall be entitled to name two (2) members to the board.
(b) Each of these members of the board shall take the oath of office required by Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, § 20, and shall also swear that he or she will not directly or indirectly be interested in any contract made by the board and that he or she will well and truly assess all benefits resulting from the improvement and all damages caused thereby.
(c) Any member failing to take the oath within thirty (30) days after his or her appointment shall be deemed to have declined, and his or her place shall be filled by the county judge.
(d) All vacancies on the board shall be filled by the county judge, but if a majority in value of the owners of real property in the merged district shall petition for the appointment of particular persons as members of the board, it shall be the duty of the county judge to appoint the persons so designated.
(e) The county judge shall remove any member of the board on the petition of a majority in value of the owners of real property in the district. He or she may remove any member and appoint his or her successor upon proof of incompetency or neglect of duty, but the charges shall be in writing, and the charged member shall have the right to be heard in his or her defense and to appeal to the circuit court.
(f) The board of directors provided for in this subchapter shall receive as compensation the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) each day for attending meetings of the board, together with their necessary expenses.
(g) Actions by the board of directors of any merged district affected by this section shall be by a majority vote of the membership of the board.