(1) In its discretion, the board may file a petition at any time in the district court in and for any county in which the district is located praying for a judicial examination and determination of any power conferred, or of any taxes or service charges levied or otherwise made or contracted to be levied or otherwise made, or of any other act, proceeding, or contract of the district, whether or not such act, proceeding, or contract has been taken or executed, including proposed contracts for any services and the proposed acquisition of any property pertaining to such services, or any combination thereof.
(2) Such petition shall:
Set forth the facts whereon the validity of such power, taxes, charges, act, proceeding, or contract is founded; and
Be verified by the presiding officer of the district.
Such action shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem, and jurisdiction of allparties interested may be had by publication and posting, as provided in this article.
Notice of the filing of the petition shall be given by the clerk of the court, under theseal thereof, stating in brief outline the contents of the petition and showing where a full copy of any proceeding or contract mentioned in such outline may be examined.
The notice shall be served:
By publication at least once a week for five consecutive weeks by five weekly insertions in a newspaper of general circulation in the geographic area where the district is located;
By posting in the office of the district at least thirty days prior to the date fixed in thenotice for the hearing on the petition.
Jurisdiction shall be complete after such publication and posting.
Any owner of property within the boundaries of the district or any other person interested in the proceeding or contract or proposed proceeding or proposed contract or in the premises may appear and move to dismiss or answer the petition no less than five days prior to the date fixed for the hearing or within such further time as may be allowed by the court. The petition shall be taken as confessed by all persons who fail so to appear.
The petition and notice shall be sufficient to give the court jurisdiction, and, uponhearing, the court shall examine into and determine all matters and things affecting the question submitted, shall make such findings with reference to the question submitted, and shall render such judgment and decree on the question submitted as the case warrants.
Costs may be divided or apportioned among any contesting parties in the discretionof the trial court.
Review of the judgment of the court may be had as in other similar cases; exceptthat such review shall be applied for within thirty days after the time of the rendition of such judgment or within such additional time as may be allowed by the court within thirty days.
The Colorado rules of civil procedure shall govern in matters of pleading and practice where not otherwise specified in this article.
The court shall disregard any error, irregularity, or omission that does not affect thesubstantial rights of the parties.
All cases in which there may arise a question of the validity of any matter providedfor under this section shall be advanced as a matter of immediate public interest and concern and shall be heard at the earliest practicable moment.
Source: L. 98: Entire article added, p. 1090, § 1, effective September 1.