(1) (a) In its discretion, the board of directors, on the behalf and in the name of the district or any subdistrict which is a party in interest, may file a petition at any time in the district court in and for the county in which the district's principal office is maintained or, if both the district and one or more subdistricts are parties to the petition, in the district court in and for the county in which any such subdistrict was organized, praying for a judicial examination and determination of any power conferred or of any taxes or rates or other charges levied, or of any act, proceeding, or contract of the district, the subdistrict, or the subdistricts, or any combination thereof, as the case may be, whether or not said contract has been executed, including, without limitation, proposed contracts for the acquisition, improvement, equipment, maintenance, operation, or disposal of any properties or facilities for the benefit of the district, the subdistrict, or the subdistricts, as the case may be, and so including a proposed issue of revenue warrants, revenue bonds, special assessment bonds, or general obligation bonds, issued or to be issued on behalf of any such entity. Such petition shall set forth the facts whereon the validity of such power, tax, assessment, charge, act, proceeding, or contract is founded and shall be verified by the president of the board of directors.
Such action shall be in the nature of a proceeding in rem, and jurisdiction of allparties interested may be had by publication, mail, and posting, as provided in this article. Notice of the filing of the petition shall be given by the clerk of the court, under the seal thereof, stating in brief outline the contents of the petition and also stating where a full copy of any contract therein mentioned may be examined. The notice shall be served by publication at least once a week for five consecutive weeks in a daily or a weekly newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the principal office of the district is located, by mailing copies of the notice by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the boards of county commissioners of the several counties in which the parties in interest in such action are located wholly or in part, and by posting the same in the office of the district at least thirty days prior to the date fixed in said notice for the hearing on said petition. Jurisdiction shall be complete after such publication, mailing, and posting.
Any owner of property in the district or any subdistrict filing the petition or anyperson interested in the contract or proposed contract or in the premises may appear and move to dismiss or answer the petition at any time prior to the date fixed for the hearing or within such further time as may be allowed by the court; and the petition shall be taken as confessed by all persons who fail to appear.
(2) The petition and notice shall be sufficient to give the court jurisdiction; and, upon hearing, the court shall examine into and determine all matters and things affecting the question submitted and shall make such findings with reference thereto and render such judgment and decree thereon as the case warrants. Costs may be divided or apportioned among any contesting parties in the discretion of the trial court. Review of the judgment of the court may be had as in other similar cases; except that such review must 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 pleadings and practice where not otherwise specified in this article. The court shall disregard any error, irregularity, or omission which does not affect the substantial rights of the parties.
Source: L. 41: p. 888, § 31. CSA: C. 173B, § 86. CRS 53: § 149-9-31. C.R.S. 1963: § 150-8-31. L. 77: Entire section R&RE, p. 1657, § 9, effective June 9.