Sec. 3a.
(1) A waterworks established under sections 1 to 5 and any other service provided under sections 1 to 5 for a district having a waterworks may be under the control of and operated by a board of public service commissioners, except that in a village such an improvement or service shall be under the control of and operated by the legislative body of the village. The board of public service commissioners shall consist of 5 commissioners elected at the annual township election by the qualified electors residing in the district. A vacancy on the board of public service commissioners shall be filled by the remaining members of the board until the next annual township election, at which election the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term. A member of the board of public service commissioners shall be a resident of the district. As used in this section, "annual township election" means an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every year.
(2) The township clerk shall call a special township election, upon the filing with the clerk of a petition signed by 25 registered electors of the district, for the election of the members of the board of public service commissioners to hold office until the first annual township election. At the first annual township election held under this section, 2 commissioners shall be elected for a term of 3 years, 2 commissioners shall be elected for a term of 2 years, and 1 commissioner shall be elected for a term of 1 year. After the first annual township election, a commissioner shall be elected for a term of 3 years. The commission may hire necessary employees to carry out the purpose of sections 1 to 5. The provisions of this section do not apply to a waterworks facility constituting only a part of a general township water system. A petition under this subsection, including the circulation and signing of the petition, is subject to section 488 of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.488. A person who violates a provision of the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992, applicable to a petition described in this subsection is subject to the penalties prescribed for that violation in the Michigan election law, 1954 PA 116, MCL 168.1 to 168.992.
(3) A board of public service commissioners may dissolve itself, alone or together with the district, upon satisfaction of all of the following requirements:
(a) The board of public service commissioners shall prepare a financial report of the assets and liabilities of the district. The financial report shall include a description of obligations of the district, an accounting of money held by the district, an appraisal or inventory of other assets of the district, and a description of any encumbrances on assets of the district. The board of public service commissioners shall file a copy of the financial report with the township clerk of the township where the district is located.
(b) The board of public service commissioners shall hold a public hearing on the issue of the dissolution. In addition to satisfying the requirements of the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275, the board of public service commissioners shall publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the township where the district is located not less than 10 days before the hearing. The notice shall give the time, date, location, and purpose of the hearing and state that a copy of the financial report is available for public inspection at the office of the township clerk.
(c) After the hearing, the board of public service commissioners shall prepare a plan for the transfer of the assets and liabilities of the district to the township where the district is located. The plan shall not impair the rights of holders of special assessment bonds issued pursuant to section 3 or the rights of property owners served by the waterworks.
(d) The township board of the township where the district is located shall adopt a resolution agreeing to the dissolution of the board of public service commissioners, alone or together with the district, in accordance with the plan under subdivision (c).
(e) After the township board adopts a resolution under subdivision (d), the board of public service commissioners shall adopt a consistent resolution to dissolve itself, alone or together with the district, in accordance with the plan under subdivision (c).
(4) As its last act before the effective date of dissolution, a board of public service commissioners shall file its records with the clerk of the township where the district is located, for safekeeping and reference.
History: Add. 1935, Act 68, Imd. Eff. May 18, 1935 ;-- Am. 1937, Act 318, Imd. Eff. July 27, 1937 ;-- Am. 1941, Act 201, Eff. Jan. 10, 1942 ;-- CL 1948, 41.413a ;-- Am. 1989, Act 82, Imd. Eff. June 20, 1989 ;-- Am. 1992, Act 177, Imd. Eff. July 27, 1992 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 159, Eff. Mar. 23, 1999