(2) Each director shall be elected for a term of four years, commencing July 1, except the directors elected at the first election immediately following creation of the district. The directors first elected shall determine their terms by lot as follows:
(a) If there are nine directors, the terms of four shall expire June 30 next following the first regular district election and the terms of five shall expire June 30 next following the second regular district election.
(b) If there are seven directors, the terms of three shall expire June 30 next following the first regular district election and the terms of four shall expire on June 30 next following the second regular district election.
(c) If there are five directors, the terms of two shall expire June 30 next following the first regular district election and the terms of three shall expire June 30 next following the second regular district election.
(3) The board of directors shall fill any vacancy on the board as provided in ORS 198.320.
(4) The board of directors or 10 or more landowners may petition the county court to change the number of directors on the board of directors. If the court acts favorably on the petition, it shall enter an order which designates the terms of office of the five, seven or nine directors in general accordance with the provisions of this section so that the number remaining on the board will be divided into two equal or approximately equal groups as to terms. The change in the number of board members shall take place on July 1 next following the order. [Amended by 1961 c.186 §5; 1965 c.623 §6; 1969 c.669 §15; 1969 c.691 §§4,18; 1971 c.647 §120; 1971 c.727 §171; 1971 c.727 §198; 1973 c.796 §70; 1975 c.647 §46; 1983 c.350 §308; 2001 c.264 §1]