SB 625 - Except for the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District, sewer districts created under Chapter 204, RSMo, or Chapter 249, RSMo, may consolidate. The governing bodies of two or more contiguous sewer districts must determine that a consolidated sewer district would better serve the area within its boundaries and provide a proposal to the governing body of the county where each district is located.

The governing body of the county will hold a public hearing about the proposal to consolidate the sewer districts. Following the hearing, the governing body of the county or counties will submit the issue for voter approval. The question must be approved by a separate majority of the total votes cast in each existing sewer district seeking.

If the consolidated sewer district becomes effective, all taxes to pay existing bonds will be levied on the district issuing bonds prior to consolidation.

The consolidated sewer district will have a five member board of directors. Each member will be appointed by the governing body of the county where the consolidated sewer district is located. Each member will be at least twenty-five years of age, a citizen of the United States, a registered voter and a resident of the area located within the consolidated sewer district for at least one year preceding appointment.

The consolidated sewer district will retain all powers and privileges and duties it had as an individual sewer district organized under Chapter 204, RSMo, or Chapter 249, RSMo.

Dissolution of the sewer district will be pursuant to section 67.950 to 67.955, RSMo, which pertains to the dissolution of special districts created by statute. The dissolution procedure requires the filing of a petition containing the signatures of eight percent or more of the voters of the district with the governing body of the district or upon the motion of the majority of the members of the governing body to submit the question to the voters. If the question for dissolution receives the majority of the votes cast in the district, it shall be dissolved except the payment of outstanding bonded indebtedness.

The governing body of the district will dispose of all assets of the district and apply all proceeds to the payment of all indebtedness of the district and if any funds are left they will be paid to the taxpayers of the district.
JULIA SOMMER GRUS