19-3505. Board; election; terms; officers; oath; qualifications; salary; expenses; bonds. (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the governing body of any water district to which this section applies shall be a five-member board holding positions numbered one to five, inclusive. Each member shall be elected and shall hold office from the second Monday in January succeeding such member's election until four years thereafter and until a successor is elected and has qualified.

The first election of members of the governing body of any water district created after the effective date of this act shall be held on the first Tuesday in August of any even-numbered year, at which time members shall be elected for terms beginning on September 1 of the same year, and ending on April 30 of the third year following the beginning of such term, to positions numbered three, four and five. At such first election, members shall be elected for terms ending on April 30 of the first year following the beginning of such terms, to positions numbered one and two. Members first elected to positions one and two shall have terms of approximately eight months. Elections shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year for the member positions whose terms expire in that year.

(b) From and after April 30, 1991, the governing body of the water district shall be composed of seven members. At the election held in 1991, positions numbered 1, 2, 6 and 7 shall be elected to four-year terms. At the election in 1993, positions numbered 3, 4 and 5 shall be elected to four-year terms.

(c) Elections shall be held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each odd-numbered year for the positions which terms expire in that year. Members shall hold office from the second Monday in January following such member's election until four years thereafter and until a successor is elected and qualified. All elections shall be nonpartisan and shall be called and conducted by the county election officer. Laws applying to other local elections occurring at the same time and in the same locality shall apply to elections under this act to the extent that the same can be made to apply. Notice of the time and place of holding each election shall be published by the county election officer in a newspaper published in the county in accordance with procedures established in K.S.A. 25-105 and 25-209, and amendments thereto.

(d) In January, following each election, the board shall organize and not later than the second regular meeting following each election shall select from among its members a chairperson and a vice-chairperson. The vice-chairperson shall preside over any meetings at which the chairperson is not present. Vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the remaining members. All members shall take an oath of office as prescribed for other public officials. The members of the board shall be qualified electors in the water district. Prior to accepting office, the water district shall obtain for each member-elect a corporate surety bond to the state of Kansas in the amount of $10,000, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the member's duties and for the true and faithful accounting of all money that may come into the member's hands by virtue of the office. Such bonds shall be filed in the office of the county clerk for the county in which the major portion of such water district is located after approval by the board of county commissioners of such county.

(e) Each member of the board shall receive a monthly salary in an amount determined by the board and shall be reimbursed for all necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in performing official assigned duties.

History: L. 1951, ch. 240, § 5; L. 1957, ch. 192, § 2; L. 1969, ch. 162, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 124, § 1; L. 1974, ch. 127, § 2; L. 1975, ch. 170, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 125, § 3; L. 1987, ch. 103, § 1; L. 1990, ch. 91, § 1; L. 2015, ch. 88, § 22; July 1.