§180-15  Discontinuance of districts. At any time after five years after the organization of a district under thischapter, any occupiers of land representing twenty-five or more votes lyingwithin the district may petition the department of land and natural resourcesto terminate the existence of the district.  The department may conduct suchmeetings and hearings upon the petition as may be necessary and, within sixtydays after the filing of such a petition, shall hold a referendum upon theproposal.  All occupiers of lands within the district shall be eligible to votein the referendum.

After such referendum the department shalldetermine whether the continued operation of the district is necessary orpracticable and feasible.  The department shall not have authority to determinein favor of the continued operation of the district unless a majority of thevotes cast in the referendum were in favor of the continued operation.  If thedepartment determines in favor of the discontinuance of the district, it shallcertify such determination to the district directors and to the lieutenantgovernor.  The lieutenant governor shall issue to the directors a certificateof dissolution and record a copy of the certificate in the lieutenantgovernor's office.  Upon receipt of the certificate the directors shallterminate the affairs of the district.  The directors shall dispose of allproperty belonging to the district at public auction and pay over the proceedsinto the state treasury, and render to the department, a full accounting of theproperties and proceeds of the sale.  All contracts theretofore entered into,to which the district is a party, shall remain in force and effect for theperiod provided in the contracts.  The department shall be substituted for thedistrict as party to the contracts.  The department shall not entertainpetitions for the discontinuance of any district more often than once in fiveyears. [L 1947, c 191, §9; RL 1955, §28-18; am L Sp 1959 2d, c 1, §§9, 22; am L1961, c 132, §2; am L 1967, c 145, §§1, 2; HRS §180-15; gen ch 1985]