19-3505.   Board; election; terms; officers; oath; qualifications;salary; expenses; bonds.(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the governing bodyof any water district to which this section appliesshall be a five-member board holding positions numbered one to five, inclusive.Each member shall be electedand shall hold office from May 1 following such member's election untilApril 30, four years thereafter and until a successor is electedand has qualified.

      The first election of members of the governing body of any waterdistrict created after the effective date of this act shall be held on thefirst Tuesday in August of any even-numbered year, at which time membersshall be elected for terms beginning on September 1 of thesame year, and ending on April 30 of the third year following thebeginning of such term, to positions numbered three, four and five. At suchfirst election, members shall be elected for terms ending onApril 30 of the first year following the beginning of such terms, topositions numbered one and two. Members first elected to positionsone and two shall have terms of approximately eight months.Elections shall be thereafter held on the first Tuesday in April of eachodd-numbered year for the member positions whose terms expire in that year.

      (b)   From and after April 30, 1991, the governing body of the waterdistrict 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. Atthe election in 1993, positions numbered 3, 4 and 5 shall be elected tofour-year terms.

      (c)   Elections shall be held on the first Tuesday in April ofeach odd-numbered year for the positions which terms expire in that year.Members shall hold office from May 1, following such member'selection until April 30, four years thereafter and until a successor iselected and qualified.All elections shall be nonpartisan and shall becalled and conducted by the county election officer. Laws applying to otherlocal elections occurring at the same time and in the same locality shallapply to elections under this act to the extent that the same can be madeto apply.

      (d)   Following each election the board shall organize and notlater than the second regular meeting following each election shallselect from among its members a chairpersonand a vice-chairperson. The vice-chairperson shall preside over any meetings atwhich the chairperson is not present. Vacancies occurring during a termshall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the remainingmembers. All members shall take an oath of office as prescribed for otherpublic officials. The members of the board shall be qualified electors inthe water district. Prior to accepting office, the water district shallobtain for each member-elect a corporate surety bond to the state of Kansasin the amount of $10,000, conditioned upon thefaithful performance of the member's duties and for the true and faithfulaccounting of all money that may come into the member's hands by virtue ofthe office. Such bonds shall be filed in the office of the county clerk forthe county in which the major portion of such water district is locatedafter approval by the board of county commissioners of such county.

      (e)   Each member of the board shall receive a monthly salary in an amount determinedby the boardand shall be reimbursed for all necessary andreasonable 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; July 1.