7-2-2211. Hearing on petition -- protest. (1) At the time fixed for the hearing, the board of county commissioners shall hear the petitioners and any opponents and protestants upon the petition or protests filed on or before the time fixed for the hearing. The board may adjourn the hearing from time to time, but not for more than 10 days after the time fixed for the hearing, and shall receive the proof to establish or controvert the facts set forth in the petition.

(2) (a) No petition, protest, or petition for the exclusion of territory may be considered unless it is filed at least 1 day before the time fixed for the hearing.

(b) A petition for the exclusion of territory shall contain the names of not less than 50% of the registered electors of any territory to be excluded.

(c) All such territory being excluded must be in one block containing an area of not less than 36 square miles and be totally within one county and contiguous thereto.

(3) No withdrawals of signatures to the original petition for the creation of a proposed county shall be filed or considered which have not been filed with the county clerk on or before the date fixed for the hearing. No withdrawals of any signatures from the petition for the exclusion of territory may be received or considered which are not filed within 5 days after the filing of the petition for such exclusion of territory.