7-10-102. Petition to create or expand regional resource authorities. (1) A petition requesting the establishment or expansion of a regional resource authority must be signed by at least 10% of the qualified electors of the territory proposed to be organized into the authority or expansion and must be presented to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the proposed authority or expansion is located.

(2) When the area to be included within the proposed authority or expansion lies in more than one county, the qualified electors of the proposed area shall present a petition to the board of county commissioners in each county. Each petition must contain the signatures of at least 10% of the qualified electors of the proposed authority or expansion that lies within that county.

(3) The petition must include:

(a) a legal description or map of the proposed authority or expansion boundaries. Boundaries must coincide with the boundaries of political subdivisions of the state to the greatest extent possible and may exclude incorporated cities or towns.

(b) the proposed name of the authority;

(c) a statement that there is a need in the interest of the public health, safety, and welfare for an authority to function or expand in the territory described in the petition;

(d) a request that an election be held in the territories included within the proposed boundaries on the question of creating or expanding the authority; and

(e) the structure of the governing body for the authority as provided in 7-10-110.

(4) Land, water, projects, as defined in 7-10-201, or other resources within the exterior boundaries of an Indian reservation may not be included within the boundaries of a regional resource authority without the consent of the governing body of the tribe of the Indian reservation.