Fifty or more of the legal voters resident within the limits of such proposed district, or a majority thereof if less than 100, may petition the circuit court for the county which contains all or the largest portion of the proposed district to cause the question to be submitted to the legal voters of such proposed district, whether such proposed territory shall be organized as a surface water protection district under this Act. The petition shall be addressed to the court and shall contain a general description of the boundaries of the territory to be embraced in the proposed district, and the name of such proposed district and shall allege facts in support of such organization and incorporation. The description contained in the petition need not be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions but it shall be sufficient if a generally accurate description is given of the territory to be organized as a district.
Upon filing any such petition with the clerk of the court, the court shall fix a time and place for a hearing upon the subject of the petition.
Notice shall be given by the court to whom the petition is addressed, or by the circuit clerk or sheriff of the county in which such petition is made at the order and direction of the court, of the time and place of the hearing upon the subject of the petition at least 20 days prior thereto by one publication thereof in one or more daily or weekly papers published within the proposed surface water protection district (or if no daily or weekly newspaper is published within such proposed surface water protection district, then either by one publication thereof in any newspaper of general circulation within said territory or by posting at least ten copies of such notice in such district at least 20 days before such hearing in conspicuous places as far separated from each other as consistently possible), and by mailing a copy of such notice to the mayor or president of the board of trustees of all cities, villages and incorporated towns within such proposed surface water protection district.
At the hearing all persons residing in or owning property situated in the proposed surface water protection district may appear and be heard touching upon the sufficiency of the petition and the location and boundaries of such proposed district and to make suggestions regarding the same. If the court finds that the petition does not comply with the provisions of this Act or that the allegations of the petition are not true, the court shall dismiss the petition; but if the court finds that the petition complies with the provisions of this Act and that the allegations of the petition are true, the court shall fix and determine the boundaries and limits of such proposed district and for that purpose and to that extent may alter and amend the petition, and the same shall be incorporated in an order which shall be entered of record in the court. Upon the entering of such order the court shall certify the question of organization and establishment of the proposed surface water protection district to the proper election officials who shall submit the question at an election in accordance with the general election law. In addition to the requirements of the general election law, such notice shall specify the purpose of such election with a description of such proposed district.
Each legal voter resident within such proposed district shall have the right to cast a ballot at such referendum. The question shall be in substantially the following form:
------------------------------------------------------------------------ For organization of....(name) Surface Water Protection District ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Against organization of....(name) Surface Water Protection District ------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 ILCS 3405/3