Kan. Stat. § 24-1225
At the time set for the hearing of the petition, as provided in K.S.A. 24-1224, it shall be the duty of the chief engineer to first ascertain and determine whether notice has been given of the time of hearing, as required by this act, and, if it shall be determined that such notice has been given, to make a declaration and finding of this fact; and thereupon he shall hear all persons in favor of, or opposed to, the granting of the prayer of said petition, and he shall hear all other evidence that he may deem necessary for the purpose of ascertaining whether the statements in said petition are true; and, if upon such hearing it shall be found that such petition is in conformity to the requirements of this act and that the allegations thereof are true, then the chief engineer shall make a finding and decision to that effect and shall thereupon declare the territories described in the petition to be detached from the one watershed district, naming it, and to be attached to the other watershed district, naming it, and shall fix the date that such transfer shall become effective; and if the chief engineer upon such hearing finds that such petition is not in conformity to this act, or that the statements in such petition are not true, or that said transfer should not be made, then he shall make a finding and decision to that effect and reject that petition. Such affirmative decision and order of the chief engineer may provide for the transfer of all or part of the territory described in the petition but shall not include any territory not so described.
K.S.A. 24-1225