At the general election that includes the referendum on the establishment of a conservation district, five supervisors shall be elected as provided in § 38-8-39. The election of the supervisors is null and void if the referendum on the establishment of the district fails. The district is a governmental subdivision of this state and a public body, corporate and politic, upon the taking of the proceedings described in §§ 38-8-16 and 38-8-17.
SDCL 38-8-15