Whenever the boundary line between two or more adjoining counties in this state are in dispute, or have been lost by time, accident or any other cause, or have become obscure or uncertain, one or more of the counties, in its corporate name, may bring and maintain suit against such other adjoining county or counties, in equity, in the superior court, to establish the location of the boundary line or lines.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.010; 1897 c 76 § 1; RRS § 3964; ]
A suit to establish county boundary lines shall be tried before a judge of the superior court who is not a resident of a county which is a party to such suit, or of a judicial district embracing any such county.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.020; 1897 c 76 § 2; RRS § 3965; ]
A majority of the voters living in the territory embracing such disputed, lost, obscure, or uncertain boundary line may, by petition, duly verified by one or more of them, intervene in the suit, and thereupon the court shall have jurisdiction and power, in locating and establishing the boundary line or lines, to strike or transfer from one county to another a strip or portion of such territory not exceeding two miles in width.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.030; 1897 c 76 § 3; RRS § 3966; ]
The boundaries of such territory, the number of voters living therein, and the sufficiency of such petition are questions of fact to be determined by the court.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.040; 1897 c 76 § 5; RRS § 3968; ]
The court shall have power to move or establish such boundary line on any government section line or subdivisional line thereof, of the section in or through which said disputed, lost, obscure or uncertain boundary line may be located, or if such boundary line is in unsurveyed territory, then the court shall have power to move or establish such boundary line so it will conform to extensions of government section lines already surveyed in that vicinity.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.050; 1897 c 76 § 6; RRS § 3969; ]
The practice, procedure, rules of evidence, and appeals to the supreme court or the court of appeals applicable to civil actions, are preserved under this chapter.
[ 1971 c 81 § 96; 1963 c 4 § 36.05.060; 1897 c 76 § 7; RRS § 3970; ]
The clerk of the court in whose office a decree is entered under the provisions of this chapter, shall forthwith furnish certified copies thereof to the secretary of state, and to the auditors of the counties, which are parties to said suit. The secretary of state, and the county auditors, shall file and record said copies of the decree in their respective offices.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.070; 1897 c 76 § 8; RRS § 3971; ]
The term "territory," as used in this chapter, means that portion of counties lying along the boundary line and within one mile on either side thereof.
[ 1963 c 4 § 36.05.080; 1897 c 76 § 4; RRS § 3967; ]