(a) After a sufficient petition is filed with the board, but prior to creating a sewer district, the board of county commissioners shall have a preliminary survey and plan prepared to gather data and information relating to the possible creation of the district. The board shall employ engineers or other skilled persons to make the preliminary survey of the territory sought to be sewered, determine the approximate boundary lines of the sewer district, the feasibility of the proposed improvement, the treatment required, the approximate size of sewers and disposal plant required, the approximate cost of the improvements when completed and any other information pertinent to the construction of the sewer facility.

The board may contract to pay the engineers or other skilled persons for the preliminary work by a fixed fee or by a fee contingent upon the final petition for the preliminary work being presented to the county commissioners and allowed by them and the work done. If the project is authorized, the cost of the preliminary survey shall be a part of the cost of the completed project. If the engineers employed to make the preliminary survey are not employed on the final survey and plans and construction work, the board may require the engineers employed on the final plans and construction work to reimburse the county for the amount it may have expended on the preliminary work and the cost thereof shall become a part of the cost of the completed project. It shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to have a copy of all engineering notes, memoranda, data, plats, plans and surveys for which they pay or agree to pay directly or indirectly or conditionally, filed in the office of the county clerk.

If the board of county commissioners determines that a project is not feasible, all the cost and expenses of the work, including preliminary planning, engineering, legal and other preliminary work of skilled persons employed by the board shall be assessed against the lots and pieces of property located within the district. The assessment shall be levied and collected as one tax, in addition to the other taxes and special assessments, and upon the order of the board, the county clerk shall place the assessment upon the tax roll for collection subject to the same penalties, entitled to the same rebate and collected in the same manner as other taxes.

(b) The board of county commissioners may, in its discretion, create a sewer district for the sole purpose of making a preliminary survey and plan and not for the construction of sewer improvements. The board may employ engineers or other skilled persons to gather data, make the preliminary survey of the territory to be sewered, determine the approximate boundary lines of the sewer district, the feasibility of the proposed improvement, the treatment required, the approximate size of sewers and disposal plants required and the approximate cost of the improvement and any other information pertinent to the construction of the sewer facility. Thereafter, a sewer district or districts may be created as otherwise provided by this act. For the purpose of paying for the costs of the preliminary planning, the board of county commissioners may apportion the costs against the tracts of land within the district in the manner provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 19-27a07.

If the board of county commissioners determines that a project is not feasible, all the cost and expenses of the work, including preliminary planning, engineering, legal and other preliminary work of skilled persons employed by the board shall be paid from the county general fund.