1. If a district is a political subdivision, the election and qualifications of members to the district’s board of directors shall be in accordance with this section. If a district is a not-for-profit corporation, the election and qualification of members to its board of directors shall be in accordance with chapter 355.

2. (1) The district shall be governed by a board consisting of at least five but not more than thirty directors.

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(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each director shall, during his or her entire term:

(a) Be at least eighteen years of age;

(b) Be either:

a. An owner, as defined in section 67.1401, of real property or of a business operating within the district; or

b. A registered voter residing within the district; and

(c) Satisfy any other qualifications set forth in the petition establishing the district.

(3) In the case of districts established after August 28, 2021, if there are no registered voters in the district on the date the petition is filed, at least one director shall, during his or her entire term, be a person who:

(a) Resides within the municipality that established the district;

(b) Is qualified and registered to vote under chapter 115 according to the records of the election authority as of the thirtieth day prior to the date of the applicable election;

(c) Has no financial interest in any real property or business operating within the district; and

(d) Is not a relative within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity to an owner of real property or a business operating in the district.

(4) If there are fewer than five owners of real property located within a district, the board may be comprised of up to five legally authorized representatives of any of the owners of real property located within the district.

3. If the district is a political subdivision, the board shall be elected or appointed, as provided in the petition. However, in the case of districts established after August 28, 2021, if the board is to be elected, the petition shall require at least one member of the board be appointed by the governing body of the municipality in the same manner as provided in this section for board appointments. The appointed board member shall serve a four-year term.

4. If the board is to be elected, the procedure for election shall be as follows:

(1) The municipal clerk shall specify a date on which the election shall occur which date shall be a Tuesday and shall not be earlier than the tenth Tuesday, and shall not be later than the fifteenth Tuesday, after the effective date of the ordinance adopted to establish the district;

(2) The election shall be conducted in the same manner as provided for in section 67.1551, provided that the published notice of the election shall contain the information required by section 67.1551 for published notices, except that it shall state that the purpose of the election is for the election of directors, in lieu of the information related to taxes;

(3) Candidates shall pay the sum of five dollars as a filing fee and shall file not later than the second Tuesday after the effective date of the ordinance establishing the district with the municipal clerk a statement under oath that he or she possesses all of the qualifications set out in this section for a director. Thereafter, such candidate shall have his or her name placed on the ballot as a candidate for director;

(4) The director or directors to be elected shall be elected at large. The person receiving the most votes shall be elected to the position having the longest term; the person receiving the second highest votes shall be elected to the position having the next longest term and so forth. For any district formed prior to August 28, 2003, of the initial directors, one-half shall serve for a two-year term, one-half shall serve for a four-year term and if an odd number of directors are elected, the director receiving the least number of votes shall serve for a two-year term, until such director’s successor is elected. For any district formed on or after August 28, 2003, for the initial directors, one-half shall serve for a two-year term, and one-half shall serve for the term specified by the district pursuant to subdivision (5) of this subsection, and if an odd number of directors are elected, the director receiving the least number of votes shall serve for a two-year term, until such director’s successor is elected;

(5) Successor directors shall be elected in the same manner as the initial directors. The date of the election of successor directors shall be specified by the municipal clerk which date shall be a Tuesday and shall not be later than the date of the expiration of the stated term of the expiring director. Each successor director shall serve a term for the length specified prior to the election by the district, which term shall be at least three years and not more than four years, and shall continue until such director’s successor is elected.

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In the event of a vacancy on the board of directors, the remaining directors shall elect an interim director to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.

5. If the petition provides that the board is to be appointed by the municipality, such appointments shall be made by the chief elected officer of the municipality with the consent of the governing body of the municipality. For any district formed prior to August 28, 2003, of the initial appointed directors, one-half of the directors shall be appointed to serve for a two-year term and the remaining one-half shall be appointed to serve for a four-year term until such director’s successor is appointed; provided that, if there is an odd number of directors, the last person appointed shall serve a two-year term. For any district formed on or after August 28, 2003, of the initial appointed directors, one-half shall be appointed to serve for a two-year term, and one-half shall be appointed to serve for the term specified by the district for successor directors pursuant to this subsection, and if an odd number of directors are appointed, the last person appointed shall serve for a two-year term; provided that each director shall serve until such director’s successor is appointed. Successor directors shall be appointed in the same manner as the initial directors and shall serve for a term of years specified by the district prior to the appointment, which term shall be at least three years and not more than four years.

6. If the petition states the names of the initial directors, those directors shall serve for the terms specified in the petition and successor directors shall be determined either by the above-listed election process or appointment process as provided in the petition.

7. Any director may be removed for cause by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the directors of the board. Written notice of the proposed removal shall be given to all directors prior to action thereon.

8. The board is authorized to act on behalf of the district, subject to approval of qualified voters as required in this section; except that, all official acts of the board shall be by written resolution approved by the board.