11-28.3-15. Territory to be annexed

11-28.3-15. Territory to be annexed 1. Any territory adjacent to the boundary of an existing ambulance district may be annexed to the district. If the territory to be annexed is within the designated service area as established under subsection 1 of section 23-27-01, the board, upon its own motion, may annex the territory if a majority of qualified electors residing in the existing and proposed territory approve of the annexation at a regular or special election. 2. If the area to be annexed is not within the designated service area as established under subsection 1 of section 23-27-01, the proceedings for the annexation may be initiated by a presentation to the county auditor. If more than one county is in the proposed annexed territory, the auditor serving the larger portion shall coordinate with other county auditors to create a petition stating the desires and purposes of the petitioners signed by fifty qualified electors, or if there are not fifty qualified electors in the proposed territory, fifty percent of qualified electors residing within the boundaries of the territory. The petition must contain a description of the boundaries of the territory proposed to be annexed and must be accompanied by a map or plat and a deposit for publication costs. 3. The county auditor shall determine and certify whether the petition complies with the requirements of this section and ensure the qualified electors signing the petition reside within the boundaries. The county auditor shall forward a completed petition, map or plat, and certificate to the board of directors of the district the annexed property is seeking to join. 4. Within thirty days after receiving the petition, map or plat, and certificate of the county auditor, the board of directors shall send a written report approving or denying the proposal to the county auditor. 5. If the report of the board of directors denies the proposal, the petition must be rejected. If the report is favorable, the county auditor promptly shall designate a time and place for an election upon the petition and shall give notice of the election in the manner prescribed by section 11-28.3-03. At the election, any qualified elector residing within the boundaries of the territory to be annexed may cast a vote. If the majority cast a vote in favor of the question of annexation, the new territory must be annexed.