Kentucky Revised Statutes Title IX. Counties, Cities, and Other Local Units § 81.060.Standards for incorporation; court considerations; judgment; certification to Secretary of State

(1) At the hearing the court shall, if the proper notice has been given or publication made, and no defense is interposed, enter a judgment establishing a city as requested by the petition, filed pursuant to KRS 81.050, if the court finds as a matter of law that the following standards have been met:

(2) In determining whether the standards for incorporation have been met, the court shall consider, but shall not be limited to the consideration of the following criteria:

(3) Defense may be made to the petition by any inhabitant of the proposed city, and if defense is made, the court shall hear and determine the same, and render a judgment establishing or refusing to establish a city, as may seem proper.

(4) If the court renders judgment granting the petition, the order shall set out the name of the city, a metes and bounds description of its boundaries, the population contained therein, the form of government under which the city shall operate, and the class to which the city shall be assigned by reason of its form of government as set out in KRS 81.005. The order shall appoint the officers appropriate to the class of the new city, who shall hold their respective offices until the next regular election at which city officers are elected, at which time officers shall be elected by the residents of the new city.

(5) Whenever any city shall be established in the manner above provided, the court shall in the judgment direct the clerk of the court wherein such judgment is entered to, not later than ten (10) days thereafter, certify a copy thereof to the Secretary of State, whose duty it shall be to properly index and file the same as a permanent record in his office.