Montana Title 85. Water Use § 85-8-421. Procedure to bring other drained lands into district

(1) Whenever any drained lands outside a drainage district are receiving the benefits of the drains of said district, by direct or indirect, natural or artificial connection therewith, the commissioners of said district may report said facts to the court and ask that said lands, describing them, be brought into said district and assessed for the benefits received by them from the drains, ditches, or levees of said district.

(2) Upon the filing of said report, the court shall order the owners of such lands to be notified of the filing of said report and the contents thereof and shall require such owners to show cause at a time and place therein fixed, not less than 20 days thereafter, why their lands should not be brought into said district and assessed for said benefits.

(3) At the time and place fixed for hearing said report, any of said landowners may appear and remonstrate against the confirmation of said report. All remonstrances shall be in writing, verified, and shall set forth the facts on which they are based. All issues arising on said report shall be tried by the court without a jury.