Whenever the board of commissioners of any district desire[s] to exercise any of the foregoing powers under *this act, it shall pass a resolution declaring its intention to do so, which shall describe in general terms the proposed improvement to be undertaken. The resolution shall set a date upon which the board shall meet to determine whether such work shall be done. Thereafter a copy of such declaratory resolution and a notice of hearing shall be posted by the secretary or member of the board, in three public places in such district at least ten days before the date of hearing. The notice shall state the time and place of hearing and that plans therefor are on file with the secretary of the board subject to inspection by any party interested.

Any property owner affected by such proposed improvement, or any property owner within such district, may appear at said hearing and object to said proposed improvement by filing a written protest against the proposed action of the board. The protest shall clearly state the basis thereof. At such hearing, which shall be public, the board shall give full consideration to the proposed project and all protests filed, and on said date or any adjourned date, take final action thereon. If protests be filed before said hearing by owners of more than forty percent of the property in said district, the board shall not have power to make the proposed improvement nor again initiate the same for one year. If the board determines to proceed with such project in its original or modified form, it shall thereupon adopt a resolution so declaring and adopt general plans therefor, which resolution may authorize the acquisition by condemnation, or otherwise, of the necessary rights and properties to complete the same. Any protestant who filed a written protest prior to said hearing may appeal from the order of the board, but to do so must, within ten days from the date of entering of such order, bring direct action in the superior court of the state of Washington in the county wherein such district is situated, against such board of directors in their official capacity, which action shall be prosecuted under the procedure for civil actions, with the right of appellate review, as provided in other civil actions. In any action so brought, the order of the board shall be conclusive of the regularity and propriety of the proceedings and all other matters except it shall be open to attack upon the ground of fraud, unfair dealing, arbitrary, or unreasonable action of the board.

*Reviser's note: "this act" refers to chapter 170, Laws of 1935, codified as RCW 85.06.640 through 85.06.700.

Severability—1988 c 202: See note following RCW 2.24.050.