68-2048a. Additional turnpike interchanges; construction; financing by counties; agreements. (a) The boards of county commissioners of Sedgwick and Sumner counties may contract with each other for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing an interchange on the Kansas turnpike in the general vicinity of the turnpike intersection with highway K-53 near Mulvane.  The boards of county commissioners of Sedgwick and Butler counties may contract with each other for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing an interchange on the Kansas turnpike in the general vicinity of the intersection with Andover Road near Andover.  Any contract made between Sedgwick and Sumner counties or Sedgwick and Butler counties under this section shall be subject to approval of the Kansas turnpike authority. The board of county commissioners of Sedgwick county may contract with the Kansas turnpike authority for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing an interchange on the Kansas turnpike in the general vicinity of the turnpike intersection with 71st street near Haysville. The board of county commissioners of Sedgwick county may contract with the Kansas turnpike authority for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing an interchange on the Kansas turnpike in the general vicinity of the turnpike intersection with highway K-96. The board of county commissioners of Butler county may contract with the Kansas turnpike authority for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing an interchange on the Kansas turnpike in the general vicinity of the turnpike intersection with highway 77 near El Dorado reservoir.  The board of county commissioners of Douglas county may contract with the Kansas turnpike authority for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing an interchange on the Kansas turnpike in the general vicinity of the turnpike intersection with the Lecompton-Perry road west of Lawrence.  In lieu of contracting with another county, the board of county commissioners of Sedgwick county may contract with the Kansas turnpike authority for the purpose of paying to the Kansas turnpike authority an amount equal to the cost of constructing any one or more interchanges described in this section. When paid by two counties, the cost of such improvement shall be apportioned between such counties in the same ratio as the assessed tangible taxable property of one county bears to the other.

(b) Any two or more counties authorized to contract under subsection (a) may contract with each other, or with each other and the Kansas turnpike authority as authorized in subsection (a) in one contract for more than one interchange or in separate contracts for each interchange.  Before any such contract is signed by the chairperson of the board of county commissioners of any such county, such board shall adopt a resolution authorizing such contract to be so signed.

(c) Before the issuance of bonds by any such county, the board of county commissioners shall cause to be published once in a paper of general circulation in the county, a copy of the resolution authorizing the signing of any contract made under this section which shall state that unless protest petitions, signed by registered voters equal in number to 5% of the votes cast in the county for the office of secretary of state at the most recent election for such office, are filed with the county election officer within 90 days after the publication of the resolution, the board of county commissioners will issue general obligation bonds sufficient to pay the amount due from the county under such contract.

If within such 90 days, such protest petitions are filed with sufficient signers, the board of county commissioners may within 60 days thereafter call a special election at which the question of issuing the bonds shall be submitted to the electors of the county.

If the majority of voters voting at such an election vote in favor of issuance of such bonds or if there are no protest petitions signed by a sufficient number of signers and filed with the county election officer within such 90 days, the board of county commissioners may proceed to issue and sell such bonds in accordance with the general bond law.

History: L. 1982, ch. 280, § 3; L. 1987, ch. 262, § 1; L. 1989, ch. 210, § 1; July 1.