Relating to disannexation of certain areas of a municipality for failure to provide services.

Contracts

• Development Agreements (Chapter 43): Review all agreements immediately. A breach of the service schedule is now explicit grounds for disannexation.
• Lender Covenants: Review financing agreements. Disannexation may alter zoning status or police/fire coverage, potentially triggering default clauses in loan covenants requiring municipal jurisdiction.
• Utility Vendor Contracts: Prepare contingency contracts with MUDs, private haulers, or independent utility providers to ensure business continuity immediately upon exiting the city limits.

Hiring/Training

• Facilities Management: Staff must certify the *absence* of municipal water/wastewater connections for properties utilizing the "navigable waterway" provision.
• Legal Teams: Counsel must master the specific pre-litigation sequence (Notice -> Publication -> Petition -> Suit) to prevent dismissal on procedural grounds.

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Petition Documentation: You must secure sworn affidavits from the newspaper publisher and the individual who physically posted public notices. These must be attached to the petition submitted to the Municipal Secretary.
• Ownership Verification: Ensure signatories on the petition match current deed and tax records exactly to satisfy the "majority of property owners" requirement.

Fees & Costs

• Litigation Recovery: The statute mandates the award of attorney's fees to the petitioner if the court rules against the municipality.
• Tax Refunds: Businesses disannexing under the "navigable waterway" provision are statutorily barred from requesting refunds for past taxes or fees paid.