15.2-3217 - Court granting annexation to exist for ten years.
§ 15.2-3217. Court granting annexation to exist for ten years.
The special court shall not be dissolved after rendering a decision grantingany motion or petition for annexation, but shall remain in existence for aperiod of ten years from the effective date of any annexation order entered,or from the date of any decision of the Supreme Court affirming such anorder. Vacancies occurring in the court during such ten-year period shall befilled as provided in § 15.2-3004.
The court may be reconvened at any time during the ten-year period on its ownmotion, or on motion of the governing body of the county, or of the city ortown, or on petition of not less than fifty registered voters or propertyowners in the area annexed; however, if the area annexed contains fewer than100 registered voters or property owners, a majority of such registeredvoters or property owners may petition for the reconvening of the court.
The court shall have power and it shall be its duty, at any time during suchperiod, to enforce the performance of the terms and conditions under whichannexation was granted, and to issue appropriate process to compel suchperformance. The court may, in its discretion, award attorneys' fees, andcourt and other reasonable costs to the party or parties on whose motion thecourt is reconvened.
Any such action of the court shall be subject to review by the Supreme Courtin the same manner as is provided with respect to the original decision ofthe court.
(Code 1950, § 15-152.17; 1952, c. 328; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-1047; 1979, c.85; 1997, c. 587.)