At the time set for hearing such petition, the boards of the several counties shall meet at the place designated in said notice. They shall organize by electing a chairperson and a secretary, and when deemed advisable may adjourn to meet at the call of such chairperson at such time and place as the chairperson may designate, or may adjourn to a time and place fixed by said joint boards. They shall sit jointly in considering the petition, the report and the recommendations of the engineer, in the same manner as if the district were wholly within one county.
Iowa Code § 468.277
89 Acts, ch 126, §2