Whenever a petition in conformity to K.S.A. 24-1223 signed by the board of directors of both of the affected watershed districts shall be presented to the chief engineer of the division of water resources, it shall be the duty of the chief engineer forthwith to fix a time for the hearing of such petition and to give notice thereof which shall be published by the affected watershed districts at their expense at least five (5) days before the date fixed for the hearing in one or more newspapers published and of general circulation in the county or counties in which the affected watershed districts are located.
K.S.A. 24-1224