Sec. 9. (a) A merger approved under this chapter takes effect when:
(1) the officers of the new municipality are elected and qualified, as prescribed by section 13 of this chapter; and
(2) a copy of the agreement under section 2 of this chapter or the certified election results under section 7 of this chapter are filed with:
(A) the office of the secretary of state; and
(B) the circuit court clerk of each county in which the municipality is located.
(b) On the effective date of the merger, the merging municipalities cease to exist and are merged into a single municipality of the class created by the combined population of the merging municipalities. The new municipality shall be governed by the laws applicable to that class.