Sec. 8. (a) After a petition is filed under section 5 of this chapter, the county auditor shall present it to the county legislative body at its next regularly scheduled meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. Before or at the meeting, the legislative body shall determine whether the petition bears the necessary signatures and complies with requirements as to form and content. The legislative body may not dismiss a petition with the requisite signatures because of alleged defects without permitting amendments to correct errors in form or content.
(b) In determining whether the signers of a petition are freeholders, the names as they appear on the tax duplicates are prima facie evidence of the ownership of land.
(c) If the legislative body determines that the petition conforms to the requirements of this chapter, it may set a date for a public hearing on whether a fire protection district should, as a matter of public policy, be established in the area proposed in the petition. The legislative body may also prepare an ordinance or resolution to establish the district for its consideration, in accordance with applicable laws.