Sec. 14. (a) The owners of real property located in a proposed improvement district may remonstrate against the establishment of that district by filing a petition with the municipal works board. The county auditor shall verify the signatures on the petition.
(b) If the number of valid signatures equals or exceeds fifty-one percent (51%) of the owners of real property in the proposed improvement district, the works board shall cease the works board's proceedings to establish the improvement district.