A. Before circulating a petition for the formation of new counties, the proponents shall file a notice of intention to do so with the secretary of state who shall transmit a copy to the clerk of the board of supervisors of each affected county. The notice shall include a written statement which does not exceed five hundred words and states the objectives to be achieved by forming the new counties.

B. The secretary of state shall immediately cause the notice to be published once each week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in each affected county. The clerk of the board of supervisors in each affected county shall also post the notice in a public location in the county seat.

C. The petition for the formation of new counties shall not be circulated for signatures until thirty days after the notice of intention is filed with the secretary of state.