Any township board, by resolution, may make application to the board of county road commissioners for the improvement of a county road or portion thereof located within the township. The resolution when received and accepted by the county road commissioners shall confer the same authority to cause an improvement to be made and benefits assessed as if a petition were filed in accordance with the provisions of section 1. The petition shall not be considered unless it complies with the subdivision and building requirements set forth in section 1 relating to applications by property owners.

   A declaration of necessity shall be made by resolution of the board of county road commissioners who shall thereafter hold a public hearing at the township hall upon the declaration of necessity in the same manner as if an application had been filed by property owners as set forth in section 1. After the date of the public hearing on the declaration of necessity, the property owners of 51% or more of the lineal frontage along the proposed improvement may submit within 45 days a petition to the board of county road commissioners requesting that the project be discontinued. The project shall be discontinued if, upon examination, the owners of 51% or more of the lineal frontage along the improvement have signed the petition. If no petition is filed within 45 days, the project shall proceed in the same manner as if inaugurated by property owners.