When the charter of any ferry has expired or is about to expire, it may be renewed or rechartered, and when a ferry is needed where no ferry has been heretofore chartered, it may be chartered by application to the governing body of the county in which the ferry is needed, and when the ferry is across a river at a point where such river is the boundary between two or more counties, then to the respective governing bodies of the counties concerned. The application shall be by petition after notice as required by law and after strictly observing and complying with all prerequisites required by law before the granting of such charters.