If a bridge, any state or county road, or any public building, the property of or under the control or supervision of a county, is injured or destroyed, or when any state or county road or public highway has been injured or impaired by placing or continuing therein, without authority, any obstruction, or by the changing of the line, filling up or digging out of the bed thereof, or in any manner rendering it less convenient or useful than it had been previously, by a person or corporation, such person or corporation shall be subject to an action for damages. The board of county commissioners of the proper county may sue for and recover of such person or corporation the damages which have accrued by reason thereof, or such as are necessary to remove the obstruction or repair the injury.

If the board fails or refuses to bring such action for ten days after being petitioned to do so by at least ten owners of property adjoining such county road or living within one mile of such bridge or public building, any one or more of such owners of property may bring suit, in the name of the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the property is situated, the recover the damages which have accrued, or which are necessary to remove the obstruction or repair the injury.

The money so recovered shall be paid into the treasury of the property county and appropriated by the board thereof in repairing such bridges, building, or road, or removing such obstruction, or to reimburse the county for such expenditures. In case of a recovery, the court may make such order as is deemed necessary to repair the injury or remove the obstruction complained of. The statute of limitations shall not operate in favor of a person or corporation committing any act, injury, or obstruction concerning any such road or public highway.

Effective Date: 10-01-1953 .