During the preparation of the official plan, the board of appraisers of a sanitary district shall examine and become acquainted with the nature of plans for the improvement and of the lands and other property affected thereby, in order that it may be better prepared to make appraisals.

When the official plan is filed with the secretary of the sanitary district, he shall at once notify the board of appraisers, and it shall thereupon appraise the benefits of every kind to all real property or other property within the district, which will result from the organization of the district and the execution of the official plan. The board of appraisers shall appraise the damages sustained and the value of the land and other property necessary to be taken by the district for which settlement has not been made by the board of directors of the sanitary district. In the progress of its work, the board of appraisers shall have the assistance of the attorney, engineers, secretary, and other agents and employees of the board of directors.

The board of appraisers shall also appraise the benefits and damages accruing to municipal corporations, counties, townships, and other public corporations, as political entities, and to this state.

Before appraisals of compensation and damages are made, the board of directors may report to the board of appraisers the parcels of land or other property it wishes to purchase, and for which it wishes appraisals to be made, both for easement and for purchase in fee simple. The board of directors may, if it deems best, specify in case of any property the particular purpose for which and the extent to which an easement in the same is desired, describing definitely such purpose and extent. The board of appraisers shall appraise all damages which may, because of the execution of the official plan, accrue to real or other property within the district, which damages shall also represent easements acquired by the district for all of the purposes of the district, unless otherwise specifically stated. Wherever instructed to do so by the board of directors, the board of appraisers shall appraise lands or other property, within or without the district, which it is necessary or desirable for the district to own, and when instructed by the board of directors to do so, the board of appraisers shall appraise both the total value of the land, and also the damages due to an easement for the purposes of the district. When such appraisals are confirmed by the court, the board of directors has the option of paying the entire appraised value of the property and acquiring full title to it in fee simple, or of paying only the costs of such easement for the purposes of the district. The board of appraisers in appraising benefits and damages shall consider only the effect of the execution of the official plan. The board of appraisers may give consideration to benefits resulting from improved sewage and sewage disposal, improved water supply for domestic, municipal, and public use, improved conditions affecting health, comfort, convenience, and welfare, and other benefits deemed proper to recognize. In making appraisals, the board of appraisers shall give due consideration and credit to any other works or systems already constructed, or under construction, which form a useful part of the work of the district according to the official plan. Where the board of appraisers returns no appraisal of damages to any property, it shall be deemed a finding by such board of appraisers that no damages will be sustained.

Effective Date: 07-08-1993 .