Whenever the owner of any lands assessed for construction of an improvement authorized prior to August 23, 1957, files a written complaint that the improvement is in need of repair, the county engineer or his designated representative shall make an inspection of the condition of the improvement within sixty days of receipt of the complaint and shall request the owner to accompany him. If the county engineer finds that a need exists, he shall make an estimate of the cost of the necessary work and material required for the repair. The board of county commissioners, if it finds the work to be necessary and feasible, may authorize the county engineer to make the repairs at a cost not to exceed four thousand dollars. For the purpose of paying for the necessary work and materials, the board of county commissioners may establish a drainage repair fund for the improvement to be repaired. The county engineer shall prepare and submit a schedule of assessments upon the benefiting land to the board of county commissioners in the amount of the actual costs of the repair. The board of county commissioners may revise the estimated assessments as they consider equitable and shall certify the assessments to the county auditor for collection. Not more than four semiannual installments, as taxes are paid, shall be given to owners to pay for the repair assessments, and if any such assessment is twenty-five dollars or less, or whenever the unpaid balance of any such assessment is twenty-five dollars or less, the same shall be paid in full, and not in installments, at the time the first installment would otherwise become due. If the drainage repair fund for the improvement to be so repaired is inadequate for the repair, the board of county commissioners may make payment for the repair from the county general fund, which sum so paid from the general fund shall be a charge against the appropriate drainage maintenance fund to be repaid to the general fund as soon as adequate funds are available in the drainage maintenance fund.

Effective Date: 04-09-1981 .