(A) If either owner fails to build or maintain in good repair the portion of a partition fence assigned to the owner under section 971.09 of the Revised Code, the board of township trustees, upon the application of the aggrieved owner, shall award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder agreeing to furnish the labor and material, and build or maintain the fence according to the specifications proposed by the board, after advertising for bids once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which the township is situated.

The board may also cause notice to be inserted in trade papers or other publications designated by it or to be distributed by electronic means, including posting the notice on the board's internet web site. If the board posts the notice on its web site, it may eliminate the second notice otherwise required to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, provided that the first notice published in such newspaper meets all of the following requirements:

(1) It is published at least two weeks before the opening of bids.

(2) It includes a statement that the notice is posted on the board's internet web site.

(3) It includes the internet address of the board's internet web site.

(4) It includes instructions describing how the notice may be accessed on the board's internet web site.

(B) If no bids are received from responsible bidders as provided in this section, the trustees shall procure labor and materials at prevailing rates and cause the fence to be constructed or maintained.

(C) No person shall obstruct or interfere with anyone lawfully engaged in construction or maintenance of a partition fence or in the performance of any other act described in this section.

Effective Date: 06-29-1988; 2008 SB268 09-12-2008; 2008 HB323 09-30-2008