§ 27-302. Duties

   (a) Examination of lands. -- The board of viewers:

   (1) shall make a careful and thorough examination of the land described in the petition and of other land if necessary, to locate properly any improvement that is petitioned for, along the route described in the petition or any other route that is more practicable or feasible;

   (2) shall ensure that the land of any person who is seeking to be included in the drainage district has been included in the drainage district; and

   (3) may conduct surveys to:

      (i) determine the boundaries and elevations of the parts of the district; and

      (ii) enable the board of viewers to form a tentative plan for development.

(b) Report. --

   (1) The board of viewers shall make and return to the designated officer a written report that states whether:

      (i) the proposed drainage is practicable;

      (ii) the proposed drainage will benefit the public health or any public highway or be conducive to the general welfare of the community;

      (iii) the proposed drainage project will benefit the land in question sufficiently to warrant the probable expenditure; and

      (iv) all the land that will be benefited is included in the proposed drainage district.

   (2) The report shall be available for inspection in an office of the designated officer within 30 days after the date on which the designated officer receives the report, unless the county commissioners or county council extend the time period for providing the report.

(c) Map of proposed drainage district. -- The report shall include a map of the proposed drainage district that:

   (1) shows the location of the ditch or other improvement to be constructed with an estimate of the cost of the improvement;

   (2) shows the land that will be affected by the improvement, including the name of each landowner, if the name of the landowner can be obtained; and

   (3) provides any other information collected by the board of viewers that supports the board's findings.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 25, § 105; 2013, ch. 119, § 2.