Repairing drains; appointment of committee; report to commissioners; contract; bond; assessment.

Whenever it shall become known to the board of county commissioners that it is necessary to repair any public drain or auxiliary thereto the said board of county commissioners shall appoint a committee of three competent and disinterested persons who are citizens of the county who shall ascertain the amount necessary for the repair of said work, and who shall report the same to the board of county commissioners at their next regular meeting, and upon the report of said committee to them they shall advertise not less than 30 days in a newspaper published in the county for bids on said work to be given to the lowest responsible bidder. Before letting the contract for the work, the said county commissioners shall require a sufficient bond from the contractor for the faithful performance of said work; when the work shall be completed the committee shall certify the same to the board of county commissioners who shall also inspect said work before final payment is made to the contractor, and such confirmation with the report of the committee that the work has been done according to contract shall be made a matter of record. Before letting such contract the committee appointed by the commissioners shall view the lands benefited by such drain or auxiliary and shall assess each parcel according and in proportion as each may be benefited, both those lands lying immediately along the drain or auxiliary thereto and those adjacent thereto for all the expenses that may be incurred in the repair of such drain, and shall file a report of the same with the board of county commissioners. Said report shall show each tract and parcel of land assessed, the amount of said assessment, and the names of the several owners, unless the owner cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, when the same may be assessed as unknown.