2025 Session Last amended: 2007 session

§ 383C.094 — Repair of Ditches

Plain-Language Summary

In St. Louis County, when the state holds title to at least 30 percent of the land in a drainage district (through tax forfeiture or other laws), the county board may clean or repair a drain or ditch in that system when lack of repair has caused or is causing great damage to county roads, property, crops, or lands. The county may pay for the work from its general revenue fund and may use its own equipment and employees or hire a contractor; if a contract is used and the estimated cost exceeds $500, the work must be bid out to the lowest responsible bidder, or alternatively awarded to the vendor offering the best value under a request for proposals. County boards may also accept gifts of money from the federal or state government to carry out this work. This authority is in addition to existing powers county boards have to repair or clean drains and ditches.

Practical Notes
This section applies only to St. Louis County and is permissive, not mandatory: the county board may, but is not required to, repair ditches when state-held tax-forfeited land makes up at least 30 percent of a drainage district and damage is occurring. The county funds the work from its general revenue fund and may accept federal or state gift money, and a contract over $500 must be competitively bid or awarded on a best-value basis.