Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 June 1915 — New Ditch Cleaning Law. [ARTICLE]

New Ditch Cleaning Law.

Much of the ditch cleaning and repair work that has been under the supervision of the county surveyor the past eight years is now placed in charge of the township trustees by virtue of an act of the recent state legislature. • All open ditches or drains except dredge ditches, and all tile drains, and the necessary worn to keep ah ditch banks clear of rubbish and vegetable growth that would affect the flow of water, is turned over to the trustee. This new law directs that all open ditches except dredged ones shall he divided into two classes—those that need to be cleaned out at once and those that can wait another year. The first class shall be cleaned out yet this year and the second class in 1916, and then to alternate thereafter. These classes no not necessarily have to be of equal numbers. The county surveyor or some other competent engineer has to be employed to make proper specifications, showing allotments or stations of 100 feet each, then estimate the number of cubic yards of dirt to be removed from each station and the amount of labor necessary. For these labors the surveyor is to receive $4.00 per day and his deputy not to exceed $2.00 and the whole cost is not to of the ditch to be cleaned. After these specifications have filed, the trustee is required to advertise for bids and let the contract to the lowest and best bidder Advertising must he done through the newspaper nearest the ditch in question and by posting notices in five public places in the township. Owners are given preference at the same rate to the extent of individual assessments over any other! contractor.

As to the drains, the trustee is empowered to repair them at any time when he is given notice that an emergency exists for the work. If the work is likely to amount to more than SIO.OO he is required to advertise for bids and let a contract. All brush, weeds, willows, trees or other natural growth that interferes with the flow of the water or are on the ditch banks must removed during the month of July. An exception is made where trees or brush are left

to prevent unnatural washing of the banks. Where the work will costless than SIO.OO the trustee can order it done directly. Where more than SIO.OO is to be spent he has to advertise for bids and let a contract. To secure funds with which to meet expenses incurred the trustee is required to provide a fund to be known as an Emergency Fund. It is to be created by a levy on the ditch owners in equitable proportions of approximately one per cent of the original cost of the ditch. This assessment is paid direct to the township trustee in four equal installments at intervals of 30 days each after the work has begun on any repair. If necessary assessment is to be made every two years unless there be enough in the township treasury of the former assessment to do the necessary work and then there’ll be none made until Until money is received from assessment to pay for work the trustee is permitted to use township funds to be replaced when the Emergency Fund is available.