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103E.021 DITCHES MUST BE PLANTED WITH PERMANENT GRASS.
    Subdivision 1. Spoil banks must be spread and grass planted. In any proceeding to
establish, construct, improve, or do any work affecting a public drainage system under any law
that appoints viewers to assess benefits and damages, the authority having jurisdiction over the
proceeding shall order spoil banks to be spread consistent with the plan and function of the
drainage system. The authority shall order that permanent grass, other than a noxious weed, be
planted on the banks and on a strip 16-1/2 feet in width or to the crown of the leveled spoil bank,
whichever is the greater, on each side of the top edge of the channel of the ditch. The acreage and
additional property required for the planting must be acquired by the authority having jurisdiction.
    Subd. 2. Reseeding and harvesting grass. The authority having jurisdiction over the repair
and maintenance of the drainage system shall supervise all necessary reseeding. The permanent
grass must be maintained in the same manner as other drainage system repairs. Harvest of the
grass from the grass strip in a manner not harmful to the grass or the drainage system is the
privilege of the fee owner or assigns. The county drainage inspector shall establish rules for the
fee owner and assigns to harvest the grass.
    Subd. 3. Agricultural practices prohibited. Agricultural practices, other than those
required for the maintenance of a permanent growth of grass, are not permitted on any portion of
the property acquired for planting.
    Subd. 4. Compliance work by drainage authority. If a property owner does not bring
an area into compliance with this section as provided in the compliance notice, the inspection
committee or drainage inspector must notify the drainage authority. If a property owner does not
bring an area into compliance after being notified under section 103E.705, subdivision 2, the
drainage authority must issue an order to have the work performed to bring the property into
compliance. After the work is completed, the drainage authority must send a statement of the
expenses incurred to bring the property into compliance to the auditor of the county where the
property is located and to the property owner.
    Subd. 5. Collection of compliance expenses. (a) The amount of the expenses to bring an
area into compliance with this section is a lien in favor of the drainage authority against the
property where the expenses were incurred. The auditor must certify the expenses and enter the
amount in the same manner as other drainage liens on the tax list for the following year. The
amount must be collected in the same manner as real estate taxes for the property. The provisions
of law relating to the collection of real estate taxes shall be used to enforce payment of amounts
due under this section. The auditor must include a notice of collection of compliance expenses
with the tax statement.
(b) The amounts collected under this subdivision must be deposited in the drainage system
account.
History: 1990 c 391 art 5 s 4

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes