§ 36-9-27-72 — Private crossings, control dams, or other permanent structures; removal, replacement, and maintenance

(a) When, in the reconstruction or periodic
maintenance of a regulated drain, the county surveyor determines that
a private crossing will not adequately handle the flow of water from the
drain or will be endangered by such flow, the county surveyor shall in
the county surveyor's plans call for the removal of the crossing.
(b) The replacement of a private crossing, when necessary, may be
accomplished as a part of the work of the reconstruction or
maintenance. The estimate by the county surveyor of the cost for the
replacement shall be assessed against the land that would otherwise be
deprived of ingress and egress. However, when a private crossing has
been lawfully established and maintained, the board may assess any
part of the cost of its replacement against all affected lands.
(c) A private crossing, control dam, or other permanent structure
may not be placed over or through an open drain unless the plans and
specifications for the structure are first approved by the county
surveyor. The county surveyor shall disapprove the plans and
specifications if they do not show that the structure will meet hydraulic
requirements that will permit the drain to function properly.
(d) All maintenance of a private crossing or of a private structure
within the drain, whether privately constructed or constructed as a part
of work on a drain under this chapter, is the responsibility of the
owners of land served by the private crossing or structure. The owners
are directly responsible for any obstruction or damage to the drain that
results from the existence of the private crossing or structure,
notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 19-4-6-6
part.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.101. Amended by
P.L.276-2001, SEC.16; P.L.127-2017, SEC.358.