(a) The board shall annually have prepared, and shall adopt, plans and specifications of all necessary repairs to the levees of the district and of any new levees to be constructed and all other works of improvement for the benefit of the district, and shall divide the work into convenient sections. The plans and specifications shall be filed in the office of the board not later than the first day of July of each year and shall be subject to inspection by any interested person for at least two weeks prior to the letting of any contract for work in accordance with those plans and specifications. If the cost of repair or construction in any one of the sections will exceed five hundred dollars ($500) the board must, not later than the first day of July in each year, give notice by publication at least once a week for two consecutive weeks in one or more newspapers printed and published in Sutter County, that sealed proposals will be received and opened at the office of the board, at a time specified in the notice, for the construction of repairs, new levees, and other works of improvement in each separate section of work, and for the whole work, in accordance with the plans and specifications. At the time and place specified in the notice the board shall publicly open the bids and let the contract or contracts to the lowest responsible bidder or bidders; provided, however, that the board may reject any bid. If any or all bids are rejected the board shall immediately readvertise for bids, as in the first instance, for work that has not been let and upon the opening and consideration of those new bids the board shall have the right to reject any of them and have the work done by day labor. Every person, firm or corporation to whom a contract is awarded shall enter into a bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board, equal to one-half of the contract price, conditioned for the faithful performance of the contract in accordance with the plans and specifications.

(b) In cases of emergency, the board may, by unanimous consent of all the members, proceed at once to replace or repair any and all levees in the district without notice. If notice for bids to let contracts will not be given, the board shall comply with Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 22050).

(c) In case of vacancy in the office of any director or directors of the district by reason of death, resignation, or other cause (whether the same shall occur before or after the effective date of this act), the board of supervisors of Sutter County shall have power to fill the same by appointment. A person so appointed to fill such a vacancy shall hold office until the first Monday in March following the next election in the district at which directors are to be elected and until his or her successor has been elected.

(Amended by Stats. 1994, Ch. 803, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 1995.)