2-1319. State political subdivision land; control and eradication of noxious weeds; failure by political subdivision to control; payment of costs. (a) (1) The cost of controlling and eradicating noxious weeds on all lands or right-of-ways owned or supervised by a state agency, department or commission shall be paid by the state agency, department or commission supervising such lands or right-of-ways from funds appropriated to its use; on county lands and county right-of-ways, on township lands and township right-of-ways, on city lands and right-of-ways by the county, township or city in which such lands and right-of-ways are located, and from funds made available for that purpose; on drainage districts, irrigation districts, cemetery associations and other political subdivisions of the state, the costs shall be paid from their respective funds made available for the purpose.

(2) If the governing body of any political subdivision owning or supervising lands infested with noxious weeds within their jurisdiction fails to control such noxious weeds, the county shall provide 15 days' notice to the political subdivision directing such political subdivision to submit a plan and timeline for controlling such noxious weeds to the board of county commissioners or control such noxious weeds. If the plan and timeline is deemed unacceptable, the board of county commissioners shall notify the political subdivision of requested changes to its plan and timeline required for the board of county commissioners to approve such plan and timeline. If the political subdivision fails to control such noxious weeds or fails to submit an accepted plan and timeline within such 15 days' notice, the board of county commissioners shall proceed to have official methods for the control and eradication used upon such lands, and shall notify the governing body of the political subdivision by certified mail of the costs of such operations, with a demand for payment. The governing body of the political subdivision shall pay such costs from its noxious weed fund, or if no such fund is available, from its general fund or from any other funds available for such purpose. A copy of the statement, together with proof of notification, shall at the same time be filed with the county clerk, and if the amount is not paid within 30 days, such clerk shall spread the amount upon the tax roll of the political subdivision, and such amount shall become a lien against the entire territory located within the particular political subdivision, and shall be collected as other taxes are collected.

(b) All moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the county noxious weed eradication fund, or if the noxious weed program is funded primarily through the county general fund, such moneys shall be paid into the county general fund. If the noxious weed program is funded from more than one source, all moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into each source in proportion to its contribution to the noxious weed program.

History: L. 1937, ch. 1, § 6; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 5; L. 1976, ch. 6, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 5, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 154, § 29; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 30; L. 2018, ch. 77, § 11; July 1.