24-615. Powers and duties of board upon hearing objections to report; no appeal, when; board may modify decision. At the time and place fixed in said notice the board of supervisors shall meet for the hearing of the objections. If they find that due notice has not been given as required by this act, they shall continue the hearing to a date to be fixed by them, and order the publication of the notice as hereinbefore provided, and when they find that due notice has been given, they shall proceed to hear any objection or objections that may have been filed upon which an issue has been made, and for that purpose shall have the power to subpoena, swear and examine witnesses and to do all things necessary and incidental to a proper hearing and adjudication of said issue and shall examine the maps, profiles, plans and reports of said engineer and the items of the estimated cost of the drainage improvement recommended, and the classification of the land and property in said district and the assessment of the benefits to the same as proposed by said engineer.

After due consideration of all the evidence before them the said board of supervisors shall have power to adopt, amend, modify or reject the plan for the reclamation and protection of the land and property in said district recommended by the said engineer and to determine the location, character and extent of the work and improvement necessary to be undertaken by said district and estimate the cost thereof. From the decision of the said board on these matters no appeal will lie, but upon a proper showing at any time thereafter the said board may modify their order should such a modification be necessary to promote the welfare of the drainage district. The drainage board shall also have the power to establish the classification of the lands and property, and to determine and adjudicate the total amount of benefit that will accrue to each lot, tract, or parcel of land or other property in said district from the drainage improvement.

If an objection is overruled, the board may approve and confirm or modify the report as to the property affected, but if the objections are sustained the board may amend, or modify the report in any particular, and if they find that said classification or assessment of benefits to the land and other property to be in any respects inequitable either less than or in excess of the benefits accruing to said lands and property from said drainage improvements or in any particular unfair and unjust, they shall so order, and they shall thereupon so amend, adjust and equalize the said classification and benefits as may appear fair, just and equitable to them. And when said board has in said manner adjusted, equalized and determined the classification of and assessment of total benefits to the lands and other property in said district as above required they shall enter an order confirming the same: Provided, That all pleadings and other papers filed in the matter of said hearing shall be filed with the secretary of said board of supervisors and subpoenas and other process shall be issued by said secretary and the secretary shall be empowered to administer oaths to witnesses and to certify to records and papers under the seal of said drainage district.

History: L. 1911, ch. 168, § 15; May 22; R.S. 1923, 24-615.