The county engineer shall have general charge and supervision of the repair and maintenance of all county and joint county ditches, drains, watercourses, and other drainage improvements within his county constructed under sections 6131.01 to 6131.64, 6133.01 to 6133.15, 6135.01 to 6135.27, and 6137.051 of the Revised Code. The county engineer shall make an inspection of the drainage improvements and, on or before the first day of June in each year, shall report to the board of county commissioners the condition of the drainage improvements and his estimate of the probable amount of funds required to repair and maintain them. The estimates shall relate to the year beginning on the first day of July next ensuing and shall be for the information of the board of county commissioners in making their annual drainage maintenance levies.

The engineer shall approve all estimates that are paid from the county drainage maintenance fund for the repair and maintenance of drainage improvements.

Any number of persons owning land along a ditch, drain, watercourse, or other drainage improvement may form an advisory committee for the purpose of notifying the county engineer of any repair and maintenance work that needs to be performed on the improvement. A committee formed for this purpose shall submit their recommendations to the engineer not later than the first day of May of any year in which its members desire to notify him of needed work. In determining the condition of the improvement in accordance with this section, the engineer shall consider the committee's recommendations.

The county auditor, before he issues his warrant for any moneys expended by the county for repair or maintenance of any drainage improvement, shall require of the county engineer the assignment of the expense to the improvement or the drainage maintenance district in connection with which the expense was incurred. The auditor shall keep such records as are necessary to show clearly at the close of each year the amount of money expended from the drainage maintenance funds on each drainage improvement or each drainage maintenance district.

The auditor shall establish and maintain a rotary fund for the purchase of equipment, materials, and labor related to the general maintenance of watercourses under Chapter 6137. of the Revised Code. This fund shall be established and maintained by a proportionate withdrawal from the funds of each drainage improvement or each drainage maintenance district.

The engineer shall establish a rental rate for equipment purchased with this fund. This rate shall be used in charging the equipment, along with material and labor, to the drainage improvement upon which it is used in order to reimburse the rotary fund.

The duties of the county engineer with respect to maintenance of any drainage improvement shall begin upon the substantial completion of the improvement.

In preparing plans and specifications for repair and maintenance of open ditches and in carrying out the plans either by contract or force account, the county engineer shall provide for necessary clearing of tree and brush growth, removal of silt bars, spreading and leveling of spoil banks, and the preservation of a sod or seeded strip as provided in the case of new construction under section 6131.14 of the Revised Code, in addition to the various phases of maintenance set forth in section 6137.05 of the Revised Code.

Sections 6131.01 to 6131.64 of the Revised Code apply to the maintenance fund with respect to receiving bids, statements required in bids, letting contracts, competitive bidding, time allowed under contract, supervision of contractor's work, certification for payment, and other related matters.

Effective Date: 04-09-1981 .