Fla. Stat. 157.22
Repairing drains; appointment of committee; report to commissioners; contract; bond; assessment

Whenever it shall become known to the board of county commissioners that it is necessary to repair any public drain or auxiliary thereto the said board of county commissioners shall appoint a committee of three competent and disinterested persons who are citizens of the county who shall ascertain the amount necessary for the repair of said work, and who shall report the same to the board of county commissioners at their next regular meeting, and upon the report of said committee to them they shall advertise not less than 30 days in a newspaper published in the county for bids on said work to be given to the lowest responsible bidder. Before letting the contract for the work, the said county commissioners shall require a sufficient bond from the contractor for the faithful performance of said work; when the work shall be completed the committee shall certify the same to the board of county commissioners who shall also inspect said work before final payment is made to the contractor, and such confirmation with the report of the committee that the work has been done according to contract shall be made a matter of record. Before letting such contract the committee appointed by the commissioners shall view the lands benefited by such drain or auxiliary and shall assess each parcel according and in proportion as each may be benefited, both those lands lying immediately along the drain or auxiliary thereto and those adjacent thereto for all the expenses that may be incurred in the repair of such drain, and shall file a report of the same with the board of county commissioners. Said report shall show each tract and parcel of land assessed, the amount of said assessment, and the names of the several owners, unless the owner cannot be ascertained by diligent inquiry, when the same may be assessed as unknown.

Source: Section 157.22 — Repairing drains; appointment of committee; report to commissioners; contract; bond; assessment, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0157.­22 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

157.01
Public ditch, drain or canal 157.02
Action on petition by county commissioners 157.03
Commissioners to appoint committee 157.04
Bond required before letting contract 157.05
Work done under supervision of committee 157.06
Committee to view land before letting contract 157.07
Where cost of construction exceeds estimated cost commissioners to assess difference 157.08
Assessments 157.09
Compensation of committee 157.10
Application to lateral ditches 157.11
Lateral drains may be established 157.12
Duty of bond trustees to borrow money to pay interest on bonds until collection of first assessment 157.13
Use of surplus of bond proceeds 157.14
Owner may pay whole tax in one sum 157.15
County commissioners may issue bonds to pay scrip 157.16
Enlarging drains and assessing cost 157.17
Assessment to maintain drains 157.18
Awarding contract for enlarging or repairing drains 157.19
Where actual cost exceeds estimated cost 157.20
Appointment of committee to view work and make assessments 157.21
Enlargement of drains 157.22
Repairing drains 157.23
Objections to report of committee fixing assessments 157.24
Commissioners may issue interest-bearing scrip against land to borrow money or pay for work 157.25
Compensation of committee 157.26
Repair and maintenance of drains under supervision of county commissioners 157.27
Proceedings for making repair to drains, etc 157.28
Awarding contracts for repair 157.29
Levy of tax for maintaining and repairing drains 157.30
Reassessment of lands where attempt to establish ditch or canal irregular 157.31
Notice of reassessment for drainage 157.32
Reviewing complaints and making assessment against property benefited 157.33
Issuance of scrip to take up former scrip or bonds 157.34
Reassessments to have effect as original assessment 157.35
Assessments conclusive after lapse of 6 months 157.36
Adjustment of drainage tax liens

Current through Fall 2025

§ 157.22. Repairing drains; appointment of committee; report to commissioners; contract; bond; assessment's source at flsenate​.gov