Title XXII, Levees, Drainage, and Reclamation of Lands

The board of levee commissioners may enter upon, acquire, take and hold any lands or premises necessary and proper for locating, constructing, reconstructing, enlarging, extending, repairing and maintaining its line of levees, as well as for the cutting of ditches for the purpose…

The board of levee commissioners may enter into arrangements, contracts and agreements with any river commission or agency of the United States government to secure the construction, reconstruction, repair, enlargement, extension or maintenance of the levee by the river commissio…

(1) For the purpose of building or repairing its levees the board may levy and have collected an annual tax, not exceeding fifty cents ($0.50) on the one hundred dollars ($100), on all property within the territory protected by the levee. The property shall be assessed and the ta…

For the purpose of establishing, constructing, reconstructing, repairing, enlarging, and maintaining the levees the board may borrow money as is necessary, and issue, negotiate, and sell its bonds in denominations of not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than one thou…

procedure. (1) Whenever it is necessary for the board to have sufficient funds to enable it to pay the interest and principal of any bonds, or any liability incurred necessary in the reconstruction, repair or maintenance of any public levee constructed under laws other than the g…

A lien shall exist for the cost of the establishment, construction, reconstruction, repair, enlargement, extension and maintenance of any levee established under the laws of Kentucky against the land within the territory protected by the levee, superior to all other liens except …

When it will be conducive to the public health, convenience or welfare, or when it will be of public benefit or utility, the county judge/executive of any county may establish and aid in the construction of any levee along a river or watercourse within the county in the manner an…

No person shall ride a horse or drive any vehicle on any public levee except at a crossing of a public road or at such private crossings as the board of levee commissioners has established.

No person shall permit any hog owned by him to run at large on any public levee.

(1) Any person who violates subsection (3) of KRS 266.120 shall be fined five dollars ($5) for each day the violation continues. (2) Any person who violates KRS 266.200 shall be fined for each offense not less than ten dollars ($10) nor more than fifty dollars ($50). (3) Any pers…

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Board" means the county board of drainage commissioners, or, in counties having seventy-five (75) or more separate drainage districts, or in counties availing themselves of the provisions of KRS 267.390(3)(b) an…

All boards established under this chapter shall comply with the provisions of KRS 65A.010 to 65A.090.

A drainage district may be created in accordance with the procedures of KRS 65.810 for the purpose of draining or reclaiming low, swampy or overflowed land in the county, locate, establish and have constructed any levee, ditch, drain or canal, and have constructed, straightened, …

(1) In every county where an improvement has been made under former laws or is made under this chapter, except those counties having seventy-five (75) or more separate drainage districts or those counties availing themselves of the provisions of KRS 267.390(3)(b) and 267.490 as p…

Except as provided in KRS 267.010, 267.090, and 267.490, the directors from the various districts of the county shall constitute the county board of drainage commissioners, with the right to acquire, hold, encumber, sell and convey any property necessary to the conduct of its aff…

Within fifteen (15) days after the election of the directors they shall meet at the county seat and elect a president and treasurer from their number, and a secretary who need not be from their number. If no secretary is elected, the county clerk shall be the ex officio secretary…

(1) The board shall meet when called by the president. The president shall call a meeting upon the written request of two (2) or more directors. The board shall have an office at the county seat, which shall be provided with all necessary furniture, stationery and records. The bo…

Report. (1) When the court refers to it any proceeding to establish or construct any improvement, the board shall employ a competent drainage engineer, who shall be the chief engineer for the work. The board may prescribe the number of assistant engineers to be selected by the ch…

Whenever the chief engineer makes a survey to locate a district or to change a natural watercourse that would cross the right-of-way of any railroad company the board shall serve written notice upon the local agent of the company, or its lessee or receiver, that the chief enginee…

and viewers. When the engineer's report is filed, the board shall meet and receive and adopt it, with any modifications that may be determined upon, and shall notify the county judge/executive of its action. Within ten (10) days thereafter, the county judge/executive shall enter …

(1) The viewers shall meet on the day named in the notice provided by KRS 267.150, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and proceed with their work, for which the clerk shall furnish them with the duplicate plan of drainage adopted by the board. As soon after their first meeting…

The viewers shall keep an accurate account and report to the court the name of each person employed on the survey, the kind of work done, the number of days employed, any expenses that have been incurred in going to and from the work, and the cost of any supplies or material that…

highway. When any improvement crosses a public street or highway, the actual cost of constructing it across the street or highway, or removing old bridges or building new ones, shall be paid out of the fund of the drainage district. When any street or highway in the district is b…

The viewers shall assess the benefits that will accrue to the property of any railroad company by affording better drainage or a better outlet for drainage, but no benefits shall be assessed because of the increase in business that may come to any railroad company because of the …

The viewers shall assess the damages claimed by anyone that is justly right and due to him for property taken, injured or destroyed because of an improvement, or for any other legal damages sustained, including the actual estimated amount saved on account of private ditches utili…

When the final report of the viewers is completed and filed, it shall be examined by the county judge/executive, and if it is found to be legal and in due form it shall be accepted, and if not it may be referred back to the viewers with instructions to secure further information,…

When the district is declared established, and the final report of the viewers approved or confirmed, the court shall refer the whole proceeding to the board for further proceedings.

The county clerk of each county shall provide a suitable record book to be known as the "drainage record," in which he shall enter or copy every order, report, judgment or finding concerning the district. When land in any other county is affected, copies of all such records shall…

(1) Upon final reference to it by the court of any drainage proceedings, the board shall give notice by publication pursuant to KRS Chapter 424 in the county in which the improvement is located, of the time and place of letting the work of construction and of the approximate amou…

The chief engineer in charge of construction shall make monthly estimates of the amount of work done, and furnish one (1) copy to the contractor and file the other with the secretary of the board. The board shall meet within five (5) days after the filing of such estimate, and if…

In the construction of the work the contractor may enter upon any land necessary for this purpose, and may remove any bridge or fence and cross private land in going to or from the work. If the right-of-way of the improvement is through timber, the owner may remove it before the …

Cost. (1) After the contract is let and the actual construction is commenced, if the work is being done with a floating dredge, the superintendent in charge of construction shall notify any railroad company of the probable time at which the contractor will be ready to enter upon …

If it is necessary to acquire a right-of-way or any outlet over or through lands not affected by the drainage, and the same cannot be acquired by purchase, the same may be condemned by the board. The owners of the land sought to be condemned shall be made parties to the proceedin…

After the classification of the land and the ratio of assessment of the different classes has been confirmed by the county judge/executive, the board shall prepare an assessment roll or drainage tax duplicate, giving a description of all the land in the district, the name of the …

approved roll. (1) When the copies of the assessment roll and statement of costs are filed with the county clerk, the clerk shall give notice, by publication pursuant to KRS Chapter 424 in the county, of the filing of the assessment roll and statement, and that they will be heard…

cents ($0.25) per acre. If the total assessment against the land is less than an average of twenty-five cents ($0.25) per acre, the assessments shall be collected in one (1) installment. In that case, after the assessment roll has been made out and one (1) copy delivered to the c…

($0.25) per acre -- Failure to pay assessment is consent to bonds. (1) If the total assessment exceeds the average of twenty-five cents ($0.25) per acre on all the land assessed, the board may give notice by publication pursuant to KRS Chapter 424, and by posting a notice at the …

(1) At the expiration of thirty (30) days after publication of the notice required by KRS 267.320, the board may divide the unpaid assessments into annual installments, not less than two (2) nor more than thirty (30), which shall draw interest at the rate or rates or method of de…

Refunding bonds may be issued and sold, and assessments may be levied and collected to retire the refunding bonds, in the manner provided in KRS 269.010 to 269.050.

(1) When the county judge/executive has confirmed an assessment for any improvement and it has been modified by a court of superior jurisdiction, or for some unforeseen cause it cannot be collected, the board may change the original assessment to conform to the judgment of the co…

Any person who acquires title to any land affected by any proceeding under this chapter after the preliminary report of the viewers is filed shall be deemed privy to the person owning or in possession under claim of ownership at the time the preliminary report is filed, and shall…

(1) The assessment roll and each assessment installment shall be a paramount lien against the lands assessed, subject only to the lien for state and county taxes. (2) Any lien established under this chapter may be enforced by an action in the Circuit Court without regard to the a…

The assessment roll made up by the board shall be prima facie evidence in all courts that all steps necessary to be taken under this chapter have been properly taken, and that all proceedings are regular and valid. The collection of any assessment shall not be defeated, where the…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all improvements made under this chapter, as well as all public ditches or drains established or constructed under pre- existing laws, shall be under the control and supervision of the board having jurisdiction of the proceedings …

The board may employ a competent person as superintendent of drainage, for such time as it deems necessary. He shall be subject to the orders of the board, and shall look after all improvements under charge of the board and keep them clean, open and in good condition. The superin…

The board may employ an attorney. Such employment shall be evidenced by a written agreement which, as far as possible, shall specify the exact amount to be paid to the attorney for all services and expenses. The attorney shall conduct all legal actions in which the board is inter…