Section 61-32-08 - Appeal of board decisions - Department of water resources review - Closing of noncomplying drains1. The board shall make the decision required by section 61-32-07 within a reasonable time, but not to exceed one hundred twenty days, after receiving the complaint. The board shall notify all parties of its decision by certified mail. Any aggrieved party may appeal the board's decision to the department of water resources. The appeal to the department must be made within thirty days from the date notice of the board's decision has been received. The appeal must be made by submitting a written notice to the department, and the notice must specify the reason why the board's decision is erroneous. The appealing party also shall submit copies of the written appeal notice to the board and to all nonappealing parties. Upon receipt of this notice the board, if it has ordered closure of a drain, lateral drain, or ditch, is relieved of its obligation to procure the closing or filling of the drain, lateral drain, or ditch. The department shall handle the appeal by conducting an independent investigation and making an independent determination of the matter. The department may enter property affected by the complaint to investigate the complaint.2. If the board fails to investigate and make a determination concerning the complaint within a reasonable time, but not to exceed one hundred twenty days, the person filing the complaint may file the complaint with the department of water resources within one hundred fifty days of the submittal date of the original complaint. The department, without reference to chapter 28-32, shall cause the investigation and determination to be made, either by action against the board or by conducting the investigation and making the determination.3. If the department of water resources determines a drain, lateral drain, or ditch has been opened or established by a landowner or tenant contrary to title 61 or any rules adopted by the board, the department shall take one of three actions: a. Notify the landowner by certified mail at the landowner's post-office address of record;b. Return the matter to the jurisdiction of the board along with the investigation report; or c. Forward the drainage complaint and investigation report to the state's attorney.4. If the department of water resources decides to notify the landowner, the notice must specify the nature and extent of the noncompliance and state if the drain, lateral drain, or ditch is not closed or filled within a reasonable time as determined by the department, but not less than thirty days, the department shall procure the closing or filling of the drain, lateral drain, or ditch and assess the cost, against the responsible landowner's property. The notice from the department must state the affected landowner may demand in writing, within fifteen days of the date the notice is mailed, a hearing on the matter. Upon receipt of the demand, the department shall set a hearing date within fifteen days from the date the demand is received. If, in the opinion of the department, more than one landowner or tenant has been responsible, the costs may be assessed on a pro rata basis in proportion to the responsibility of the landowners. Upon assessment of costs, the department shall certify the assessment to the county auditor of the county where the noncomplying drain, lateral drain, or ditch is located. The county auditor shall extend the assessment against the property assessed. Each assessment must be collected and paid as other property taxes are collected and paid. Assessments collected must be deposited with the state treasurer and credited to the contract fund established by section 61-02-64.1. Any person aggrieved by action of the department under this section may appeal the decision of the department to the district court under chapter 28-32. A hearing by the department under this section is a prerequisite to an appeal.5. If the department of water resources, after completing the investigation required under this section, decides to return the matter to the board, a complete copy of the investigation report must be forwarded to the board and it must include the nature and extent of the noncompliance. Upon having the matter returned to its jurisdiction, the board shall carry out the department's decision under this section.6. If the department of water resources, after completing the investigation required under this section, decides to forward the drainage complaint to the state's attorney, a complete copy of the investigation report must be forwarded and must include the nature and extent of the noncompliance. The state's attorney shall prosecute the complaint under the statutory responsibilities prescribed in chapter 11-16.7. In addition to the penalty imposed by the court on conviction under this statute, the court shall order the drain, lateral drain, or ditch closed or filled within a reasonable time period as the court determines, but not less than thirty days. If the drain, lateral drain, or ditch is not closed or filled within the time prescribed by the court, the court shall procure the closing or filling of the drain, lateral drain, or ditch, and assess the cost against the property of the landowner responsible, in the same manner as other assessments under chapter 61-16.1 are levied. If, in the opinion of the court, more than one landowner or tenant has been responsible, the costs may be assessed on a pro rata basis in proportion to the responsibility of the landowners.Amended by S.L. 2021, ch. 488 (HB 1353),§ 183, eff. 8/1/2021.Amended by S.L. 2015, ch. 473 (HB 1095),§ 3, eff. 8/1/2015.Amended by S.L. 2013, ch. 484 (HB 1062),§ 4, eff. 8/1/2013.