243.220.  Repairs and improvements, how made — hearing when cost exceeds maintenance fund — form of notice. — 1.  When any ditches or other improvements constructed under this chapter need to be enlarged, cleaned out, obstructions removed therefrom or new work done, five or more of the owners of land originally assessed for the construction of any such ditches, or other improvements, may file a statement in writing with the county clerk setting forth such necessity.

  2.  Upon the filing of such statement, it shall be the duty of the county commission, at its next meeting thereafter, to direct the district engineer, or an engineer of their selection, as the case may be, to proceed at once to view the premises and to make a report to the commission in writing of the repairs and improvements necessary to be made and the probable cost of making such improvements as will restore the said ditch, drain or levy to an efficient condition.

  3.  It shall be the duty of the county commission to forthwith consider said report and if the commission finds that the improvements, or any of them, recommended in said report should be made, it shall direct the district engineer, or an engineer of their selection, as the case may be, to proceed with all due diligence in the making of such repairs and improvements, directing such engineer to purchase such supplies and employ such labor as may be necessary to accomplish such repairs and improvements and make an itemized report to the county commission in that behalf, all of which shall be paid out of the maintenance fund of that district.

  4.  If it shall be found by the county commission that repairs and improvements are necessary to be made at a cost in excess of the money available from the maintenance fund, then it should be the duty of the county commission to direct such repairs or improvements to be made as may be necessary and can be paid out of the maintenance fund and to cause the clerk thereof to set the hearing of the matter of the levying of an additional tax for such improvements as cannot be made out of the maintenance fund, for hearing on the first day of the next regular term of the county commission and to give notice of such hearing by publication in three issues of some weekly newspaper published in the county, the last insertion to be prior to the day set for the hearing, which said notice may be in the following form: