Section 15-1937. Operation and maintenance

1.  The  care,  operation  and  maintenance of the drainage works in a
  drainage improvement district  shall  be  subject  to  the  control  and
  supervision  of  the department. It shall be the duty of the department,
  within the limit of the  funds  made  available  for  that  purpose,  to
  maintain the drainage works in the district in serviceable condition.
    2.  The  drainage  association shall consider and make recommendations
  with  regard  to  extensions  and  maintenance  work  annually  and  the
  department  may make recommendations with regard thereto to be submitted
  to the association for discussion.
    3. For such maintenance work the  department  is  authorized  to  hire
  employees,  purchase  or  rent  land,  buildings,  tools,  machinery  or
  supplies, to let work by contract or to carry out projects by day labor.
    4. The procedure to be followed for the authorization,  financing  and
  assessment of the cost of such work purchases shall be that specified in
  sections 15-1941 or 15-1943, whichever is applicable, or the proceedings
  may  be  initiated by the department of its own motion. In cases where a
  permanent maintenance or operating force is  necessary,  the  department
  may  annually  prepare  a maintenance budget which shall be treated as a
  repair project under section 15-1943.