This chapter shall be liberally construed to promote the ditching, drainage, and reclamation of wet, swampy, and overflowed lands. The collection of assessments shall not be defeated by reason of any omission, imperfection, or defect in the organization of any district or in any proceedings occurring prior to the decree of the court confirming assessment of benefits and damages; but said decree shall be conclusive that all prior proceedings were regular and according to law. In case any assessment shall be held to be void for want of notice, the said commissioners may, upon motion, be permitted to give such owner due notice and ask for a time to be set by the court or chancellor in vacation. The court or chancellor shall set such time for hearing any and all objections that said landowner may have to such proceedings and assessment, may make such order in reference thereto as justice may require, and shall assess to such landowner his just proportion of the benefits received by him by such proposed work. Thereupon such assessment as to such landowner shall be conclusive.
Structure Mississippi Code
Title 51 - Waters, Water Resources, Water Districts, Drainage, and Flood Control
Chapter 31 - Drainage Districts with County Commissioners
§ 51-31-1. Powers of drainage districts
§ 51-31-5. General authority of drainage districts
§ 51-31-7. Exercise of authority
§ 51-31-9. Selection of county drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-11. Oath and bond of drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-13. Compensation of commissioners
§ 51-31-17. Secretary and treasurer of drainage districts
§ 51-31-19. Employment of counsel
§ 51-31-21. Creation of drainage districts on petition
§ 51-31-23. Jurisdiction of organization
§ 51-31-25. Notice of petition
§ 51-31-29. Hearing of petitions
§ 51-31-31. Landowners may sign petition at hearing
§ 51-31-33. Commissioners to estimate cost
§ 51-31-35. Proceedings on report of commissioners
§ 51-31-37. Disposition of report
§ 51-31-39. Form of court's order
§ 51-31-41. District declared organized
§ 51-31-43. Preliminary expenses
§ 51-31-47. Notice of assessments
§ 51-31-49. Hearing objections
§ 51-31-51. Assessments confirmed
§ 51-31-53. Payment of assessments
§ 51-31-55. Right of way agreements
§ 51-31-57. Notice of appraisement by commissioners
§ 51-31-59. Appraisement hearing
§ 51-31-61. Levy to provide estimated funds
§ 51-31-63. Tax levied to meet assessment
§ 51-31-65. Levy each year to meet bond obligations
§ 51-31-67. Reassessments in case of underestimates
§ 51-31-69. Sale of district bonds
§ 51-31-71. Contracts let to lowest bidder
§ 51-31-73. Commissioners to construct and maintain drains
§ 51-31-75. Lateral ditches to be laid out
§ 51-31-77. Actual damages recoverable
§ 51-31-79. Jurisdiction of drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-83. Commissioners may go on lands
§ 51-31-85. Ditches already constructed may be used
§ 51-31-87. Compensation for use of other district drains
§ 51-31-89. Passing railroads with canal
§ 51-31-91. Notice and damages
§ 51-31-93. Railroad may be assessed for benefits
§ 51-31-95. Drain may cross public road
§ 51-31-97. Landowners outside of district may use drains
§ 51-31-99. Reassessment if estimate deficient
§ 51-31-101. Penalty for injuring drains
§ 51-31-103. Benefit to county farm
§ 51-31-105. Jurisdiction of suits
§ 51-31-107. Master may hear and determine causes; report of findings to chancellor
§ 51-31-109. Expenses of chancellor and master taxed against district
§ 51-31-111. Additional bond issue
§ 51-31-113. Interest rate of additional bonds
§ 51-31-115. Notice of issue to be published
§ 51-31-117. Proceedings in rem
§ 51-31-119. Subdrainage districts authorized
§ 51-31-121. Notice of subdistrict proceedings
§ 51-31-123. Creation of subdistrict
§ 51-31-125. Subdistricts managed by drainage commissioners
§ 51-31-127. Separate financial account kept for subdrainage district
§ 51-31-129. Collection of taxes
§ 51-31-135. Record of tax sales
§ 51-31-137. Expiration of redemption period
§ 51-31-139. District placed under supervisors
§ 51-31-141. Procedure for districts to come under this chapter