§ 156‑33. Duty ofboard; refusal to comply with their requirements misdemeanor.
The board provided for in G.S. 156‑32 shall meet at the call ofthe chairman and shall proceed to inspect and examine the lands as described inthe petition to be drained, and the board shall have power to summon witnesses,administer oaths, and take testimony, and if the board decides that the landsspecified in the petition shall be drained, either upon the plea of health orfor the benefit of the farms lying on or contiguous to such watercourse, thenthe board shall select a place at which the ditch shall be begun. They shallalso decide the depth and width of the ditch to be dug, and shall proceed tosurvey, locate, lay off, and mark the course of the ditch, and the board shallassign to the landowners the amount of the labor to be performed and the amountof money to be paid for the purpose of defraying the necessary expenses by eachlandowner in proportion to the amount of lands drained or pro rata benefitsreceived by the drainage of such lands, and the board shall specify the time inwhich the work so assigned shall be completed: Provided, no one shall berequired to commence on the work assigned to him until the person next belowhim shall have completed his work in accordance with the specifications of theboard. If any person shall refuse to comply with any of the requirements ofthe board he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1887, c. 267, ss. 2, 7; Rev., ss. 3377, 4012; C.S.,s. 5291; 1993, c. 539, s. 1074; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)