Sec. 5. (a) The township trustee may pay the following costs incurred in cutting or destroying detrimental plants under this chapter:

(1) Chemicals.

(2) Work.

(3) Labor, at a rate per hour to be fixed by the township trustee commensurate with local hourly wages.

     (b) If the trustee believes the infestation of the real estate with detrimental plants is so great and widespread that cutting or eradication by hand methods is impractical, the trustee shall use the necessary power machinery or equipment. The trustee may pay for the work at a rate per hour fixed by the township trustee commensurate with the local hourly rate.

     (c) When the work has been performed, the person doing the work shall file an itemized bill for the work in the office of the township trustee. When the bill has been approved, the trustee shall pay the bill out of the township fund. If there is no money available in the township fund for that purpose, the township board, upon finding an emergency exists, shall act under IC 36-6-6-14(b) or IC 36-6-6-15 to borrow money sufficient to meet the emergency.

     (d) The trustee, when submitting estimates to the township board for action, shall include in the estimates an item sufficient to cover those expenditures.

[Pre-2008 Recodification Citations: subsection (a) formerly 15-3-4-3(a); subsection (b) formerly 15-3-4-3(b); subsection (c) part formerly 15-3-4-3(c) part; subsection (c) part formerly 15-3-4-3(h); subsection (d) formerly 15-3-4-3(i).]

As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.7.