Section 2-6-39. Land use regulations -- Inspections to determine observance; petition; judicial proceedings; costs and expenses

   (a) The supervisors shall have authority to go upon any lands within the district to determine whether land use regulations adopted under this article are being observed.

(b) Where the supervisors of any district find that any of the provisions of land use regulations adopted in accordance with this article are not being observed on particular lands and that such nonobservance tends to increase erosion on such lands and is interfering with the prevention or control of erosion on other lands within the district, the supervisors may present a petition to the superior court of the county or counties within which the lands of the defendant lie. The petition shall set forth the adoption of the land use regulations, the failure of the defendant landowner or occupier of the land to observe such regulations and to perform particular work, operations, or avoidances as required thereby, and that such nonobservance tends to increase erosion on such lands and is interfering with the prevention or control of erosion on other lands within the district. It shall ask the court to require the defendant to perform the work, operations, or avoidances within a reasonable time and to order that if the defendant fails to do so, the supervisors may go on the land, perform the work or other operations or otherwise bring the condition of the land into conformity with the requirements of such regulations, and recover the costs and expenses thereof, with interest, from the owner or occupier of such land.

(c) Upon the presentation of the petition, the court shall cause process to be issued against the defendant and shall hear the case. If it appears to the court that testimony is necessary for the proper disposition of the matter, it may take evidence or appoint a referee to take such evidence as it may direct and report the same to the court with his findings of fact and conclusions of law, which report shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made. The court may dismiss the petition or it may require the defendant to perform the work, operations, or avoidances and may provide that upon the failure of the defendant to initiate such performance within the time specified in the order of the court and to prosecute the same to completion with reasonable diligence, the supervisors may enter upon the land involved, perform the work or operations or otherwise bring the conditions of the land into conformity with the requirements of the regulations, and recover the costs and expenses thereof, with interest at the rate of 5 percent per annum, from the owner or occupier of such land.

(d) The court shall retain jurisdiction of the case until after the work has been completed. Upon completion of the work by the supervisors pursuant to the order of the court, the supervisors may file a petition with the court, a copy of which shall be served upon the defendant in the case, stating the costs and expenses sustained by them in the performance of the work and seeking judgment therefor with interest. The court shall have jurisdiction to enter judgment for the amount of such costs and expenses, with interest at the rate of 5 percent per annum until paid, together with the costs of the action, including a reasonable attorney's fee to be fixed by the court.

Ga. L. 1937, p. 377, § 10.