If any highway commissioner fails or refuses to repair or maintain any road or section of a road in his district within 10 days after he is given a notice in writing signed by 3 landowners of such district, that such road or section of a road is in need of repair or maintenance, any 3 landowners in such district may petition the county superintendent of highways that such road or section thereof is in need of repair, or is not properly maintained by the highway commissioner. The county superintendent of highways shall set a day, not less than 10 nor more than 20 days after such petition is filed with him, for hearing the complaint alleged in such petition, and shall cause 10 days notice of such hearing to be given addressed “to all persons interested” by posting notices of such hearing in 5 of the most public places in such district in the vicinity of the road or section of road described in the petition and also by delivering a copy of such notice to such commissioner or mailing a copy thereof to such commissioner at his post office address, postage prepaid.
     If the county superintendent of highways determines as a result of such hearing that the road described in the petition is in need of repair, or is not properly maintained by the highway commissioner of the district, he shall order the highway commissioner of the district to make such repairs as appear to him to be proper or necessary, or to properly maintain such road or section of road.
     If any highway commissioner wilfully disobeys the order of the county superintendent of highways issued in pursuance to this section, when there are sufficient funds to permit a compliance with such order, he shall be guilty of a petty offense, and shall upon proper proceedings being brought in the circuit court of the county, be subject to removal from office.