Whenever two or more contiguous tracts of land, not in a diking district, the property of separate owners, have been protected by a common dike or by separate dikes so constructed as to afford a common benefit to the lands affected thereby, or upon which the dike has been constructed, and any portion of the dike has become broken or destroyed or in such condition of repair that the lands intended to be benefited and protected by the dike are being injured by reason of its broken, destroyed or other bad condition, and the owner of the land upon which the broken or destroyed dike is located refuses to rebuild, repair, reconstruct or otherwise improve the same so as to afford the proper protection and benefit to the land, the owners of the other contiguous tracts may attempt to agree with the owner of the land upon which the dike in question is located, with reference to its repair, reconstruction or rebuilding. If the owner refuses to rebuild, reconstruct or repair the dike, the owners of the other contiguous tracts of land affected by the dike and upon whose land the dikes are in a good condition of repair, may reconstruct, rebuild or repair the broken or destroyed dike and shall be entitled, by action in any court having jurisdiction, to recover from the delinquent owner the reasonable value of the material furnished and labor used in rebuilding, reconstructing or repairing the same, together with the cost and disbursements of such action. The action shall be prosecuted in the name of the owners and against the delinquent party. Any party to the action is entitled to a jury trial.

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