Every railroad company is required to destroy or remove plants, trees, brush or other obstructive vegetation upon its right-of-way at each intersection with a public road or highway, for a distance of 600 feet or a reasonably safe distance from the roadway of the public road as shall be determined by the Public Utilities Commission.
Whenever any railroad fails to destroy or remove such vegetation after 10-day written notice served on its local agent, the commission, board of county commissioners, board of township trustees or legislative authority of a municipal corporation, in which the intersection is located, having the care of such road or highway, shall remove such plants, trees, brush or other obstructive vegetation and shall recover the cost of removal from the responsible railroad company.
If the railroad company fails to pay the amount demanded within 30 days after notification by certified mail, the commission, board of county commissioners, board of township trustees or legislative authority of a municipal corporation shall certify the amount demanded to the county auditor to be collected as other taxes and assessments and upon collection shall be credited to the general fund of the public body causing the work to be performed.