The board of managers may acquire any right–of–way and easement necessary to construct and maintain the drainage projects or dispose of excavated material according to an approved operation and maintenance plan. The board of managers of each drainage association shall submit to the clerk of the circuit court in the appropriate county a book, to be known as the “easement record”, that contains each easement for maintenance or right–of–way, according to the original design specifications or for not less than 20 feet, that the drainage association has in the county. A drainage association shall keep the easement record current. The clerk of a circuit court shall make an easement record available for inspection by the public.