Tenn. Code Ann. § 69-5-701

No contracts for improvements to be done in a drainage or levee district shall be made until after the commissioners have made their inspection, classification, and apportionment as directed in §§ 69-5-301 — 69-5-312, nor until the question of classification and apportionment and assessment of benefits has been determined and settled by the court; but after the commissioners and the court have so acted, then such contracts may be made by the board of directors of the district.