870 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 437

constitute a part of the proceedings upon which the determina-
tion of the court shall be made. The court may dismiss the
petition; or it may require the defendant to perform the work,
operations, or avoidance, and may provide that upon the fail-
ure of the defendant to initiate such performance within the
time specified in the order of the court, and to prosecute the
same to completion with reasonable diligence, the supervisors
may enter upon the lands involved and perform the work or
operations or otherwise bring the condition of such lands into
conformity with the requirements of the regulations and re-
cover the costs and expenses thereof, with interest at the
rate of 5 per centum per annum, from the occupier of such
lands. In all cases where the person in possession of lands,
who shall fail to perform such work, operations, or avoidances
shall not be the owner, the owner of such lands shall be joined
as party defendant.

The court shall retain jurisdiction of the case until after
the work has been completed. Upon completion of such work
pursuant to such order of the court the supervisors may file
a petition with the court, a copy of which shall be served
upon the defendant in the case, stating the costs and expenses
sustained by them in the performance of the work and pray-
ing judgment therefor with interest. The court shall have
jurisdiction to enter judgment for the amount of such costs
and expenses, with interest at the rate of 5 per centum per
annum until paid together with the costs of suit, including a
reasonable attorney's fee to be fixed by the court.

26. COOPERATION BETWEEN DISTRICTS. The supervisors of
any two or more districts organized under the provisions of
this Act may cooperate with one another in the exercise of
any or all powers conferred in this Act.

27. STATE AGENCIES TO COOPERATE. Agencies of this State
which shall have jurisdiction over, or be charged with the
administration of, any State-owned lands, and of any county,
or other governmental sub-division of the State, which have
jurisdiction over, or be charged with the administration of,
any county-owned or other publicly owned lands, lying within
the boundaries of any district organized hereunder, shall co-
operate to the fullest extent with the supervisors of such
districts in the effectuation of programs and operations
undertaken by the supervisors under the provisions of this
Act. The supervisors of such districts shall be given free
access to enter and perform work under such publicly owned
lands. The provisions of land-use regulations adopted pur-
suant to Section 23 of this Act shall have the force and effect of
law over all such publicly owned lands, and shall be in all re-
spects observed by the agencies administering such lands.