1064                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 705

to the Code of Public Local Laws of Harford County (1957 Edi-
tion, being Article 13 of the Public Local Laws of Maryland), title
"Harford County", sub-title "Roads", to follow immediately after
Section 443 thereof, relating to the acceptance, maintenance, and
construction of roads in Harford County and, relating generally
to roads in Harford County., AND AUTHORIZING THE IM-
POSITION OF AND THE COLLECTION OF BENEFIT AS-
SESSMENTS ON ABUTTING PROPERTIES TO PAY THE
COSTS OF CERTAIN ROAD CONSTRUCTION OR IMPROVE-
MENT UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That new Section 443A SECTIONS 443A THROUGH 443F be and
it is hereby added to the Code of Public Local Laws of Harford
County (1957 Edition, being Article 13 of the Public Local Laws
of Maryland), title "Harford County", sub-title "Roads", to follow
immediately after Section 443 thereof, and to read as follows:

443A. The County Commissioners of Harford County are hereby
authorized to construct AND IMPROVE roads and drainage incident
to said construction OR IMPROVEMENT on or along private roads,
after the approval of a petition of property owners THE MA-
JORITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHOSE PROPERTY
ABUTS ON THE ROAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED OR IMPROVED
requesting that said roads be taken into the county roads system.
In the exercise of the powers granted by this section, the County
Commissioners may by proper ordinance, passed in accordance with
the provisions of Section 3 of Article 25 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1957 Edition), adopt all necessary rules and conditions
for the acceptance, construction, and maintenance of such roads
and/or other authorized improvements by the county. Such ordi-
nance may also provide for annual benefit assessments to be levied
against the adjoining ABUTTING properties for the purpose of
reimbursing the county for the cost of such improvements and the
time and manner of payment, but not to exceed ten years. Annual
benefit assessments shall be a first lien upon the property against
which they are assessed, until paid, subject only to prior State and
county taxes, and if any property be sold for State and county taxes,
and there remains a surplus, then the County Commissioners may
upon proper petition to the Circuit Court be allowed the payment of
their lien.

443B. For the purpose of giving notice to the general public as to
existing liens and charges against any property for benefit assess-
ments, the County Commissioners shall keep a public record of all
names of property owners and the locations of said property, and
the amount of said benefit charges among the Land Records of Har-
ford County under the supervision of the Clerk of the Circuit Court,
and the recordation with said Clerk of said benefit assessments shall
be legal notice of such liens.

443C. The County Commissioners shall, on or before January 1, of
each year, certify its benefit assessments hereunder to the Treasurer
of Harford County for collection from the property owners affected,
and said Treasurer shall add said benefit assessments to the State
and county property tax bills for collection by October 1 in each
year without interest or discount, and upon failure of payment of