2708                            County Local Laws

24-12. Same—Condemnation upon failure of owner to agree to pur-
chase—Authority of city; condemnation under general law.

If the County shall be unable for any reason to agree with the
owner of any land, the buildings or improvements thereon, or any
interest therein, the use of which is required for any necessary public
purpose or for the opening of any new road, street, alley or sidewalk,
for construction or repair of any bridge, for the relocating, straighten-
ing or widening of any road, street, alley or sidewalk, the proper
drainage thereof, for the building of any public building or structure,
or for any other necessary public purpose, then the County may pro-
ceed to condemn the same for the use of the County under the pro-
visions of the public general law relative to condemnation by corpora-
tions, municipal or otherwise.

SEC. 8. Section 24-14, Chapter 24, title "Streets and Roads," of
the Montgomery County Code 1965, is hereby repealed and re-enacted,
with amendments, to read as follows:

24-14. Same—Same—Applicability of powers and authority of
County.

The powers and authority vested in the County by Section 24-12
shall apply to any land situated in any municipality or taxing area in
the County, which shall be deemed necessary for public use.

SEC. 9. Section 24-16, Chapter 24, title "Streets and Roads," of
the Montgomery County Code 1965, is hereby repealed and re-enacted,
with amendments, to read as follows:

24-16. Franchises for use of street, etc.—Procedure for granting,
hearing.

No franchise or right in relation to any highway, avenue, street,
lane or alley, either on, above or below the surface of the same, shall
be granted by the Council until the following provisions shall have
been complied with:

(1)    Application to be published. The application for such
franchise or right shall be published by the applicant once a week for
three successive weeks in one or more newspapers published in the
County and having general circulation, stating the terms thereof and
the compensation to be received therefor and setting forth the loca-
tion, character and extent of the franchise sought.

(2)    Inquiry as to value. Upon the first publication of such
notice it shall be the duty of the County Executive or his designee
to make diligent inquiry as to the money value of the franchise or
right asked to be granted, and the adequacy of the compensation
proposed to be paid for it.