MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

331

SYSTEM, BUT THE LENGTH OF TIME FOR PAYMENTS SHALL NOT
EXCEED TEN YEARS. BEFORE THE POWERS GRANTED BY THIS
SECTION CAN BE EXERCISED THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS SHALL
BE SATISFIED:

1.     A PETITION OF A MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY
OWNERS, ON AN ACREAGE BASIS, REQUESTS THE CONSTRUCTION OR
IMPROVEMENT OF DRAINAGE SYSTEMS.

2.     PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE HELD CONCERNING THE
PETITION AFTER TEN DAYS NOTICE IN A NEWSPAPER REGULARLY
PUBLISHED IN CHARLES COUNTY.

3.     THE PETITION IS APPROVED BY THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS.

4. AN ORDINANCE IS PASSED BY THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF
SECTION 3 OF ARTICLE 25 OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF
MARYLAND, AS AMENDED, SETTING FORTH ALL NECESSARY RULES
AND CONDITIONS FOR THE REQUESTED CONSTRUCTION. NOTHING
CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL PROHIBIT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
FROM SHAPING ALL OR A PORTION OF THE COSTS OF
CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINAGE SYSTEMS HEREUNDER.

348G.

THE ORDINANCE PASSED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL
SET FORTH THE IMPROVEMENTS BEING CONSTRUCTED, THE
PROPERTY OWNERS AFFECTED, AND ALL MATERIAL TERMS OF THE
ANNUAL BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS LEVIED TO PAY THE COST OF THE
IMPROVEMENTS, OR ANY REASONABLE PORTION THEREOF, AS
DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. THE ORDINANCE
ALSO SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE METHOD OF DETERMINING THE
ANNUAL BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS TO BE LEVIED AGAINST THE
INCLUDED PROPERTIES.

348H.

(1)    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 PETITION TO THE CIRCUIT
COURT BE ALLOWED THE PAYMENT OF THEIR LIEN.

(2)    FOR THE PURPOSE OF GIVING NOTICE TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC AS TO THE EXISTING LIENS AND CHARGES
AGAINST ANY PROPERTY FOR BENEFIT ASSESSMENTS, THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SHALL KEEP A PUBLIC RECORD OF ALL NAMES OF
PROPERTY OWNERS AND THE LOCATIONS OF THE PROPERTY, AND
THE AMOUNT OF THE BENEFIT CHARGES AMONG THE LAND RECORDS
OF CHARLES COUNTY UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CLERK OF
THE CIRCUIT COURT, AND THE RECORDATION WITH THE CLERK OF
THE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT SHALL BE LEGAL NOTICE OF THE
LIENS.