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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 35

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 25 — County Commissioners

Section 52, 55, 56, 60, 61, 74, and 75

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1973 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 25 — County Commissioners

52.

(A)    The boards of county commissioners of the several
counties in the State of Maryland shall have jurisdiction,
power, and authority to establish public drainage
associations in their respective counties, and to locate and
establish ditches, drains, or canals, and to cause to be
constructed, straightened, widened or deepened any ditch,
drain or watercourse for the purpose of draining wet, swampy
or overflowed lands or lands subject to overflow; and it is
hereby declared that such drainage shall be considered a
public benefit and conducive to the public health,
convenience and welfare.

(B)    THE STATE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE STATE
SOIL CONSERVATION COMMISSION SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY
ESTABLISHMENT OF A DRAINAGE ASSOCIATION SO THAT COORDINATION
AND ASSISTANCE MAY BE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 8-602 OF
THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE.

55.

The board of drainage viewers, before proceeding with
the execution of its duties, shall give not less than ten
days' previous notice of its intention to proceed, by notice
set up at four public places in the area described in the
petition, and by notice inserted in a newspaper or
newspapers published in the county or counties in which the
lands to be viewed are located. A COPY OF THE NOTICE SHALL
BE FORWARDED TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE STATE
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, AND THE STATE SOIL CONSERVATION
COMMITTEE.

56.

(A) The board of drainage viewers shall engage the
services of a competent and experienced PRIVATE engineer OR
THE SERVICES OF AN ENGINEER OF A FEDERAL, STATE, OR LOCAL
AGENCY, and with him shall go upon and view the lands
described in the petition. They shall make a careful and
thorough examination of the area, and of other lands if
necessary to locate properly such improvement or
improvements as are petitioned for. They shall see that
all lands which would be benefited are included in the