1474

LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 466

(B)  UPON RECEIPT OF A VALID PETITION, THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SHALL SET UP A PUBLIC HEARING, SHALL NOTIFY
THE OWNERS OF REAL PROPERTY IN THE PROPOSED DISTRICT OF THE
TIME AND PLACE OF THE HEARING BY MAILING A NOTICE OF THE
HEARING ADDRESSED TO EACH OWNER AT HIS ADDRESS AS SHOWN ON
THE ASSESSMENT RECORDS, AND BY GIVING NOTICE OF THE TIME AND
PLACE OF THE HEARING IN AT LEAST ONE NEWSPAPER OF GENERAL
CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. AT SUCH
HEARING, THE COMMISSIONERS, WITH THE ADVICE OF THE CALVERT
SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT, SHALL DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE
PROJECT AND SHALL ADVISE THE PROPERTY OWNERS OF THE
APPROXIMATE COST AND ESTIMATED LEVIES. THE COMMISSIONERS,
WITH THE ADVICE OF THE CALVERT SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT,
SHALL DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE COUNTY SHALL ASSUME
RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF
THE PROJECT, AND FIX RESPONSIBILITY FOR DESIGN,
CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE WHICH IS NOT TO BE ASSUMED BY
THE COUNTY. THE COMMISSIONERS SHALL ALSO DETERMINE WHETHER
TO PROCEED WITH PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS AND SHALL SET A
DATE FOR FINAL HEARING WHICH DATE MAY ONLY BE CHANGED
PROVIDED NOTICE IS GIVEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION.

(C)  (1) AT THE FINAL HEARING, THE COMMISSIONERS MAY
ESTABLISH THE DISTRICT AND DESIGNATE THE AREA INCLUDED
WITHIN THE DISTRICT. IF ESTABLISHED, THE PROJECT SCOPE,
COST ESTIMATE, AND ESTIMATED COST TO BE BORNE BY THE COUNTY,
COST TO BE BORNE BY OTHER PERSONS AND PARTIES, AND ESTIMATED
INDIVIDUAL LEVIES SHALL BE PROVIDED. THE ESTIMATED
INDIVIDUAL LEVIES SHALL BE BASED ON THE BENEFITS ACCRUING TO
EACH OF THE LOTS OR PARCELS OF LAND IN THE STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO THE EXTENT IT IS BENEFITTED BY THE
PROJECT, AS DETERMINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT MAY BE FUNDED BY THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS, WITH INDIVIDUAL COSTS PAID BACK TO THE COUNTY
BY PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN A PERIOD OF TIME AND WITH AN
INTEREST RATE DETERMINED BY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

(2) IF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DETERMINE TO
PROCEED, THEY SHALL ADVERTISE FOR BIDS IN THE PROPER MANNER
AND LET THE CONTRACT TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER. UPON
COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, THE COMMISSIONERS ARE EMPOWERED
AND DIRECTED TO FIX AND LEVY A BENEFIT CHARGE UPON ALL REAL
PROPERTY IN THE DISTRICT. THE BENEFIT CHARGE SHALL BE
SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE COSTS OF THE PROJECT ASSESSED TO
PERSONS AND PARTIES. THE BENEFIT CHARGE SHALL BE A LIEN
UPON THE REAL PROPERTY AGAINST WHICH IT IS ASSESSED AND
SHALL BE PAID ANNUALLY AS COUNTY TAXES ARE REQUIRED TO BE
PAID, BY ALL THE OWNERS OF LOTS OR PARCELS OF LAND IN THE
DISTRICT FOR THE PERIOD OF TIME PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED BY
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

(D)  THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HAVE FULL POWER TO ACCEPT
AS GIFTS, AND TO AGREE AND CONTRACT WITH OWNERS FOR THE
PURCHASE OF LAND AND EASEMENTS REQUIRED FOR USE IN
CONNECTION WITH THE STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.