Ch. 464

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article 9 - Charles County

Article II

CONSTRUCTION, EXTENSION, AND Acquisition of [Private] Water OR SEWER
Systems OR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS

97-2.

A. In accordance with this Article, the County Commissioners may:

(1) Acquire and improve private water OR SEWER systems OR
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS after receiving a request that the private water
OR SEWER system OR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREA be taken into the county
system.

(2) CONSTRUCT NEW OR EXTEND EXISTING WATER OR SEWER SYSTEMS
OR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS AFTER RECEIVING A REQUEST FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW OR THE EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING WATER OR SEWER
SYSTEM OR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREA.

[(2)] (3) Levy an annual benefit assessment on the properties served OR TO
BE SERVED by the [private] water OR SEWER system OR STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT AREA to reimburse the county for the costs of acquisition and
improvement, AND CONSTRUCTION OR EXTENSION.

B. After acquisition of a private water OR SEWER system OR STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT AREA, OR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW OR EXTENSION OF AN
EXISTING WATER OR SEWER SYSTEM OR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREA, it
shall be operated and maintained by the Department of Facilities pursuant to the
Department's rates and regulations.

C. In the exercise of the powers granted by the Article, the County
Commissioners, by ordinance, may adopt all necessary regulations and conditions for the
acceptance, acquisition, improvement and maintenance of private water OR SEWER
systems OR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AREAS AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
NEW OR EXTENSION OF EXISTING WATER OR SEWER SYSTEMS OR STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT AREAS. The ordinance shall provide for the method of determining the
annual benefit assessments to be levied against the properties served OR TO BE SERVED
by the private water OR SEWER system for the purpose of reimbursing the county for all
costs of the improvement and acquisition OR TO BE SERVED BY THE CONSTRUCTED OR
EXTENDED WATER OR SEWER SYSTEM TO REIMBURSE THE COUNTY FOR THE COSTS
OF CONSTRUCTION OR EXTENSION. The ordinance shall specify the time and manner of
payment, which may not exceed fifteen (15) years. The County Commissioners may
charge interest on the amount of county funds provided to acquire [and] improve [the],
CONSTRUCT, OR EXTEND A WATER OR SEWER system OR STORMWATER
MANAGEMENT AREA and shall determine the rate of interest imposed.

D. Annual benefit assessments shall be a first lien upon the properties against
which they are assessed until paid, subject only to prior State and county taxes. If any

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