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<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="9-657" title_number="9" title_name="Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Sanitary Commissions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>The sanitary commission shall classify each parcel of property on which it may make a benefit assessment as:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Agricultural;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Business or industrial;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Small acreage;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Subdivision; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>A subclass of any of those classes.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>The sanitary commission may change the classification of a parcel of property when the use of that parcel justifies its classification in another class or subclass.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, the sanitary commission shall assess property:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>On a front-foot basis; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Under uniform rules and regulations adopted for the district and approved by the member counties.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as otherwise provided in this section, the sanitary commission shall make front-foot assessments that, each year, are as uniform as is reasonable and practical for each class or subclass of property in each service area.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Unless the parcel has an irregular shape, the sanitary commission shall determine the front-foot assessment for each parcel on the basis of the length of the parcel along the way in which the water pipe or sewer pipe is laid.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If a parcel has an irregular shape, the sanitary commission shall determine the front-foot assessment in a fair and reasonable manner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>As to a parcel classified as agricultural:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The sanitary commission may not make a front-foot assessment until a water or sewer connection is made to the parcel; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>When the water or sewer connection is made, the sanitary commission may not compute a front-foot assessment on the parcel for more than 300 feet of frontage.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>As to a parcel classified as subdivision:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Even if the water pipe or sewer pipe does not extend along the entire frontage of the parcel, the sanitary commission may make a front-foot assessment;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Unless the parcel abuts parallel streets, the sanitary commission may not make a front-foot assessment for more than 1 side of the parcel; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If the parcel is on a corner, the sanitary commission may average the frontage of the parcel and determine the front-foot assessment for the parcel in a fair and reasonable manner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The sanitary commission may make for a parcel a front-foot assessment that is less than the assessment levied on other parcels in the service area, if the parcel is served by a system:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>That is acquired by the sanitary commission;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>That was not a municipal system; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Whose cost to the sanitary commission was affected by the fact that the construction costs of the system were any part of the purchase price of the parcels serviced by the system.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>To acquire revenues needed to carry out the purposes of this section, the sanitary commission may change the front-foot assessment for each class and subclass of property.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection “Bonnie Brook Service Area” includes the Bonnie Brook Sanitary District.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In the Bonnie Brook Service Area, in order to make capital improvements and repairs or to establish a reserve for capital improvements and repairs, the Dorchester County Sanitary Commission may make a uniform assessment on each lot that abuts on a way in which a water main is laid.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An assessment under this subsection is in addition to any charges made under § 9-662 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>An assessment under this section shall be based on a flat fee for each lot under uniform rules and regulations approved by the Dorchester County Commissioners.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “service area number 1” includes sanitary district number one.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In service area number 1, the Dorchester County Sanitary Commission shall impose, on each parcel that abuts any way in which a sewer is built, a benefit assessment of at least $50.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>The sanitary commission shall give to the owner of each parcel of property written notice of:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The class and subclass of the parcel;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a front-foot assessment method is used, the number of feet assessed and the assessment for each foot;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>If a method other than front-foot assessment is used, the assessment made on the parcel; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The time and place of the hearing to which the owner is entitled under this subsection.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>The sanitary commission shall serve the owner with the notice by:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Mailing the notice to the last known address of the owner;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Leaving the notice with an adult who occupies the parcel; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Posting a copy of the notice on the parcel, if the parcel is vacant or unimproved.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>Subject to a hearing under subsection (n) of this section, a decision of the sanitary commission as to a classification or a benefit assessment is final.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="n">
    <text>The sanitary commission:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Shall give each property owner an opportunity for a hearing before the sanitary commission;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Shall hold the hearing in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>After the hearing, may adjust a classification or benefit assessment as appropriate.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="o">
    <text>A benefit assessment shall be paid each year for a period of years that is coextensive with the maturity date of the bonds that financed the construction that was the subject of the benefit assessment.</text>
  </level>
</section>
