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<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="12-514" title_number="12" title_name="Other Powers of Counties -- Generally" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Public Roads">
  <level label="a">
    <text>If the governing body of a county decides to open, alter, or close a road, the governing body may appoint three examiners to view the property through which the road is intended to run.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An examiner:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>shall own real property in the county; but</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may not have an interest in any property through which the road is proposed to be opened, altered, or closed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>An examiner shall take an oath to faithfully and impartially execute the commission of examiner.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The oath shall be endorsed on the commission, which shall be returned to the examiner.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The appointment of examiners does not preclude the governing body of the county from contracting with a property owner as provided in § 12–513 of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The examiners shall give 30 days’ notice of their intent to examine the property by publication once a week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>After expiration of the 30 days’ period, at least two of the examiners shall examine the property and determine whether the public convenience requires that the road be opened, altered, or closed.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>If a petition is submitted to open or alter a road, the examiners shall locate the road so that the public convenience is best promoted.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The examiners shall submit to the governing body of the county:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>a plat showing:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the proposed new or altered road; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>for a petition to alter or close a road, the old road; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a report detailing:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the examiners’ proceedings;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the findings of the examiners regarding the proposal to open, alter, or close a road;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>if the examiners recommend not opening, altering, or closing the road, the reasons for the recommendation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>a determination of the cost of any damages under § 12–515 of this subtitle.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Each examiner is entitled to compensation not to exceed $2 per day, as determined by the governing body of the county, for the examiner’s services.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The governing body shall determine whether the compensation of the examiners and all costs arising from the survey, attendance of witnesses, or other expenses shall be:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>paid by the petitioner;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>paid by the county; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>apportioned between the petitioner and the county.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
