<section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-101" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>“Board of managers” means the board of managers of a drainage association.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>“Board of viewers” means the board of drainage viewers established under this title.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>“Designated officer” means:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the clerk of the county commissioners for a code county or commission county if there is a clerk for the county; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>an employee or official of the county who is designated by the county commissioner or county council to perform the responsibilities of the designated officer under this title.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>“Drainage association” means a public drainage association established under this title.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>“Landowner” means a person who owns, or has contracted to purchase, land that is to be affected by a drainage project being considered by a drainage association or proposed drainage association.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-102" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <text>This title does not apply to Baltimore City.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-103" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <text>This title does not:</text> <level label="1"> <text>restrict a charter county or code county from exercising a power granted under § 10–321 of this article; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>authorize:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the removal of a milldam;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the interference with legal water rights of a mill; or</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the diversion of water in a manner that deprives an owner of land over which water flows of the benefits and water rights to which the owner of the land is legally entitled.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-104" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <level label="a"> <text>The county commissioners or county council of a county may establish a drainage association.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A drainage association may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>locate and establish a ditch, drain, or canal; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>establish and maintain a watershed drainage system by constructing, straightening, widening, or deepening any ditch, drain, or watercourse.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-105" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <text>A drainage project established and maintained by a drainage association benefits the public and promotes public health, safety, and welfare.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-106" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall notify the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture of the establishment of a drainage association so that coordination and assistance may be provided in accordance with § 8–602 of the Agriculture Article.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-107" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Definitions; General Provisions"> <text>If any owner of property affected by any proceedings under this title resides out of State, a written notice of the proceedings of the county commissioner or county council served on the tenant or agent of the owner at least 30 days before the proceedings shall be as good and sufficient as if the owner resided in the State.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-201" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Petition to Establish Drainage Association"> <text>A petition to establish a drainage association shall be filed with the designated officer of the county in which all or a part of the land to be affected by the proposed drainage association is located.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-202" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Petition to Establish Drainage Association"> <level label="a"> <text>The petition shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>clearly describe the area’s location, boundaries, and need of drainage for optimal crop production;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>describe how draining or ditching the area or changing the natural watercourse benefits the public or promotes the public health, safety, or welfare; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>request the establishment of a drainage association for the purposes listed in item (2) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A petition is valid only if signed by at least one–third of the landowners or the owners of at least one–third of the land in a watershed.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-203" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Petition to Establish Drainage Association"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The petition shall be accompanied by a report from the local soil conservation districts serving the area of the proposed drainage association.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The report shall state:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the size and location of the area of the proposed drainage association;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the nature of the problem to be addressed;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the type of treatment believed to be needed and the benefits anticipated;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>whether the proposed drainage association is feasible and is generally supported by the landowners in the area;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>whether the proposed drainage association will benefit the public and promote the public health, safety, and welfare;</text> </level> <level label="vi"> <text>the name of the proposed drainage association, in the form of the “________ Public Drainage Association”; and</text> </level> <level label="vii"> <text>the number of managers, equaling not less than three, to serve as the board of managers.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The local soil conservation districts shall file with the report maps that show:</text> <level label="1"> <text>a general delineation of the area of the proposed drainage association; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the area’s location in each county in which it lies.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-204" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Petition to Establish Drainage Association"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall examine the petition and report at the first meeting after receiving the petition and report.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the county commissioners or county council find the petition and report are not in proper form or not in compliance with the law, the petition and report shall be returned to the petitioners to be corrected and resubmitted.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>If the petition and report are in proper form and in compliance with the law, the county commissioners or county council shall set a date for a public hearing on the petition and report.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At least 10 days before the hearing, the county commissioners or county council shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>publish notice of the time and place of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in the area in which the proposed drainage association would be located; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>send notice of the hearing and any later hearing to the:</text> <level label="1"> <text>Department of Agriculture; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The notice of the hearing shall state that a copy of the report is available for inspection in the office of the designated officer.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A copy of the report shall be available for inspection in the office of the designated officer.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-205" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Petition to Establish Drainage Association"> <text>If the land described in the petition is located in two or more counties, the county commissioners or county council of an affected county may exercise the jurisdiction conferred in this title, but the venue shall lie in the county in which the petition is filed.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-206" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Petition to Establish Drainage Association"> <level label="a"> <text>At the hearing on the petition and report, the petitioners, any affected local soil conservation district, and any other person may appear in person or by counsel and object to any part of the report.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The county commissioners or county council may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>disapprove the petition and report and return them to the petitioners for amendment in view of the objections presented; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>approve the petition and report as submitted or amended.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-301" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <level label="a"> <text>On approval of the petition and report filed under Subtitle 2 of this title, the county commissioners or county council shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>establish a drainage association that is composed of the landowners; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>name the organization the “_______ Public Drainage Association”.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A drainage association created under this title is a political subdivision of the State and a body politic and corporate.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A drainage association may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>acquire, hold, and convey property;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>sue and be sued;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>adopt a seal; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>exercise corporate powers.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-302" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <level label="a"> <text>Within 30 days after the approval of the petition and report, the county commissioners or county council shall call a meeting of the landowners to elect a board of managers.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At least 10 days before the meeting, the county commissioners or county council shall post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the area or vicinity of the area of the drainage association.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Each landowner is entitled to vote in the election of the board of managers until the board of viewers report is approved by the county commissioners or county council.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>When the report of the board of viewers is approved, each landowner is entitled to vote according to the special assessment on the landowner shown in the report as follows:</text> <level label="i"> <text>for any special assessment not exceeding $15, one vote;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>for any special assessment more than $15 and not exceeding $35, two votes;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>for any special assessment more than $35 and not exceeding $60, three votes;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>for any special assessment more than $60 and not exceeding $100, four votes;</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>for any special assessment more than $100, one additional vote for each $50 in excess of $100, plus one additional vote for any remaining part less than $50.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Any landowner may vote by written proxy signed by the landowner.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>A quorum consists of the number of landowners who are entitled to cast a majority of all the votes as provided in subsection (c) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>On proof that notice has been given as required in subsection (b) of this section, if a quorum is not obtained, the county commissioners or county council shall appoint the managers.</text> </level> <level label="f"> <text>The board of managers elected under subsection (a) of this section shall determine by a random drawing the managers who:</text> <level label="1"> <text>serve until the date of the first regular annual meeting;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>serve until the date of the first regular annual meeting and for 1 year thereafter; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>serve until the date of the first regular annual meeting and for 2 years thereafter.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-303" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The term of each manager is 3 years.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each manager shall serve until a successor is elected or appointed.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Each year, the landowners shall meet to elect a successor to:</text> <level label="i"> <text>any manager whose term expired on or before the date of the meeting; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any manager who died or resigned since the last annual meeting.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A manager who is elected to fill a vacancy caused by death or resignation shall hold the office for the rest of the term.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall appoint an individual to fill a vacancy on the board of managers if:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the board of managers does not call an annual meeting of landowners; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the board of managers holds an annual meeting of landowners but a quorum is not present.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The county commissioners or county council may appoint a manager to fill a vacancy on the board of managers until the next annual meeting of landowners.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-304" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <text>The board of managers shall elect a chair and a secretary from among its members.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-305" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <text>An officer or director of a drainage association shall have the immunity from liability described in § 5–508 of the Courts Article.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-306" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>retain the original petition and report approved under § 26–206(b) of this title; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>deliver a copy of the approved petition and report to the board of managers and the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-307" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <level label="a"> <text>The designated officer shall maintain a drainage file.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The drainage file shall contain the petitions, motions, orders, reports, and other exhibits necessary for a complete record of the establishment of each drainage association in the county.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-308" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <level label="a"> <text>In January of each year, the board of managers shall call a meeting of the landowners.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At least 10 days before the meeting, the board of managers shall post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the vicinity of the drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>At the meeting, the landowners shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>receive the annual report of the board of managers; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>transact any other business that may properly come before the landowners.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-309" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Establishment and Organization"> <level label="a"> <text>The board of managers may call a special meeting of landowners at any time.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At least 10 days before the meeting, the board of managers shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>post a notice of the meeting at four public places in the vicinity of the drainage project; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>mail a notice to:</text> <level label="1"> <text>each landowner;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the county commissioners or county council; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-401" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Plan"> <level label="a"> <text>The board of managers shall develop a plan for agricultural drainage and soil conservation to promote optimal crop production by establishing and maintaining drainage systems that promote public health, safety, and welfare.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>In developing the plan, the board of managers:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall engage the services of private engineers; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>may use the services of planners and engineers of local, State, and federal units of government.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A member or an agent of the board of managers or a member or an agent of the board of viewers:</text> <level label="1"> <text>may enter any land to make surveys and examinations for developing a plan; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>is liable for actual damage done to any land entered during a survey or examination.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-402" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Plan"> <text>The plan developed under § 26–401 of this subtitle shall include:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the location of each proposed drainage project on a map, drawing, or aerial photograph;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a general delineation of the boundaries of the area affected by the drainage association with the general location in the county affected;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>engineering plans in sufficient detail to describe the proposed project;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>a general delineation of the boundaries of each tract of land in the area affected by the drainage association, including an estimate of the acreage of each tract; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the total estimated construction cost of each proposed drainage project.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-403" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Plan"> <level label="a"> <text>On completion of the plan, or on the acceptance of a previously completed plan, the board of managers shall call a meeting of the landowners to vote on the adoption of the plan for submission to the county commissioners or county council.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At least 10 days before the meeting, the board of managers shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>post a notice of the meeting in four public places in the area or vicinity of the area of the drainage association; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>mail a notice to each landowner.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>At the meeting required under subsection (a) of this section:</text> <level label="1"> <text>each landowner is entitled to one vote; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any landowner may vote by proxy if the proxy is dated, signed by the individual entitled to vote, and witnessed by at least one individual.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of managers shall determine whether to submit the plan to the county commissioners or county council for review and approval.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>In making the determination, the board of managers shall consider:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the vote of each landowner;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the probable apportionment of benefits to each landowner based on acreage;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the location of the drainage project; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the extent of the benefits to the voter’s land by the drainage project.</text> </level> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-404" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Plan"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>If the board of managers decides to submit the plan to the county commissioners or county council, the board of managers shall submit three copies of the plan.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall forward a copy of the plan to the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The board of managers shall include with the submission of the plan a statement that the board of managers has determined that the drainage project:</text> <level label="1"> <text>is feasible;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>will benefit the public and promote public health, safety, and welfare; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>will produce sufficient benefits to warrant the expenditure.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-501" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>On approval of a plan submitted in accordance with § 26–404 of this title, the county commissioners or county council shall appoint a board of viewers composed of at least three impartial individuals who reside in the vicinity of the area of the drainage association.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A member of the board of viewers may not be a landowner.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If a drainage project described in a plan is located in more than one county, at least one member of the board of viewers shall be from each county in which the drainage project is located.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>An individual who is appointed as a member of a board of viewers may not act in that capacity until the individual provides written notice of acceptance of the appointment to the county commissioners or county council.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <level label="1"> <text>If any member of the board of viewers dies, moves from a county in which the area of the drainage association is located, or otherwise is unable to act, the county commissioners or county council shall appoint a replacement as soon as feasible.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The appointment of a replacement does not affect the validity of any work of the board of viewers.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>Each member of a board of viewers and the engineer is entitled to receive compensation for each day spent on duties as agreed by the county commissioners or county council and the members and engineer appointed under § 26–503 of this subtitle.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-502" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <text>At least 10 days before proceeding with its duties, the board of viewers shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>post a notice of its intention to proceed at four public places in the area described in the petition;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>publish a notice in a newspaper of general circulation published in each county in which the lands to be viewed are located; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>send a copy of the notice to the county commissioners or county council, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-503" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>On receipt of a copy of the plan from the county commissioners or county council, a board of viewers shall:</text> <level label="1"> <level label="i"> <text>engage the services of a private engineer; or</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>use the services of an engineer of a local, State, or federal unit of government;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>enter and view, with the individuals described in item (1) of this subsection, the land described in the petition;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>make careful and thorough examination of the land described in the petition and of other land if necessary to locate properly the project that is the subject of the petition;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>include in the area of the proposed drainage association all land that would be benefited and exclude any land described in the petition that it determines would not be benefited by the proposed improvement;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>conduct surveys to determine the boundaries and elevations of the area and to develop a plan for the project; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>lay out on the ground a plainly and substantially marked line of each ditch or drain or other improvement that it considers necessary.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A board of viewers shall consider as damages, without regard to any benefit that would result from the proposed drainage project:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the value of land taken for construction of the proposed drainage project;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>inconvenience imposed by the construction of the proposed drainage project; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>other lawfully compensable damages.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-504" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>A board of viewers:</text> <level label="1"> <text>shall determine the amount sufficient to pay:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the cost of constructing or improving a proposed drainage project;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>any damages awarded;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>any compensation for an existing drainage project that the board of viewers adopts in accordance with § 26–505 of this subtitle;</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the expenses of the board of viewers; and</text> </level> <level label="v"> <text>the costs of establishing the drainage association;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>shall subtract from the amount determined under item (1) of this subsection any amounts received from the county commissioners or county council or any other source; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>shall assess each landowner, including the State or a political subdivision of the State, that will derive a benefit from the proposed drainage project a proportion of the amount described in item (2) of this subsection, based on the benefits that would accrue to the tract of land from the drainage project.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Notwithstanding any other law, the county commissioners or county council may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>contribute toward the costs of a drainage project authorized under this title from general funds of the county; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>allocate toward the costs of any drainage project any other money that is available for the drainage project.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-505" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>A board of viewers may adopt an existing drainage project as a whole drainage project or as a part of a drainage project, under this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If an existing drainage project is adopted by the board of viewers, it shall pay fair compensation to each landowner for the value of work already done on the drainage project.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-506" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>At the request of the board of managers, the county commissioners or county council shall appoint a board of viewers to determine if the original determination as to which lands have benefited from the improvements has changed.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The board of viewers appointed under this section shall have the same qualifications, rights, powers, privileges, and duties as the original board of viewers.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of viewers shall report its findings to the county commissioners or county council.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall consider the report in the same manner as the original report, and the report shall be subject to a public hearing and the right to judicial review as provided under § 26–513 of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>Any revision in the original determination as to which lands benefit from the drainage project shall become the basis for all future assessments for paying for the drainage project, including related expenses such as damages and the maintenance of the drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="e"> <text>Notwithstanding the requirements of this section, the board of managers, at any time after the creation of a drainage association, may determine which land in the association is classified as woodland, cropland, commercial, industrial, or residential.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-507" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>At the earliest feasible date, the board of viewers shall submit three copies of a written report to the county commissioners or county council and to the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The report shall state:</text> <level label="1"> <text>whether the proposed drainage project:</text> <level label="i"> <text>is feasible;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>will benefit the public or promote the public health, safety, or welfare; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>will benefit the land to be affected by the drainage project sufficiently to warrant the probable expenditure;</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>the name of each person entitled to damages and the amount of the damages;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>the name of each person entitled to compensation for a drainage project adopted under § 26–505 of this subtitle and the amount of the compensation;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the amount determined under § 26–504(a)(1) of this subtitle; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the amount for which each landowner shall be assessed as a share of the total cost of the drainage project and its proportion of the whole.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The board of viewers shall file with the report three copies of maps and profiles that show:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the location of the proposed drainage project on a map, drawing, or aerial photograph to a suitable scale;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>a general delineation of the boundary of the area affected, with the general location in the county indicated;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>a general delineation of the boundaries of each landowner’s tract, with an estimate of the acreage that each tract contains; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the dimensions and profiles of the proposed drainage project.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-508" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall examine a report submitted by a board of viewers under § 26–507 of this subtitle at the first meeting after receiving the report.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the county commissioners or county council find that a report under § 26–507 of this subtitle is not in proper form or not in compliance with the law, the report shall be returned to the board of viewers to be corrected and resubmitted.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>If the county commissioners or county council find that a report under § 26–507 of this subtitle is in proper form and in compliance with the law, the county commissioners or county council shall set a date for a public hearing on the report.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>At least 30 days before a hearing under this section, the county commissioners or county council shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>publish notice of the time and place of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the land affected is located; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>mail a notice to each person named in the report.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Notice of the hearing shall state that a copy of the report is available for inspection in an office of the designated officer.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A copy of the report of the board of viewers shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>available for inspection in an office of the designated officer; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>sent to the Secretary of Agriculture and the State Soil Conservation Committee in the Department of Agriculture.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-509" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>At a hearing under § 26–508 of this subtitle:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the board of viewers and engineers shall be present; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any person may appear in person or by counsel and object to any part of the report.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall consider carefully each objection presented under subsection (a) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If possible at the hearing, the board of viewers may make changes to the report necessary to treat each concerned person equitably.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The county commissioners or county council may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>disapprove the report;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>return the report to the board of viewers for amendment or reconsideration in view of an objection presented; or</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>approve the report as submitted or as amended.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <text>On approval of the report by the county commissioners or county council, the board of managers may install, operate, and maintain the drainage project described in the report.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-510" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>If a report is disapproved, the county commissioners or county council shall pay the expenses properly incurred in making the survey and report and in publishing notices.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>To reimburse the county for the expenses described in subsection (a) of this section, the county commissioners or county council may impose a special assessment in equal amounts on the property of the landowners who signed the petition filed under Subtitle 2 of this title.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-511" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>The county commissioners or county council or circuit court for the county in which proceedings are pending may, on application of any party and at any time before a final decision is made, grant leave to the party to amend the petition or any part of the proceedings that may be defective or informal to bring the merits of the case before the county commissioners or county council for a decision or before a jury of the circuit court for trial.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The county commissioners or county council or circuit court for the county may award costs.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-512" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>A person who may be adversely affected by the making of any ditch or drain or who may be assessed for any part of the costs of a ditch or drain may apply for an order of review to the county commissioners or county council at any time before the approval of the report.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The county commissioners or county council may grant an order of review and appoint another board of viewers to redo the work done by the original board of viewers.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-513" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="5" subtitle_name="Board of Viewers"> <level label="a"> <text>A person who is aggrieved by a determination of the county commissioners or county council or by any proceedings under this title relating to drains may appeal to the circuit court of the county in which the determination was made or proceedings were conducted.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Either party may elect a trial by jury and the judgment in the trial shall be final between the parties.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-601" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Rights-of-Way, Easements, and Condemnation"> <level label="a"> <text>The board of managers may acquire any right–of–way and easement necessary to construct and maintain the drainage projects or dispose of excavated material according to an approved operation and maintenance plan.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of managers of each drainage association shall submit to the clerk of the circuit court in the appropriate county a book, to be known as the “easement record”, that contains each easement for maintenance or right–of–way, according to the original design specifications or for not less than 20 feet, that the drainage association has in the county.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A drainage association shall keep the easement record current.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The clerk of a circuit court shall make an easement record available for inspection by the public.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-602" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="6" subtitle_name="Rights-of-Way, Easements, and Condemnation"> <text>If a landowner refuses to accept the damages awarded to the landowner by the board of viewers and approved by the county commissioners or county council and refuses the necessary access to the landowner’s land, the board of managers may begin condemnation proceedings under Title 12 of the Real Property Article to acquire a right–of–way.</text> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-701" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Implementation of Plan"> <level label="a"> <text>The board of managers shall implement the drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The board of managers may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>hire employees;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>buy, hire, or rent machines, and buy explosives;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>award contracts;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>enter into an agreement with any county, State, or federal unit of government; and</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>do other acts as necessary, including borrowing money, in the name of the board of managers, if the borrowing is approved by the county commissioners or county council.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The county tax collector shall make payment on behalf of the drainage association as directed by the board of managers.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The board of managers shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>keep a regular account of its income and expenses; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>report its income and expenses to the annual meetings of the drainage association and meetings of the landowners.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-702" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="7" subtitle_name="Implementation of Plan"> <level label="a"> <text>The board of managers shall control and supervise each drainage project under this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The board of managers shall keep each drainage project in good repair in accordance with an approved operation and maintenance plan.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-801" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <text>A special assessment imposed under this title shall be imposed on the lands benefited by a drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If a tract of land subject to a special assessment under this title is divided, the board of managers shall determine the ratio in which any later special assessment is to be imposed on each subdivided tract of land based on the proportion of the benefit to each tract.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-802" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <text>The board of managers shall determine the amount of money to be raised to implement an approved drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The board of managers shall prepare an assessment list that shows the amount due from each landowner subject to the special assessment.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>The special assessments imposed on each tract of land shall be proportional to the total assessments.</text> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The assessment list required under subsection (b) of this section shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>signed by the board of managers; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>sent to the designated officer.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>The designated officer shall certify the conformance of the assessment list with this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>After receiving the certification of the assessment list, the county commissioners or county council shall certify the assessment list to the county tax collector.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>The county tax collector shall include the special assessments imposed under this section in the next bills for county taxes.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The special assessments are:</text> <level label="i"> <text>due and collectible at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>subject to the same interest and penalties for late payment and nonpayment as county taxes.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <text>If the special assessments collected under this section are insufficient to complete the drainage project, a supplemental special assessment shall be imposed in the same manner.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-803" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <text>As an alternative to raising funds as provided in § 26–802 of this subtitle, the board of managers may issue and sell bonds or notes as provided in this section for an amount not exceeding the total cost of the drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of managers shall give notice of a proposal to issue bonds or notes by:</text> <level label="i"> <text>publication at least once a week for at least 3 weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county in which any of the area of the drainage association is located;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>posting a notice at the door of the courthouse in the county in which any of the area of the drainage association is located; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>posting a notice at five conspicuous places in the area or vicinity of the area of the drainage association.</text> </level> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The notice shall provide:</text> <level label="i"> <text>the proposal to issue bonds or notes to pay for the cost of the drainage project;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>the amount of bonds or notes to be issued;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>the interest rate for the bonds or notes or the method of determining the interest; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>the date when the bonds or notes are payable.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Within 15 days after the publication or posting of the notice in subsection (b) of this section, a landowner may pay to the county tax collector the full amount for which the landowner is liable, as provided in the report of the board of viewers.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If a landowner pays the full amount as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the landowner is relieved from further liability for the particular drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Before issuing any bonds or notes under this section, the board of managers shall deduct from the estimated amount of bonds or notes to be issued the amount paid in advance by a landowner and shall issue bonds or notes only in the decreased amount.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Any amount paid in advance to the county tax collector shall be held in a separate fund to be added to the proceeds of the bonds or notes issued and to be spent to implement the plan of drainage projects.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>The board of managers shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>certify to the county commissioners or county council the amount of bonds or notes to be issued; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>submit an assessment list of all properties for which payments have not been made, showing for each landowner the full amount due, less interest, with the total amount for all landowners equaling the certified amount.</text> </level> </level> <level label="e"> <level label="1"> <text>After the assessment list has been submitted as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the board of managers shall issue bonds or notes in the certified amount.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>All bonds or notes issued under this section:</text> <level label="i"> <text>shall be sold under the serial maturity plan;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>shall have a maturity date of 12 years or less from the date of issue;</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>may not be sold for a price less than par; and</text> </level> <level label="iv"> <text>may be sold at a public or private sale.</text> </level> </level> <level label="3"> <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the board of managers may provide for the form, date, interest rate, and other details incident to the offering, sale, execution, and delivery of the bonds.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>Bonds issued under this section are exempt from §§ 19–205 and 19–206 of this article.</text> </level> </level> <level label="f"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of managers shall pay the proceeds from the sale of bonds under this section to the county tax collector.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The county tax collector shall:</text> <level label="i"> <text>retain the proceeds in a special fund;</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>disburse the proceeds only as authorized by the board of managers to carry out the plan of drainage projects; and</text> </level> <level label="iii"> <text>use any surplus to redeem bonds.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="g"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of managers shall certify to the county commissioners or county council and to the county tax collector the total amount due each year for the redemption of the bonds or notes issued under this section, including all payments of principal and interest.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>Each year, the county tax collector shall compute the amount due from each landowner, based on the amounts shown in the drainage assessment list, so that the total amounts individually due in any year equal the aggregate sum required in that year to pay the principal of and interest on the bonds or notes.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The county tax collector shall include in the regular tax bill for each taxable year the amounts computed under paragraph (2) of this subsection.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>The special assessments are:</text> <level label="i"> <text>due and collectible at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>subject to the same interest and penalties for late payment or nonpayment as county taxes.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="h"> <text>If the drainage work plan approved by the county commissioners or county council provides for adopting any existing drainage project, the board of managers may:</text> <level label="1"> <text>pay the amount necessary to acquire the existing drainage project from the proceeds of any bonds or notes issued under this section; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>reimburse a landowner from the proceeds of any bonds or notes issued under this section for any amount spent by the landowner in the construction of the existing drainage project.</text> </level> </level> <level label="i"> <level label="1"> <text>The county tax collector shall report to the board of managers at regular intervals on the amount collected as special assessments during each interval, including a list showing the amount received from each landowner.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The board of managers shall order the amount collected as special assessments to be paid by the county tax collector for the principal of and interest on the bonds or notes issued.</text> </level> </level> <level label="j"> <level label="1"> <text>If an installment of principal of or interest on the bonds or notes issued under this subtitle is not paid at the time and in the manner it is due and payable and the default continues for a period of 6 months, the holder of the bond or note in default shall have a right of action against the board of managers.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>The circuit court of the county may issue a writ of mandamus against the board of managers that directs the imposition of a special assessment against landowners in default in an amount necessary to meet unpaid installments of principal and interest and the costs of the action.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The board of managers shall certify the amounts of the special assessment to the county tax collector who shall proceed immediately to collect the special assessment from the landowners in default according to the procedure provided in this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>When the county tax collector collects the amounts certified under paragraph (3) of this subsection, the county tax collector, on order of the board of managers, shall pay the installments of principal and interest in default and the costs of the action.</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>The official bonds of the county tax collector and any other officers shall be liable for the faithful performance of the duties assigned to the officers under this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>The holder of any bond or note in default may bring suit against any officer on the official bond of the officer for failing to perform a duty required under this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="k"> <text>This title shall apply to drainage projects completed under this section as if completed with funds by assessments without issuing bonds or notes.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-804" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>The board of managers may impose a special assessment on the public and private benefited land for maintenance of a drainage project constructed under this title.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>If the board of managers requests, the county commissioners or county council may appoint a board of viewers to evaluate changes in land use made after the original determination for a drainage project.</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>The board of managers may use the evaluation report as a basis to impose a special assessment for maintenance of a drainage project.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The special assessments under this section shall be imposed and disbursed in the same manner as provided for other special assessments under this subtitle, except that the board of managers may, at any time, determine which land is classified as woodland, cropland, commercial, industrial, or residential.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-805" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <text>The special assessments imposed under this subtitle shall remain in the county treasury until disbursed by the county tax collector on orders signed by the board of managers.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the county tax collector shall be entitled to retain 3% of the drainage special assessments collected under this subtitle as compensation.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>In Caroline County, the county tax collector shall deposit all fees collected into the general fund of Caroline County.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>For each drainage association in the county, the county tax collector shall keep a separate record that shows all income and expenses.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-806" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <text>If the lands of the drainage association that are subject to assessment are located in two or more counties, the board of managers shall prepare a separate assessment list for each county.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The board of managers shall send the assessment list for each county to the designated officer for the county in which the drainage association was organized.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the procedure to impose a special assessment under this section shall be as provided under § 26–802 of this subtitle.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <level label="i"> <text>The county commissioners or county council of the county in which the drainage association was organized shall certify the assessment lists for the other counties to the appropriate county commissioners or county council.</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>The county commissioners or county council shall then certify the tax assessment lists to the respective county tax collectors for action as provided under § 26–802 of this subtitle.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>All money collected in the several counties as provided under this section shall be paid over to the county tax collector of the county in which the drainage association was organized and credited to the drainage association.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-807" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="8" subtitle_name="Financing"> <level label="a"> <text>From the money that first becomes available under this title to the board of managers, the board of managers shall pay:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the compensation and expenses of the board of viewers and the engineers;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>any damages awarded;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>any compensation awarded for existing drainage projects; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the expenses incident to the organization of the drainage association.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <level label="1"> <text>On request by the board of managers, the county commissioners or county council may advance funds to pay the costs in subsection (a) of this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>An advance under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be repaid from the money first received to pay special assessments imposed on the landowners for the drainage project.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-901" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Dissolution"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>A majority of the landowners or the owners of a majority of the land in the area of a drainage association may submit a petition to dissolve the drainage association to the county commissioners or county council of the county in which the drainage association was organized.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A complete list of the creditors of the drainage association certified under oath by the board of managers shall accompany the petition.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>On receipt of a petition under subsection (a) of this section, the county commissioners or county council shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>set a date for a public hearing on the petition; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>give notice of the time, place, and purpose of the hearing at least 30 days before the hearing by:</text> <level label="i"> <text>notice mailed to each creditor of the drainage association and each landowner; and</text> </level> <level label="ii"> <text>publication in a newspaper of general circulation in each county affected by the drainage association.</text> </level> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <level label="1"> <text>The county commissioners or county council may deny or approve a petition for dissolution after a public hearing under this section.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>On approval of a petition for dissolution, the county commissioners or county council shall give notice of the dissolution in the same manner as required under subsection (b) of this section.</text> </level> </level> <level label="d"> <text>After payment of all debts, any balance in the county treasury to the credit of the dissolved drainage association shall be distributed to the landowners in proportion to the original assessments.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-902" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Dissolution"> <level label="a"> <text>For the purpose of this section, a drainage association is considered inactive if for at least 5 years the drainage association has not complied substantially with a majority of the ordinary operating procedures required under this title, including:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the maintenance of ongoing and current information in the drainage file at the office of the designated officer;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>election of a board of managers and officers of the board;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>an annual meeting of landowners;</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>the submission of an annual report by the board of managers to the designated officer;</text> </level> <level label="5"> <text>the development, approval, filing, execution, or maintenance of a work plan applicable to property owned by the drainage association; and</text> </level> <level label="6"> <text>the submission and regular updating of the drainage association’s easement record in the office of the clerk of the circuit court in the applicable county.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>Notwithstanding § 26–901 of this subtitle, on a written petition for dissolution by any member of the most recently elected or appointed board of managers of an inactive drainage association, the county commissioners or county council of the county in which the drainage association was organized promptly shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>provide public notice that the county commissioners or county council has received and is considering a petition for dissolution of a drainage association;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>hold a public hearing to accept public comment before taking any action on the petition;</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>consider all available information to determine the current operating status and foreseeable operating potential of the drainage association; and</text> </level> <level label="4"> <text>approve or deny the petition for dissolution.</text> </level> </level> <level label="c"> <text>If the county commissioners or county council approve a petition for dissolution under this section, the county commissioners or county council shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>satisfy all outstanding debts of the drainage association if any balance remains in the county treasury to the credit of the dissolved drainage association;</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>retain any remaining balance; and</text> </level> <level label="3"> <text>provide for the transfer of any interest in real property held by the inactive drainage association to any county in which the property is located.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-1001" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous"> <level label="a"> <text>A person who is assessed for a ditch or drain that does not pass through or on the person’s land may open a ditch or install drain tile through the intervening land to connect to the main ditch and keep the ditch or drain tile open at the person’s expense and control.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person may not open a ditch or install drain tile through the land of another person without the consent of the owner of the land, unless the damages to the land accruing to the owner of the land are assessed by three owners of land appointed by the county commissioners or county council to assess the damages.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>A person seeking to open a ditch or install drain tile under this section shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>pay the costs of laying out and opening the ditch or drain; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>pay all damages awarded to any person who is injured by the ditch or drain before making the ditch or drain.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-1002" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous"> <level label="a"> <text>If a drainage project established under this title crosses a public highway at the intersection of the highway with a natural watercourse or depression through which water flows during periods of high water, the county in which the bridge is located or the governmental unit required by law to maintain the highway that is intersected shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>pay the cost of an existing bridge, repairing or enlarging an existing bridge and culvert, or constructing a new bridge or culvert; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>maintain the bridge or culvert described in item (1) of this subsection.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>If a drainage project established under this title crosses a public highway at a point where the highway does not intersect a natural watercourse or depression:</text> <level label="1"> <text>the drainage association shall pay the cost of constructing a new bridge or culvert; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>after construction, the county or other governmental unit required by law to maintain the highway that is intersected shall maintain the bridge and any culvert constructed.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-1003" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous"> <level label="a"> <text>If a drainage project established under this title crosses a railroad right–of–way at the intersection of the right–of–way with a natural watercourse or depression through which water flows at periods of high water, the railroad company shall:</text> <level label="1"> <text>construct, build, and maintain any necessary new bridge or culvert; or</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>enlarge, strengthen, reconstruct, or replace any existing bridge or culvert.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>The expense to the railroad under subsection (a) of this section shall be:</text> <level label="1"> <text>considered an element of damage to the railroad company by the board of viewers; and</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>shown as a damage in the report of the board of viewers.</text> </level> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-1101" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="11" subtitle_name="Prohibited Acts"> <level label="a"> <text>A person may not prevent a member, an employee, or an agent of the board of managers or a member or an agent of the board of viewers from entering land as authorized under § 26–401(c) of this title.</text> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500.</text> </level> </section> <section article="glg" article_name="Local Government" number="26-1102" title_number="26" title_name="Public Drainage Associations" subtitle_number="11" subtitle_name="Prohibited Acts"> <level label="a"> <level label="1"> <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a person may not obstruct a drainage project constructed under this title in a manner that impedes the free flow of water.</text> </level> <level label="2"> <text>A person may place a properly constructed swinging water gate across a ditch on a fence line to prevent livestock from trespassing through the ditch.</text> </level> </level> <level label="b"> <text>A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense.</text> </level> <level label="c"> <text>Each fine collected under this section shall be paid to the county tax collector and credited to the drainage association that suffered the damage.</text> </level> </section>