(A) Excavation applications.
(1) Any person desiring to excavate in or upon county property shall file an application with the County Engineer before commencing work. The application form shall be prepared and made available by the County Engineer, requesting the following information:
(a) Name, address and contact information for the applicant;
(b) The exact location of the proposed digging or trenching;
(c) The necessity for and details of the proposed digging or trenching;
(d) The following indemnification provision to which applicant agrees as a condition for issuance of a permit:
Applicant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold Howard County, its agents, officials and employees, harmless from any and all costs, claims, expenses, damages and liabilities (including reasonable attorney fees) of any kind, arising out of or relating to the excavation work for which a Permit is requested.
(e) A detailed and accurate map or sketch of the proposed excavation project; and
(f) Such other information as the County Engineer and/or the Howard County Surveyor deem appropriate.
(2) If the applicant is an excavation contractor, in addition to being bound by the indemnification agreement contained in the application, such applicant shall also submit a Certificate of Insurance with the application documenting the following coverages:
Worker's Compensation & Disability--Statutory requirements; Comprehensive General Liability-Bodily Injury $1,000,000 each occurrence and Property Damage $2,000,000 aggregate; Comprehensive Auto Liability-Bodily Injury $1,000,000 each person, $1,000,000 each occurrence, and Property Damage $1,000,000 each occurrence; Comprehensive Umbrella Liability $1,000,000 each occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate.
(3) The County Engineer shall not issue any permit until the application has been reviewed and approved by the Howard County Surveyor.
(B) Drainage discharge applications.
(1) Any person desiring to create and maintain a drainage discharge, or to continue to maintain an existing drainage discharge, shall file an application with the County Engineer before commencing work, or within 30 days after receiving the notice specified in § 155.03(B) above, whichever is applicable. The application shall be prepared and made available by the County Engineer, requesting the following information:
(a) Name, address and contact information of the applicant;
(b) The exact location of the proposed drainage discharge;
(c) The necessity for and details of the proposed drainage discharge; and
(d) Such other information as the County Engineer and/or the Howard County Surveyor deem appropriate.
(2) Unless the County Engineer determines that the application is for an entire project, a separate application is required for each project.
(3) The County Engineer shall not issue any permit until the application has been reviewed and commented upon by the Howard County Surveyor.
(C) Additional requirements applicable to both applications in divisions (A) and (B):
(1) A non-refundable fee of $50 must be submitted with the application form to offset the costs of processing the application.
(2) Upon approval of an application, the County Engineer shall issue a written permit. If an application is denied, the applicant may request a hearing before the Board of Commissioners. Such request shall be filed in writing with the County Engineer no later than 15 days after the application is denied.
(3) A permit approved under this division (C) shall expire one year from the date of issuance.
(Ord. BCCO-2023-26, passed 7-3-23)