(a) This section applies only to:
(1) Somerset County;
(2) Wicomico County; and
(3) Worcester County.
(b) (1) Subject to subsection (c) of this section, the governing body of a county may contract with the owner of a private road in the county for the county to take over and maintain the private road if the owner pays an annual maintenance charge to the county to cover the maintenance expenses of the county for the private road.
(2) The governing body may provide that the maintenance charge imposed under this section is a lien on the property affected and shall be collected in the same manner as county real property taxes.
(c) The County Council of Wicomico County may not enter into a contract in accordance with this section unless the contract concerns a private road on which there are at least three dwelling houses.