The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-03-29
The New Supervisor Law.
Especial Correspondence Of the Gazette. ]


SEC. i provides that in each organized
county there shall be a board of supervisors
consisting of one from each township; bu
if the township has more than four thousand
inhabitants, 1t shall have two members o
the board; the supervisors to hold thei,
office for two years.
Sec. 2 provides for the classification o
the members Of the board as to term Of Office
the same to be done by lot, one-half the mem
bers holding one year.
Sec. provides the manner Of casting
! lots.
SEC ) that certificates thereof shall Ii
made out by tie clerk, and
Sec. 6, that the board shall meet on the
first Monday of January, June, and the first
Monday after the general election of each
year, at the Court House, or office of the clerk
OF the District Court.
SEC. Z provides that majority shall con
| stitute quorum for the transaction of bust
ness; that Ill questions shall be determined
by a majority ofthe supervisors present; chat
they shall, IN general, sit with open doors
that President shall be chosen at the first
annual meeting, who shall preside at the
meetings of the Board during the year; but
when he is not present, temporary chair
man shall be chosen, who, like the regular
chairman, shall have power to administer
oaths concerning matters coming before the
Board.
Sec. s. Provides that special meetings of
the Board may be called by a written re-
quest to the Clerk Of a majority of the Su-
pervisors, due notice thereof being required
to be given by the Clerk No business 9th
err than that specified in the notice shall be
transacted 1T any special meeting.
Sec. 0. Provides the form of oath to be
taken by each Supervisor
SEC. 10. Compels the performance of off
cial duties on the part of Supervisors, in a
penalty of one hundred dollars, unless there
be Just cause for the neglect.
Sec. II provides what powers the Board
shall have at any lawful meeting. They
are: /: TO appoint Chairman and Clerk,
IN the absence of the regular officers. 3.
To adjourn from time to time 8. To make
such orders concerning the corporate prop
erty of the county as may be deemed cxpe-
dent. 4. To examine all accounts of the
receipts and expenditures of the county, and
to examine, settle, allow all just claims against
| the county, unless otherwise provided by law
3. To build and keep in repair the necessary
buildings for the use of the county and the
District Court. 6. TO have the county
b lildings insured, and to provide suitable
rooms for county purposes where there are
none owned by the county. 7. To organ
ize the townships give names thereto, and
define the place OF holding the first election
8. To grant ferry licenses according to law
8. To purchase real estate on which to erect
county buildings, to remove or designate a
new site for any county buildings required
to be at the county seat, when such removal
shall not exceed the limits of the town or
city where the county seat is located. 10.
TO require any county officer to reports them,
under oath, touching any matter or matters
within the sphere of his official duties, and to
require such officer to give such bond or ai-
ditional bonds as shall be necessary, and, on
his failure to do SO within twenty days he
may be emoved by majority of the mem
bers Of the Board. H. To represent their
| respective counties, and t, have the care and
control of the property and business of the
county where not otherwise provided b.,
| law II. To control also the school fund OF
the county l3, Toappoint commissioners
to act with other commissioners of Other
counties, and authorize them to lay out, al.
ter, or discontinue any road running through
one or more counties, subject to the Board
approval. IA. To fix the compensation OF
services of county and township officers, not
otherwise provided for by law, and to pro,
vide for the payment of the same Is. To
authorize the taking of vote for the re-loca
ton Of a county seat, as provided by law
l6. To alter, vacate, or discontinue any State
or Territorial road within the county. II.
To lay out establish, or discontinue county
roads. 10. 10 provide for the erection and
repair of bridges. 49, To Gil vacancies that