The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-01-16
The Board of Public Works shall elect

The Board of Public Works shall elect
one of their number as clerk.
The city engineer shall be charged
with the control and supervision of all
and public leyees, and shall keep them
in Clearly condition, passable and safe
for public use and travel. He may en-
ploy one or more persons by consent of
the Board, TIC assist him, who shall re-
ceive such compensation as the Board,
with the consent of the council, may de-
termine; but in no case shall the council
pay more than the Board allows. The
Board may require the engineer to per-
form such other duties about the city as
they may deem proper.
The city is empowered to condemn
lands for public parks, markets, the
opening, widening and extending or
altering or straightning Of any street,
or allev, or laying out new streets, and
to condemn an easement in land for the
construction of slopes for cuts and fills
upon real personal property abutting on
any street or alley now or hereafter or
dered to be opened, extended. etc., and
for changes of grade; and to levy assess
ments for the same, and for such other
local improvements as may be ordered
by the corporation, upon property 'front.'
ing upon or benefited by such improve
ment. without regard to cash valuation.
The provisions of this section may apply
to all improvements heretofore ordered.
An amendment is made in regard to
the securing of judgments against pro-
perry above mentioned.
The Board may levy sprinkling assess
ments on property fronting on the
streets sprinkIed without regard to the
cash valuation thereof, or whether i'm
proved or not. The council may pay
not over fifty per cent. of the cost of
such sprinkling on any street, If so or
dered before the assessment Is made.
The assessment shall be made pro rata
upon lineal feet. The Board may ap-
portion not over one-half the cost of
sprlnkling cross streets upon all the lots
in the block bounded by such cross
streets.
The Board of Public Works shall have
charge of the water works and may en-
ploy all engineers and others needed,
and purchase all material and employ
such labor as necessary. The Board
shall make and enforce all necessary
bylaws and regulations, and distribute
the work among the members as nearly
equal as practical.
The clerk of the Board shall give
bond of 5000; and the Board may re-
quire bond from any employee.
A majority of the Board shall consti-
tute quorum, and all contracts and en-
acts and dolngs of the Board
within the scope of their authority shall
be in law as binding as if done by the
council.
The Board may prosecute for non-pay-
ment of water rents, breach of contract
the execution or manage
ment of the works, or distribution of
water, or for any injury, trespass or null
sance connected with the water works,
or for improper use or waste of water.
All extension of watermai shall be
laid by the Board, when ordered by the
council.
Punishment for injuring or removing
rnything connected with the water
works shall be not more than ten years,
nor less than one, in prison. For laying
mains or service pipe or tampering with
hydrants unauthorized. or permitting
any other person to do 80 or unlawfully
digging within six feet of any main or
hydrant, a personshan be fnedn not more
than 500 nor less than$10, or imprison-
ed not more than three months nor less
than ten days, or both.
For divertIng or corruping water, or
machinery, civil action may
be brought to recover triple the damage,
and the guilty party punished by fine
and Imprisonment of not over 81 900 and
one year, or both.
The Board shall regulate the distribu-
ton of water and establish prices ETC.,
subject to the approval of the council
and shall regulate the time of pay
ment; make special rates, etc.
1t shall be q misdemeanor punisha
BILE by fine ofnot over $500, or imprlson-
ment in Jail not over one year, or both,
for the Board to knowingly omit any
property from assessment for water
rents, or to neglect or refuse to collect
the same, or to give any person other or
different credit for the use fwater than
that given the whole public. In assess.
ing opposite water mains only one from
tage on any lot shall be made.
When the income from water rents
pay all expenses and repairs, and inter-
est, the Board shall stop making assess
mepts on property facing water mains.
The surplus shall be placed in sinking
fund to pay water bonds.
The city Treasurer is the ex-officlo
treasurer Of the Board, and the City Re-
corder is the ex-officio auditor.
The Clerk shall keep a set of books
with complete statement of the cond.-
ton and operation of the water works,
names and location ofrenters and prices
payable therefor; shall collect and rI-
ceipt for all water rents, and pay the
same to the Treasurer monthly. The
books shall be open to examination by
any person appointed for the purpose,
or any council committee, or the recor-
der. A full and detailed statement of
receipts and expenditures and condi-
ton of the works, shall be made on
each April LIST. to the council The
Board shall pay all EXPENSE of repairs,
salaries, hire. rents, fuel, ETC., of the
water works, by orders drawn on the
Treasurer, signed by the president and
clerk, and counter-signed by the city re-
corder.