The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-11-13
Charter Commission Listens 70 Read
ing of Report.
Provisions of General Law Give the
Aldermen More Work.
Payments for Improvements Can Be
Extended Ten Years.
Man Who Builds new Sidewalk Must
Give $1,000 Bond.
From Mondays Daily.

GtOLn hAOhay
The charter commission held a meet
ing Saturday night, but the meeting lack
ed one of a quorum, so no business was
transacted. Those present were Chair
man Currier, Secretary Schmitt, Judge
Severance and Messrs. Young, Petersen,
Roemer and Bashaw.
The minutes of the last meeting, Sept.
10Th; were read, and the report of the
subcommittee on the chapters relating to
special assessments and condemnation
of land was read in full. 1t consisted of
sixty-ive sections and covered thirty
six pages of typewriting.
The provisions of the state law are
adopted aud number of changes are
made over the present plan. The coun-
ell does the assessing instead of the board
of public works.
Where enough cannot be assessed on
property benefited to pay for the con-
demnation of land. the balance can be
paid out of the general treasury. The
mayor is given the veto power over the
making of local Improvements, but the
same two thirds vote that passed the
measure can pass it over his veto. The
only advantage of this will be that it
will bring the matter to vote twice.
The city is permitted to own and oper-
ate municipal stone quarry to get out
stone for public improvements, if it
desires. If contractor doing work for
the city strikes an unforeseen obstacle,
he can get extra pay from the city. In
case the contractor was eXcavating for a
sewer or waterworks and struck a stone
quarry or big boulder or hard pan, he
could get extra pay for his work. Some
division of opinion developed on this
point, one or two of the members be-
lieving that a contractor could ascertain
with rod what the nature of the soil
is before taking the contract. 1t was de-
cided to leave the provision as read.
Assessments are to be made payable
before the work is done, but one or
two did not favor this. 1t was explain
ed that this is the practice in st. Paul
and other places. If the assessments
were not paid in promptly, only wealthy
firms could take contracts, and the ex-
pense TO the property owners would con-
sequently be greater.
Assessments for local improvements
can be extended over period of not to
exceed ten years by majority vote of
the council, where the individual assess
ment exceeds $40. 1t is made optional
payments in this way. Five per cent
interest is to be charged on deferred pay
ments. The council can determine the
number of annual installments and the
amount to be paid each year, but no in
stalIment can be less than five dollars.
Judge Severance said that he would
never vote for charter that contained
such provisions as that, as he wanted
it compulsory upon the council to eX-
tend the payments.
Mr. Schmitt thought that it would be
the settled policy of the council to al
low the payments to be made in Install
ments. Mr.. Young said that there has
been no council during the past ten years
that would not have done this if it could.
Mr.. Currier thought that maximum
rate of interest should be provided, the
council being allowed to make it less if
possible. Mr.. Petersen said that the
city now has to pay six and seven per
cent interest, and it would lose if the
property owners had to pay five per
cent.
The provision makes the payment of
the deferred installments due on Oct. LIST
of each year. If not paid, the assess
ments will be certified to the county
auditor with the same penalties as other
delinquent taxes and shall be entered on
the tax roll and collected and enforced