The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-12-16
Vital Points of the New Charter.


1T will be authorized to regulate the
sinking and flow of artesian and other
flowing wells. 1t can also license and
control so-called travelling or Inherent
physicians, dentists and oculists. 1t
| takes two thirds vote to pass ordi-
nances, resolutions, ETC., and fve-sixths
vote to pass over the mayors veto. Now
the same vote that passed measure can
pass it over the veto.
The regulations about preserving the
different funds intact are made more
stringent. The money in most of these
funds at the end of the fiscal year will
be turned into the sinking fund
The council is given power to con-
denim land Under the present charter
it has the power, but no method of do
ling it is prescribed.
The council will make the assessments
for public improvements, but it is per-
mitted to have the board of public works
make the Investigations.
Assessments for public improvements
can be extended over series of years
not to exceed ten, deferred payments
to bear five per cent interest. To pay
the contractors, the city is allowed to
issue certificates of Indebtedness to
bear not to exceed seven per cent in
terest, the same to be lien on the
property assessed, and not guaranteed
by the city except that the city will
take steps necessary to enforce the pay
iment of the assessments. Under the
lpresent plan the city takes the proper
lty where assessments are not paid and
has much unsuitable land on its hands.
The charge of the waterworks depart
ment is given to the president of the
board of public works, as it is felt that
the system is now SO large as to take
practically all of one mans time.
The council is authorized by two
thirds vote to issue $4,000 bonds to
purchase or erect and maintain a MUM
cipal and commercial electric lighting
plant, and the same amount for a gas
tplant These bonds are to be in addi-
ton to the limit of Indebtedness.
The limit of indebtedness of the city
is increased from five to seven per cent
of the assessed valuation, in order to
allow the city to pay for the paving of
street intersections and in front of city
property.
The street commissioner shall be APP
lpointed when the mayor deems that
one is needed, and shall hold office at
the will of the mayor, and shall receive
not to exceed $75 month. He shall act
under the direction of the mayor and
council, and shall have charge of all
street work and of the men employed
thereon. When the office is vacant, the
city engineer shall be street commission
er ex officio.
There shall be a board of three park
the parks and the letting of privileges
therein and all work done. Gambling or
sale of intoxicating liquor shall not be
allowed in the parks. The commission
lers are to hold office for three years, one
to be appointed each year, and they are
to present detailed report each Jan.
LIST.
All contractors where the contracts
are over $500 shall furnish surety bonds.
The council can start improvements
upon petition of the property owners or
whenever in its judgment necessity re-
quires, provided that it shall have no au-
thority to pave more than three blocks
of any one street in any one year unless
the improvement is petitioned for by at
least nefourth of the property owners,
representing at least one fourth of the
property to be assessed. This proviso
does not apply where streets are to be
macadamized.
The charter is to go into effect as soon
as it has been adopted, and the pres
ent officers will hold until the next cleo
ton.
There are other, less important
changes made, but the above are the
ones in which most interest will be
taken.
1t is up to the people to study the
present and proposed charters and see
which they prefer. The charter commits
sion believes that the proposed charter
is better than the present one in most
ways. 1t takes four-seyenths vote of
J the people to carry new charter.