The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-04-22
Members of the Public Board
Take Charge.
An Erroneous Idea Prevails in Some
Quarters That Petitions Are
Necessary Before Paving.
THE LAW is VERY PLAIN

The Boards of Public Works before
recommending the streets to be paved
out Of the bond issue, will settle an
important question on which some of
the members seem to have gone
wrong. One or two members of the
board are under the impression it
seems, that the second class charter
requires petition of two thirds of
the property owners along any street,
before it can be reconstructed, which
does not appear to be borne out by
the law itself.
Section 90 Of the charter provides
the following: THE general council,
may, by ordinance, provide for the
construction or reconstruction of the
streets, alleys. and other public ways
and sidewalks, or parts therefor of
the city, upon the petition Of the
owners of a majority Of the front or
abutting feet of real estate AUDITING on
such improvements, or without a
petition, by q vote of two thirds of
the members-elect of each board of
the general council. But when such
original construction is to be made
with brick. granite, asphalt, con-
crete or other improved material or
paving, it shall be made only. upon
the petition of the owner or owners
of &C least two thirds of the front or
abutting feet of real estate abutting
on such improvements. Such original
construction Of public ways shall be
made at the exclusive cost of the own
ers of the real estate abutting on such
improvements ;and such reconstruction
OF such ways shall be made one-half
ut the cost of the owners of the real
estate abutting on such improve
ments, and the other half at the oosi
Of the city" etc.
1t is very plain from the above what
the difference is between the origina
construction, and reconstruction, o.
the streets. The opening Of Yves
} jefferson street will be original con
! struction, and requires petition O
, two thirds of the property owne RS
and the property owners have to pay
the entire cost, and can have the ma
terial of anything they want, from
gravel to asphalt.
The paving of the streets already
, constructed. however, which will be
all those paved from the bond issue,
! is reconstruction, as''evidenced by the
fact that the city is going to pay hall
the costs, and no petition from anyone
is necessary. In fact, il it were not
: reconstruction, the city couldn't issue
bonds for it, all original construction
being paid for by the property own
ers.
j A member of the Board of Public
works said today that he had been in
formed that the law made it necessary
: to have petitions from two thirds OF
the property owners on any street be-
fore 1t can be ordered paved, and this
impression seems TO be general in
some quarters. II seems evident,
however, from the above that nothing
Q Of the kind is intended. In fact, ii
| that were the law it would in many
. cases in Paducah be impossible to
I have any street paved, for at least
some of the property owners would
t prefer to be saved their share Of the
/ costs and have the old kind of streets.
The Board of Public Works it is
. stated today, will at once have this
question settled to it's satisfaction, and
then set about selecting the streets to
be paved.