Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-03-06
THE new Law
GOVERNING CITIES
SYNOPSIS OF THE NEW CITY
CODE WHICH PASSED WITH.
EMERGENCY CLAUSE.
MANY CHANGES or. GREAT I'M.
PoRTANcE TO EVERY CITY
IN THE STATE.

PoRTANcE TO EVERY CITY
IN THE STATE.
Fargo Forum: The new municipal.
bill has been signed by the governor
and by reason Of an emergency clause,
is now in force. The former statutes
relating to municipal legislation are
repealed by a provision in the new
bill, which was prepared by a COM
,mittee of city attorneys, composed of
Attorneys Newman Of Fargo, Burke
Of Devils Lake, Bangs of Grand Forks,
Ames of Mayville and Combs of Val
ley City. .@
There have been no radical changes
in the laws, the aim of the committee
being to revise, codify and simplify
the statutes which, by frequent
amendments had become confusing
and contradictory. Under the new
law the assessor is appointed in Sep
TENDER instead of April, thus giving
him ample time to attend the meet
ings of both boards of equalization.
The county auditor is required to fur
nish the assessor with the assessment
books before January /, thus giving
ample time to prepare for and make
the assessment. The law relating to
the board of equalization is practically
the same as before.
The council is forbidden to take any
action, or make any recommendation
for the change or abatement Of any
tax except on property not taxable.
Claims for damages or injuries must
be filed with the auditor within thirty
days after the injury and suit must be
brought within six months after such
filing. -
Cities are given power to license
the sales of milk and provide for its
inspection, and for the inspection of
all diaries and premises from which
it comes, wherever situated.
Ali ordinances heretofore passed
not valid because of their irregular
passage are validated and are now in
force. .... .Sa.'s.
Specifications for sidewalks must
be made by ordinance and contracts
let annually, at the first meeting of
the council in April for their continu-
alton.
Cities are to be divided into sewer,
paving and water main districts and
special assessments are to be made
by commission to be appointed by
the mayor and confirmed by the
council. The members Of the COM
mission must be freeholders and can
not hold another city Office at the
same time. They are to be appointed
in odd numbered years and hold their
offices, the first appointed, for two,
four and six years. The second ap-
pointments will hold for six years.
Plans, specifications and estimates
of the cost Of paving, opening or
sewering must be made and filed be-
fore any other steps are taken to-
ward any such improvements. This
enables the tax payers to ascertain
exactly for what they are to be
assessed. - $50
Cities are given the right to repave
streets and to require that all sewer,
water main, gas and other 4connec-
tons are made before any street is
paved. If this is not done by the
property owner, the city may make
such connection and assess the cost
on the property.
The expense of making and repair
Ing sidewalks. Of opening streets. Of
constructing sewers and water mains
and pavements must be paid by spe-
cial assessments except that one
fourth Of the cost of opening streets
may be paid BY general taxation. and
cities having power under the debt
limit Of the constitution to create
valid obligations may pay one-ffth Of
the cost OF sewers, water mains and
paving by general taxation extended
over the same time as thes special
assessments for the same purpose.
The payments Of special assess
ments for sewers. water mains and
wooden paving are extended the same
time as before. sewers twenty years;
water mains and paving, ten years;
for paving ON concrete foundations
with wooden paving blocks, twenty
years. and for permanent pavement
on concrete foundation the payments
may be extended over thirty years, at
the discretion Of the council.
Provision IL made whereby cities
may. by vote Of the people, improve