The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-09-20

/ a.
partment is fixed by the council.
is the fire t Rhe chapter
! has general supervision OF this department..
which shall consist Of board of engineers
i composed of a chief. two or more assistant
engineers. one or more engine companies and
| one or more hook and ladder and hose COM
1 panles The department. may be volunteer.
part paid or paid. but a part paid or paid
department. cannot be established except by
an affirmative vote of q OF all the members
! of the council. If the department be Voiun-
! teer, the members elect their own chief and
other 9ffice d subject to the approval OF the
j bylaws. subject to like approval The chief
is vested with powers smiilar to fire chiefs in
other cities. generally; Provision is made
destruction is necessary to arrest the progress
! OF fire. The council is authorized to es-
/ tablish and maintain efficient fire alarms and
| telegraph and telephone systems for the use
| OF the fire department. Penalties are pre-
scribed for disobedience toorders Of the fire
| chief at fires.
LIGHT DEPARTMENT.' The city 1 vi IS = en- y :
powered to construct or purchase. and mann
tain its own water and electric light, power
and heating plant. or either of them, and to
furnish the water. heat and power to the
| Inhabitants Of the city. The control and
management of these plants may be exercis-
board to be known as the wv alter and Light
Commission. y If the board excuses the con
troll. the members of the board are appointed
the Court appoints one member for term o,
| Two years ana one member for a term
| OF one year. one member of term Of
three years. and thereafter the court ap-
points one member each wear. the board con-
Slsting of three members, all of whom shall
be residents and citizens of the city, and at
residents of the city for, two years prior to
| the time Of their appointment. The mem
per; OF the board receive a salary of One
! Dollar per annum. and are required to give
| bond for the faithful performance of their
duties in the sum Of $500 The board regu-
lates the distribution Of water. light. heat or
charged higher rate than individuals. and
cannot pc made to pay more th an $40 per by
! drant: The City water is paid forfrom the
| general fluid. The board is authorized to
| make rules and regulation to carry into eff
feet the provisions of this chapter. and are
required to maintain the rates SO that the
water and light fund Of the city shall be at
least sufficient to defray the cost of opera
tion Of the plant under their management
and to pay the interest on all bonds Of the
city issued on account Of such plants, and to
maintain sinking fund of per cent of the
bonds so designated for replacement. The
| board organizes by electing one of its members
is the bookkeepe Of the board. Said board
snail employ a superintendent an engineer
and such other help as is necessary. dis
| charge such employees at WILL and fix their
| compensation. The secretary is required to
! report to the council each month. All sup
pulies are purchas as follows; reauisition
| for supplies is made by the board to the city
! clerk. who thereupOn lays the matter before
| the council for their action. If allowed the
supplies are then purchased by the clerk
The council may. however, by q vote. auth
orlze the water and light commissioners to
contract for services and supplies to the eX-
tent OF s3o In any one month. and in case Of
extraordinary or sudden injury to the plant
the board may make their requisition to the
| clerk. who may, by and with the consent Of
the mayor, make the necessary purchases
| In case the council refuses a requisition for
supplies from the board, the latter may ap
peal to the District Court. and the Court is
| empOWed to determine the question in sum
| mary manner. No extension of pipes wires
or mains can be made except by order of the
Doard to be approved by the council. The
provision is made to insure the prompt pay
ment OF rentals. ana for the enforcement Of
t their collection, also penalties prescribed for
the unauthorized use of water. light or power
and for injuries to the plants
is the HEALTH DEPA KTME S5is na1 The
one or whom must be practicing physic an.
The members Of the board are appointed by
the council. for a term Of one year. The board
vested with the powers conferred upon boards
OF health by the general laws Of the State.
and in addition thereto. certain special
powers and duties are prescribed:
the ''LIBRARYBOARB''. The city, by the
! Provisions of this chapter. has power TO %es-
a tabilsh and maintain public libraries and
I for the use and benefit, OF the inhabitants Of
the city. and for such purposes may acquire
property, real or personal. by gift purchase
use as libraries. etc, but no building can be
erected upon land to which the city has not
the title in fee simple. The management and
control OF all such property is committed to a
Library Board. composed Of five members.
| as follows: the mayor of the city and the
superintendent OF the public schools Of the
| other members two of whom may be women.
and who shall be appointed by the mayor as
follows; one member for one year. one mem
Der for two years. one member for three
! years. said terms beginning on January 1St.
1906. and annually thereafter one member is
appointed: The board organize by electing
one of their number president and one secre-
: tary, the latter being clerk and bookkeep-
er: The board may employ a librarian and
other necessary help and discharge it's en-
ployees at will. 1t makes rules for it's employ
ees. and rules and regulations for the patrons
OF the libraries etc. Supplies. books furri-
ture ana fixture ETC.. are purchased by the
secretary of the board making requisition to
the city clerk. who reports to the council,
and the latter directs the clerk by resolution
to make the purchases. The council may,
however, authorize the board to make pur-
! chaseS. not to exceed 800 in any one month,
by q vote Of the council. The secretary Of
the board. under its direction. makesa report
books purchased during the month need not
be enumerated but sum total need only be
given. All libraries. reading rooms. CALLER
forever free to the inhabitants Of the city.
subject to reasonable rules and regulations
imposed for their protection.
| VI.
Chapter W.. is entitled FINANCE AND
! TAXATION.' and deals with the subject in
Dictated by the title. The fiscal year begins
on the first day Of February. The city debt
cannot be increased except as provided in
the charter. neither can any bond or war
rant issue except as therein provided neither
can the city loan it's credit or become a
/ stakeholder in a cOrpOr a ton, or make dOna-
| tlOn to any person or corporation. The city
is authorized to provide by taxation for pay
| ment of interest and for a sinking fund for
the payment of bonds whether issued or to be
! issued. All moneys and other property is
| under the management and control Of the
council. Money is paid out of the treasury
| upon a warrant signed by the MAYOR and
I counterSigned by the clerk. after having been
duly authorized by the council. The funds
/ maintained in the treasury are as follows:
| L. sinking fund. which is created for the
! purpose of paying the principal of the bond
i ed Indebtedness. and is maintained by three
mills levy on all taxable property and % per
/ cent Of all licenses and fines. and all money
collected TO pay interest in excess of the
i amount required to pay interest D. A perm
anent Improvement fund. created for the
/ purpose of paving for real property and
4 permanent improvements thereon acquired
| by the City and also for paying such portions
of local assessments as devolye upon the city
and maintained by moneys derived from the
sale OF such property. and the sale of bonds
1 issued on account of such fund, and the eX-
I cess of all assessments for sewer payjDp and