Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1905-03-09
New City Law Code.

New City Law Code.
The new law governing cities, a
code Of considerable Importance is
now in force owing to the emergency
clause. There are numerous changes
made in the municipal government
and some of them are quite important.
The new legislation was compiled by
city attorneys at Fargo, Devils Lake,
Grand Forks, Mavville and Valley
City. Some of the provisions are as
follows: The assessor is appointed
in September instead Of April, CIV
ing him more time to attend meet
ings of equlization boards. The
assessors tax list must be furnished
him by the County Auditor before
January l. The council can make
no change or abatement Of any prop
erty tax not taxable. Claims for
damages or injuries must be filed
within thirty days after injury and
suit brought within six months
after filing such claims.
Cities are given power to license
the sales of milk and provide for its
inspection, and for the inspection of
all dairies and premises from which
it comes, wherever situated.
All ordinances heretofore passed
not valid because of their irregular
passage are validated and are now in
force.
Specifications for sidewalks must
be made bv ordinance and contracts
let annually, at the first meeting of
the council in April for their con-
tinuation.
Cities are to be divided into sewer,
paving and water main districts and
special assessments are to be made by
a commission to be appointed by the
mayor and confirmed by the council.
The members Of the commission must
be free holders 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 fled
before any other steps are taken
toward any such improvements. This
enables the tax payers to ascertain
exactly for what they are to be
assessed.
Cities ale given the right to re-
pave streets and to require that all
sewer, water main, gas and other
connections are made before any
street is paved. If this is not done
by the property owner, the city may
make such connections 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
special 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-fifth
Of the cost of sewers, water mains
and paving by general taxation ex-
tended over the same time as the
special assessments for the same pur-
pose.
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 foun-
dations with wooden paving blocks,
twenty years, and on permanent
pavement on concrete foundatio the
payments may be extended over
thirty years at the discretion of the
council.
Provision is made whereby, cities
may, by vote of the people. improve
roads leading to the cities. but out
size the city limits.
Full provision is made for the sale
of real estate for special assessments.
Real estate not sold for special
assessments. when offered for sale,
is struck off to the city and unless
redeemed is forfeited at the end of
three years.
All suits to vacate special assess
ments must be brought within six
months after the assessment Is ap-
proved and on all prior assessments
within six months after the passage
of the law.