The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-07-10
CITIES HAVE ADDED POWERS
LEGISLATURE ENLARGES AUTH
GRITTY IN IMPROVEMENTS.
Assessments to Run Against Adjoin-
ing But Not Auditing Property
For Portion of Cost.

Des Moines, July 9.-The most val
liable feature of the new Iowa laws
as affecting cities and towns of Iowa
relate to the payment tor public i'm
provements. Acts of the Thirty-fifth
general assembly will greatly facili'
tate the making of improvements and
relieve cities from many embarrass-
ments.
Chapter IS, limited to cities under
AZ 900, furnishes a way by which
cities may secure funds for construc-
ton of main sewers. IL virtually
authorizes delimitation of a drainage
district In a city and the construction
of main sewer to be a charge against
all the property of the district. In
stead of assessing cost to the aDut-
ting or adjacent property benefited.
In some cities this will include the en-
tire area.
An important change in the manner
of assessing for street improvements
was made in Chapter rs, so that such
assessments shall run against "one-
half of the privately owned property
between the streets improved and
the next street whether such private
ly owned property abut upon said
street or not" but limiter to 800 feet.
In the case of alleys the cost shall be
confined to lots in the block or If not
plated to $50 feet of the alley.
Another new law applies the law
as to manner of making improve
ments, and assessing the cost to pro-
perty to all incorporated towns. Still
lyhe nj
charter cities. 'h7
Chapter 81 requires that the city
council shall prepare the assessment,
plat and schedule, in regard TO street
improvements, within twenty days
following the completion of the work,
so that contractors may not be held
up by such delays.
Another law fixes the time when
! the interest shall commence on i'm
lprovement certificates as from the
date of acceptance by the council.
| 1t Is now made legal to make a re-
assessment upon property for street
or sewer improvements where a for
mer assessment has been yoided for
any jurisdictional defect.
Street improvements can now be
ordered by three-fourths of the mem
bers of a city council, or where there
are but thrre members of the council
by tWo-thirds vote, if a majority OF
the frontage has petitioned for the i'm
provement, but a majority of the
council may order repairs.
! Salvage from old street paving,
where reconstruction has been order
ed, may be sold by the city and pro
ceeds applied on the new work.
| In all cities of 10000 or over the
cities now have the power to extend
improve and repair streets, highways,
avenues, alleys, public grounds
wharfs, landings and market places
within their limits" and pay for same
out of the general fund or highway
or poll tax, or by assessing all or any
portion of the cost on abutting pro-
perty.
1 Pensions for retired firemen may be
given those who have served twenty
two years.
Cities over 5000 may levy Z mil
tax for gas or electric works.
/ All cities and towns OF 5000 and al
cOIllInlSSiOn Cltleb nave po"SI W iS W
1h mill tax for fire department equip
ment.
Cities and towns have authority tC
license transient merchants.
Cities may enact building and fire
limit ordinances.
Cities may buy or sell electric cur
rent, power, gas, water, etc.
Cities on navigable rivers may
have dock boards and control wharfs
Cities have authority to require II
censes from all plumbers.
Cities have the right to prohibi
slaughter houses.