(A) Lot owners desiring public improvements such as watermain, sewer, and curb and gutter should file a petition with the City Clerk. Sample petitions are available at the City Clerk's Office. These petitions should be on file before September 30 in order to be considered in the budget for the following year. The amount of construction is limited within the budget of the City and additional work is delayed until funds are available.
(B) The Common Council will hold a public hearing prior to levying special assessments, unless 100% of adjacent property owners have signed the petition.
(C) Normally, the Common Council approves petitions which are signed by property owners who own over 50% of the frontage abutting the proposed improvement. However, the Common Council has authority to reject any petition and on its own motion order a public improvement.
(D) Special assessment charges are based on the cost of improvement and the benefits to adjoining property. It is impossible for the City to evaluate adjacent property, so the maximum benefit to the property is usually considered equal to the total cost of the improvement. Present use of property by non-profit organizations does not reduce or eliminate assessments, because the property itself is benefited directly and the use of property may change.
(E) The City may contract for such work to be done by the lowest qualified bidder if deemed reasonable in cost, or it may have the work done by persons employed by the City.
(Ord. 428, passed 10-7-80)