The city manager, or other officer to whom the duty may be assigned by the commission, shall have the authority to compel the making of sewer, water, gas and other connections whenever in view of contemplated street improvements, or as a sanitary regulation, such connections should in his judgment be constructed. Written notice of such determination shall be given to the owner of each lot or parcel of land to which connections are to be made, which notice shall state the number and character of connections required. Such notice shall be served by a person, designated by the city manager, or other officer, in the manner provided for the service of summons in civil actions. Non-residents of the city, or persons who cannot be found, may be served by one publication of such notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. The notice shall state the time within which such connections shall be constructed and, if they be not constructed within said time, the work may be done by the city and cost thereof, together with a penalty of five per cent (5%), assessed against the lots and lands for which the connections are made. Said assessments shall be certified and collected in the same manner as other assessments for street improvements.