Subd. 1. No public grounds, streets or alleys shall be vacated except upon the Council's own motion or upon the petition directed to the Council of a majority of the owners of property on the line of the public grounds, streets or alleys residing within the city, and completion of the procedure hereinafter specified. The petition shall set forth the reasons for the desired vacation, accompanied by a plat of the public grounds, streets or alleys proposed to be vacated, and the petition shall be verified by the oath of a majority of the petitioners residing within the city.
Subd. 2. If, in the discretion of the Council, it is expedient that the matter be proceeded with, it may under the petition filed for record with the City Administrator, order a hearing on the petition and fix the time and place of the hearing.
Subd. 3. The City Administrator shall give notice of the hearing by publication once at least 15 days in advance of the hearing, and by mail to the last known address of all of the owners of property on the line of the public grounds, streets or alleys proposed to be vacated at least ten days in advance of the hearing, the last known addresses to be obtained from the office of the County Auditor. The notice shall, in brief, state the object of the hearing, the time, place and purpose thereof, and the fact that the Council, or a board or commission designated by it shall hear the testimony and examine the evidence of the parties interested.
Subd. 4. The Council, after hearing the same, or upon the report of the board or commission designated to hold the hearings, may, by ordinance approved by a majority of the Council, declare such public grounds, streets or alleys vacated. Upon passage, the ordinance shall be certified by the City Administrator and shall be filed for record and duly recorded in the office of the County Recorder in and for Redwood County, Minnesota.
Subd. 5. Unless specified otherwise, the vacation of any public ground, street, alley or segment thereof under this section shall not destroy or interfere with the right of any person, corporation or municipality owning or having control of any electric light or telephone pole or lines existing upon the street at the time of the vacation thereof or with any sewer or water pipes, mains or hydrants thereon or thereunder to enter upon the street or portion thereof vacated for the purpose of repairing the same or otherwise attending thereto.
(Ord. 26, Third Series, passed 2-17-1998)