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should have a chance to be heard, whether or not they are liable to be <br />assessed. <br />4. Ordering the improvement and preparation of plans. The resolution <br />ordering the improvement may be passed by a majority of the council if <br />proceedings were originally commenced by petition. If not, the resolution <br />must be adopted by an affirmative vote by at least four -fifths (4/5) of the <br />council. It is after this that the City Engineer should prepare the <br />necessary plans and specifications. At this point the council should <br />decide how the work is to be done and, if necessary, issue a call for bids. <br />5. Performance of work under contract or bv day labor. The city enters into <br />a contract with the lowest responsible bidder after advertising for bids, or <br />the work may be done by day labor. <br />6. Preparation of proposed assessment roll. Assessment rolls are lists <br />prepared for each assessment project. They should contain a <br />description of each parcel or property, and the amount of the <br />assessment. <br />7. Public hearing on the proposed assessment. The purpose of this <br />second hearing is to give affected property owners an opportunity to be <br />heard on the matter of the actual assessments being levied. Notice must <br />be published in the official newspaper and mailed to each property <br />owner at least two weeks prior to the hearing date. Finally, the total cost <br />of the improvement project must be published in the city newspaper. <br />This assessment hearing may also be held prior to awarding the <br />contract. <br />8. Approval and certification of assessment roll. After the hearing, the roll <br />must be officially adopted by a council resolution and then certified to the <br />county auditor. <br />9. Issuance of obligations to finance the improvements. Most of the special <br />assessments may be paid over a period of several years. Consequently, <br />on most public improvement projects thus financed, necessary funds are <br />obtained from bonds issued at the time the improvement is made. The <br />bonds are then paid off as the funds become available through the <br />collection of the assessments and any taxes levied especially for that <br />purpose. <br />II PURPOSE <br />The purpose of this assessment manual is to set forth a guide to be utilized by <br />the Engineering Department and the Clerk's Department when preparing assessment <br />rolls for approval by the City Council. This process will assure the uniform and <br />consistent treatment of various properties from year to year. <br />-5- <br />