^awriLpwwHnwiffapawagg ip~—r W'W^P? -—ippr-—-- INTERNATIONAL FALLS PRESS. PROPOSED HOME CHARTER Provided, that failure to give such notice shall not invalidate not be increased or diminished during the term for which such election. such officer was elected. Provided, also, That the Village officers of the Village of Annual Reports of Officers.—Section 15. Every elective and FOR THE CITY OF International Falls, at the time of the adoption of this charter, appointive officer, except members of the Council, and all shall, as soon as may be thereafter, call a special election, for Boards provided for in this Charter, shall, annually, on or the election of City officers under this Charter, and which election INTERNATIONAL FALLS before the Tuesday next preceding the day of the Annual election, shall be held not later than 30 days after the adoption of make and transmit to the council full and detailed reports, this charter. properly verified by affidavit, of the business of such All Village officers shall continue in office, and perform the office or department for the current fiscal year, together with CHAPTER I. duties of their respective offices until City officers of said a true and full inventory of all money,. property and other NAME, POWERS AND BOUNDARIES. City shall have been elected and qualified. effects of the city in the possession of such officer or Board or Name and Powers.—Section 1. All that part of the County Such officers so elected at said Special election, together under its control. of Koochiching in the State of Minnesota contained within with the officers appointed by them, shall, except as otherwise Such officer or Board shall also make such other and further the limits and boundaries in the next section described, and provided in this Charter, continue to hold office until the first reports as shall from time to time be required by the City all the people now inhabiting, and those who shall hereafter Tuesday after the first Monday in April 1910, and until their Council. inhabit the said territory, shall be a city and shall form a successors are elected and qualified. All such reports shall be filed with the City Clerk, and shall municipal corporation, under the name and style of "City of Elective Officers.—Section 2. The elective officers of the at all times be open to inspection by any taxpayer of the city. International Falls." The said corporation shall have the city shall be a Mayor, City Recorder, Municipal Judge, City Every elective and appointive officer and Board, provided powers and privileges generally possessed by municipal corporations Treasurer, and two Aldermen from each ward, and one Alderman for in this charter, shall, at the expiration of his term of office, at common law, and in addition thereto, shall possess at large. turn over to his successor in office or to the City, all books, the powers hereinafter specifically granted. Each of said Aldermen shall be a qualified vo'ter and actual papers, files, records, money and other property whatsoever, It shall be capable of contracting and being contracted with, resident of the ward for which he is elected, except the Alderman pertaining to his office, which may be in his possession or of suing and being sued, and of pleading and being impleaded, to be elected at large, who, together with all other elective under his control. in all courts of law or equity and it shall have a corporate officers, shall be a resident and qualified elector of said City. Ballots.—Section 16. At each election of officers under this seal, which it may alter at pleasure. It may purchase, lease, The following officers shall be elected or appointed by the charter there shall be a ballot known as the "Official Ballot take by gift or otherwise, hold, sell and convey all such real, City Council, to-wit: A City Attorney, City Assessor, City of International Falls," which shall be printed and distributed personal and mixed property, within or without the limits of Engineer, a Board of Health to consist of three members, a as hereinafter provided. such city, as the purposes and uses of the corporation may require, Street Commissioner and such other officersas may be neces Contents of Ballots.—Section 17. At least fifteen days before or the transactions and exigencies of its business may sary for the proper conduct and management of the affairs of the regular City election, any person eligible, and desirous render necessary or convenient. the City. of having his name placed upon such ballot as a candidate for And the authorities thereof shall have perpetual succession. The term of all elective and appointive officers under this any office, shall file his affidavit with the City Clerk stating Boundaries.—Section 2. The boundaries of said city shall charter, shall, except as otherwise provided herein, commence his residence, that he is a qualified voter of the City, the office be as follows:— on the second Tuesday of April of each year. for which he desires to be a candidate, and shall pay to the Beginning at the meander corner between fractional sections Removal of Officers.—Section 3. Any person appointed to City Clerk a filing fee of $5.00. thirty-four (34) and thirty-five (35), Township seventy-one any office under the provisions of the Charter may be removed Immediately after the last day for filing, and at least ten (71), north of Range twenty-four (24), west, according to from such office by a vote of five-sevenths of all the members days before such election, the City Clerk shall cause to be United States government survey thereof, on the left bank of the City Council, except as otherwise provided herein. But printed a sufficient number of ballots, varied as may be necessary of Rainy River—thence south on the section line between sections no such officer shall be removed except for cause, nor unless for the several wards. thirty-four (34) and thirty-five (35), sixty-four (64) he shall first have been furnished with a ^opy of the charges On such ballots shall appear the names of no persons except chains to the corner of sections thirty-four (34) and thirtyfive against him, and shall have had a reasonable opportunity to those who have duly filed and paid the fee as herein provided (35), on the south boundary of said township seventy-one be heard by himself or counsel in his own defense. for. (71), north of range twenty-four (24) west— The City Council have power to fix the time and place for Each ballot shall be not less than four nor more than six Thence west on the town line between townships seventy the trial of such officer, of which he shall be given not less inches wide, and shall be printed on white paper and headed (70) and seventy-one (71). eighty (80) chains to the corner than 10 days' notice, to compel the attendance of witnesses by the words "Official Ballot of International Falls." of sections thirty-three (33) and thirty-four (34)—Thence and the production of papers and to hear* and determine the Such ballots shall be of a uniform size and tint. north on the section line between sections thirty three (33) case. Whenever two or more persons are candidates for the same and thirty-four (34), seventy-one (71) chains to the meander If such officer shall fail or refuse to appear and answer such office, the names of all candidates for such office shall be so corner between fractional sections thirty-three (33) and thirtyfour charge the same shall be cause for removal. alternated on the ballots used in each election district that (34) on the left bank of Rainy River. Thence along the Vacancy—How Filled.—Section 4. Whfcn a vacancy shall they shall appear thereon substantially an equal number of bank of Rainy River—north 30 degrees east 3.31 chains occur in any office, either elective or appointive, the same shall, times at the top, at the bottom and each intermediate place, if north 63 degrees east, three and 5%oo chains north seventy- except as otherwise provided herein, be filled by appointment any, of the list or group to which they belong. five (75) degrees east, sixteen and2%00 chains, north five of the City Council. All officers charged with the printing and distribution of (5) degrees east, five and 6?"ioo chains —north 60 degrees What Shall Constitute an Election.—Section 5. A plurality such ballots shall cause the printer's forms to be so transposed east twelve and r%oo chains—south 76 degrees east—13 of votes for elective officers shall constitute aii election. and the blocks of ballots to be so made up as to carry out the chains, south 10 degrees east four and r,%0ochains—south 52 When two or more persons shall receive an equal number, intent hereof. degrees east 2 chains—south 27 degrees east 13 chainssouth and the highest number of votes for any office, the election No name of a political party or organization shall be printed 69 degrees east twenty and '''/ion chains, north 74 degrees shall be determined by the casting of lots, under the supervision on any place on said ballot. east 2 chains to the point of beginning. of the City Council, at such time and place and in such Ballots, Names—How Printed.—Section 18. The name of Also lot one (1) in section thirty-three (33), township seventy-one manner as the City Council shall direct. Officers appointed or each candidate and the office to be filled shall be printed at (71), north of range twenty-four (24) west. elected by the City Council shall receive a majority vote of right angles with the length of the ballot, in plain Roman type all its members to constitute an election. Also all those portions of section twenty-seven (27) and not larger than Long Primer nor smaller than Brevier. Who are Entitled to Vote.—Section 6. All persons entitled thirty-four (34) in township seventy-one (71) north of range The name of the candidate in capital letters preceded on the to vote for state and county officers shall be entitled to vote twenty-four (24) west, in Koochiching- county, Minnesota, same line by the title of the office in capitals and small letters. for any officer to be elected under this Charter, and to vote on tying northerly of the present boundary line of the Village At the right of and on a line with such names, near the any subject which may properly come before the voters. of International Falls. margin, there shall be a space so enclosed by rule work as to Any qualified voter, except as otherwise provided by law make a square three-eighths of an inch in size in which the Ward Boundaries.—Section 3. Said City shall be divided relating to Judges of the Municipal Court, shall be qualified to voter may designate his choice by the mark (X). into three wards as follows: hold any office created under this charter. Above and below each name shall be printed across the ballot First Ward. Elections.—Section 7. Except as otherwise provided in a light line, except that above and below each office a All that part of said territory which lies east of the center this Charter, all general laws of the State of Minnesota relating heavier line shall be so printed. line of Fourth Avenue extended to the north and south limits to elections shall apply to and govern all elections under At right angles with such lines and at the right of the small of said territory. this Charter, and the same are hereby adopted as fully as if squares shall be printed opposite each office the words "Vote Second Ward. the same were incorporated herein and made a part hereof. for One" or vote for two, or more, according to the number to All that part of said territory wrhich lies between said Fourth The returns for all city elections shall be made to the City be elected. Avenue as so extended and center line of Eighth Avenue extended Clerk, and the City Council shall within three days after said Number of Ballots.—Section 19. At least 100 of such ballots to the north and south limits of said territory, shall election, either at a regular or special meeting, canvass the shall be provided by the Clerk for each polling place for constitute the Second Ward. returns and declare the result thereof, and order certificates every 75 votes there registered at the preceding election. Third Ward. of election to be issued by the Clerk to the persons elected. If for any reason a greater number may be needed, sufficient All that part of said territory lying west of the center line Term of Office.—Section 8. At the first Annual election of additional ballots shall be furnished. of said Eighth Avenue as so extended shall constitute the City officers there shall be elected two Aldermen for each Distribution.—Section 20. The election officers at each Third Ward. All according to the plat of International Falls ward, one for one year and one for two years. At said elec polling place shall hand to each voter at the time he enters now on file in the office of the Register of Deeds in and for tion the Alderman at large shall be elected for one year. the voting booth one of said official ballots. said County. Thereafter each of said Aldermen, including the Alderman The ballots herein mentioned shall be in addition to any ballots That the boundaries of the said wards may be changed or at large shall, at each annual election, be elected for the period that may be otherwise provided for by state law. new wards created by ordinance adopted by an affirmative of two years. Section 21. The General Law of the State of Minnesota vote of five-sevenths of all the members of the City Council. The Judge of Municipal Court shall be elected for the period known as the "Primary Election Law" shall not apply to this That in any such redisricting or redivision each ward shall of four (4) years. City in the election of City officers. contain, as nearly as practicable, an equal number of legal All other elective officers of the City shall be elected for the Registration.—Section 22. The General Election Law of voters, and also an area equal to each other. period of two years. the State of Minnesota as applicable to Cities of the Third Section 4. Each of said wards shall constitute a separate Special Elections.—Section 9. Special elections may be Class, and relating to registration voters shall apply to and election precinct of said city for the holding of all general called by the City Council and the same shall be called, held govern all elections under this charter except that "only one or special elections provided for under the laws of this state and conducted in such manner as may be ordinance. registration day shall be had and which shall be on the Tuesday or under this charter. Vacancies in Office.—Section 10. Every City office shall next preceding the day of election. Annexing Additional Territory.—Section 5. In any case become vacant on the happening of either of.the events set The Initiative.—Section 17. Any proposed ordinance may where territory adjacent to and adjoining the territory of said forth in Section 2667, Revised Laws of 1905, before the termination be submitted to the City Council for adoption, by a petition city has been or shall hereafter be platted into lots or blocks of his term of office. signed by qualified electors of said City equal in number to and said plat shall have been filed for record in the office of Resignation.—Section 11. Any person having entered upon the percentages hereinafter required. the Register of Deeds in and for Koochiching County, Minnesota, the duties of his office may resign the same with the consent The signatures to such petition need not be all appended to the same may be annexed to said city by an Ordinance of City Council. one paper, but each signer shall add to his signature the number duly adopted by the City Council. City Contracts—Officers Not Be Interested.—Section 12. of the Ward in which he resides. Such territory so annexed shall thereafter form a part of No officer of said city shall, during his term of office, be or One of the signers of each paper shall make oath before an said City and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. become in any manner interested in any contract in behalf of officer competent to administer oaths, that the statements A copy of such ordinance "describing said territory shall the City or any department thereof, with himself or with anv therein made are true, and that each signature to such paper ft thereupon be filed in the office of the Register of Deeds in firm of which he is a member, or with any association or appended is the genuine signature of the person whose name 'corporation of which he may be an officer, and any such contract and for said County of Koochiching. purports to be thereunto subscribed. Within ten davs from shall be absolutely void, and such officer shall forfeit such Section 6. When this Charter takes effect the City of International the filing of such petition the City Clerk shall examine the office so held by him and thereafter disqualified from holding same and from the poll lists of the last City election ascertain Falls shall be and become the legal successor of the any office in said City. whether or not said petition is signed by the requisite number Village of International Falls, and shall be vested with all the Penalty for Failure to Observe Duties Imposed.—Section 13. rights and immunities formerly vested in the Village of International of qualified electors, and if necessary, the council shall Any officer or employee of the city who shall willfully violate Falls, except as herein otherwise provided, and all allow him extra help for that purpose, and shall attach to -n any provisions.of the Charter in regard to any duty imposed ordinances existing at the time of the adoption of this Charter, such petition his certificate showing the result of such examination. on him as such officer or employee, or commit any fraud upon and not inconsistent therewith, shall remain in full force and the city, or convert any of the property or funds of said city effect until repealed or modified. If, by the Clerk's certificate, the petition is shown to be insufficient to his own use or to the use of any other person, or who in regard to the number of signers thereon, it may All property, property rights and interests of every nature shall willfully or corruptly permit any other person to do so, be amended within ten days from the date of such certificate." and kind formerly vested in the Village of International Falls, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall on conviction The Clerk shall, within ten days after the filing with him shall, when this Charter takes effect, be and become vested in thereof be punished therefor as provided by the General Laws of such amended petition, make like examination of such the City of International Falls under this charter and all of the State in case of misdemeanors, and shall forfeit any amended petition, and if his certificate shall show the same previously existing indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of office held by him in said city and be thereafter forever disqualified to be insufficient, it shall be returned to the person filing the said Village of International Falls, together with interest accrued from holding any office of trust or profit in said City. same, without prejudice, however, to the filing of a new'petition or to accrue thereon, shall be assumed and paid by the Salaries of Officers.—Section 14. The salary of the Mayor to the same effect. City of International Falls. shall not exceed $300.00 per year, and the salary of each If the petition, or the amended petition, shall be found sufficient, CHAPTER II. Alderman shall be one (1) Dollar per meeting for each meet the Clerk shall submit the same to the City Council ELECTIONS, APPOINTMENTS, AND GENERAL PROVISIONS without delay. ing1 of the council actually attended by such Alderman, not CONCERNING OFFICERS. exceeding, however, the sum of fifty-two (52) Dollars in any If the petition accompanying the proposed ordinance be Time of Election.—Section 1. An annual election for the one year. signed by electors equal in number to fifteen per cent of the election of City officers shall be held in said city on the first The salary of the Judge of the Municipal Court shall be entire vote cast for all candidates for Mayor at the last preceding Tuesday after the first Monday of each year for the election fixed by the City Council at not less than fifty (50) Dollars general City election at which a Mayor was elected, and per month. of such officers as shall be provided for herein. contains a request that said ordinance be submitted to a vote Such election shall be held at such place in each ward as The salaries of all other officers and employees of the City of the electors of said City, if not passed by the Council, then the Council shall either: shall be fixed by resolution of the City Council and entered on shall be designated by the City Council. Ten days' previous notice of such election and of the officers the minutes of the meeting of the Council. (a) Pass said ordinance without alteration within twenty to be elected and of the subjects to be voted upon shall be All salaries shall be paid monthly out of the treasury of the days after the attachment of the Clerk's certificate as to sufficiency given by the City Clerk by posting the same in some public City. The salary of any elective officer whose salary is not to the accompanying petition (subject to a refendary place in each of said wards or by publishing the same in the fixed by this-Charter shall be fixed by resolution of the City vote under the provisions of section 17 of this Chapter) and Council at thr%rst meeting of the incoming council in the official paper of said City. if such ordinance shall be passed by the council, but shall That such notice shall be given at least ten days previous to month of April be by the an^ on vetoed Mayor, reconsideration shall fail of The Salary of any officer after having befen once fixed shall the (la)' of such election. .... passage by the council, then, within five days after deter- Li wis ,vV?'lUw^ A#-. •eKpBww.