Unimproved Streets

Road Millage

Unimproved streets are not scheduled for paving as part of the road millage, except by special assessment to the adjacent property owners. The City Commission has adopted a policy to pay for 50% of the full frontage rate of special assessment paving approved during the millage period. In addition, the city will also cover 75% of the full frontage rate for the first 150 feet of side-lot frontage on an unimproved street.

Procedure to Pave a Street by Special Assessment:

1. Send a letter or e-mail to the Engineering Division to request a petition.  The petition will include a rough cost estimate for the project, including the estimated cost per property.

2. Secure signatures on the petition from owners of the adjacent property.  Typically 50% or more of the  assessable frontage must sign the petition in order for it to be approved by the City Commission.

3. Return the petition to the Engineering Division.   Note that the final page of the petition must be signed by the  circulator and notarized.

4. The petition will be presented to the City Commission, and the following steps must take place.  The following items typically require three to four months before the project can be designed and bid:

• Standard Resolution 1:  The percentage of assessable frontage signing in favor of the project will be reported to  the  City Commission.  The City Commission will decide whether to adopt the "First Resolution" which orders  preliminary plans and estimate of cost prepared by city engineer, and directs city assessor to prepare a special  assessment district.  City assessor refers topic back to City Commission when special assessment district is prepared.
• Standard Resolution 2:  The City Commission establishes a Special Assessment District, setting forth the  estimated  cost to the city and to the assessment district, and sets a date for the Public Hearing of Necessity.  A  notice  regarding the public hearing is sent to the affected property owners and published in a newspaper by the  City  Clerk.
• Standard Resolutions 3 & 4 and Public Hearing of Necessity:  The Public Hearing of Necessity is held on the scheduled date and any objections are registered.  If the proposed improvement is deemed a necessity, then the  City Commission declares that a necessity exists, directs the city assessor to prepare a special assessment roll,  and sets a date for the Public Hearing of Assessment to review the assessments proposed to be levied.  A notice  regarding the public hearing is sent to the affected property owners and published in a newspaper by the City  Clerk.
• Public Hearing of Assessment:  The hearing is held on the scheduled date and any objections are registered.  If it is  still the desire of the City Commission to proceed, then the improvement is "Advanced and Tabled" to await  the  receipt of bids.    

5. The project will move forward for construction unless the lowest bid for the project is greater than 5% above the  original  estimate provided to residents.  If the lowest bid is 5% over the estimated cost, another public hearing will be  held.  

6. Standard Resolution 5:  After the construction is completed, the City Commission confirms the Special Assessment Roll  which  sets forth the number of years over which the Special Assessments will be spread and the dates when these  payments  are due.  The time allowed for special assessments to be repaid is typically determined by the City  Commission to be 15  years.  The standard interest rate of special assessments in 6% beginning with the second  consecutive payment upon  the unpaid assessed balance.