8.5. SR 01-04-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . ~i~ J!j.'<'; ~.. ,.. ~I; "'- :~ . .~. STATUTORY cmES 412.321 9049 UTILITIES 412.321 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES. Subdivision 1. Authority to own and operate. Any statutory city may own and oper- ate any waterworks, district heating system, or gas, light, power, or heat plant for sup- plying its own needs for utility service or for supplying utility service to private consumers or both. It may construct and install all facilities reasonably needed for that purpose and may lease or purchase any existing utility properties so needed. It may, in lieu of providing for the local production of gas, electricity, water, hot water, steam, or heat, purchase the same wholesale and resell it to local consumers. After any such utility has been acquired, the council, except as its powers have been limited through establishment ofa public utilities commission in the city, shall make all necessary rules and regulations for the protection, maintenance, operation, extension, and improve- ment thereof and for the sale of its utility products. Subd. 2. Vote on establishment. No gas, light, power, or heat utility shall be con- structed, purchased, or leased until the proposal to do so has been submitted to the vot- ers at a regular or special election and been approved by five-eighths of those voting on the proposition. Such proposal shall state whether the public utility is to be con- structed, purchased, or leased and the estimated cost or the maximum amount to be expended for that purpose. This proposal and a proposal to issue bonds to raise money therefor may be submitted either separately or as a single question. The proposal for the acquisition of the public utility may include authority for distribution only or for generation or production and distribution of a particular utility service or group of ser- vices. Approval of the voters shall be obtained under this section before a city purchas- ing gas or electricity wholesale and distributing it to consumers acquires facilities for the manufacture of gas or generation of electricity unless the voters have, within the two previous years, approved a proposal for both generation or production and distri- bution. Subd. 3. Extension beyond limitations. Any city may, except as otherwise restricted by this section, extend any such public utility outside its limits and furnish service to COnsumers in such area at such rates and upon such terms as the councilor utility com-