§ 18-1. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

Cost when referring to the cost on any improvement, shall include the cost of surveys, plans, land, rights-of-way, spreading of rolls, notices, advertising, financing and construction and all other costs incident to the making of the improvement, the special assessments therefor and the financing thereof.

Defray shall mean to pay the cost and expense.

Improvement shall mean any public improvement, any part of the cost of which is to be assessed against one (1) or more lots or parcels of land within the political boundaries of the city to be especially benefitted thereby, in proportion to the benefit to be derived therefrom.

Owners shall mean recorded title holders of record. Contract vendees (purchasers) do not qualify as owners for the purposes of this chapter. Where property is jointly owned, all joint owners must sign any petition under this chapter individually, using first name, middle initial and last name.

Owners of the majority of lands shall mean the numerical number of owners and not the numerical number of parcels of land owned by one (1) owner.

Owners of the property subject to the special assessment, who will be required to bear more than fifty (50) per cent of the cost thereof shall be interpreted to mean one (1) or more individual property owners whose total special assessment shall exceed fifty (50) per cent of the total cost assessed against all of the property owners.

Pro rata shall mean proportionately, according to liability per benefit or frontage.

(Code 1966, § 1.81; Ord. No. 2006-1, 2-13-06)