1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to counties; authorizing the special 
  1.3             assessment procedure for certain enhanced 911 program 
  1.4             expenses; expanding definitions of municipality and 
  1.5             improvement and expanding a list of authorized 
  1.6             improvements; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
  1.7             sections 429.011, subdivisions 2a and 5; and 429.021, 
  1.8             subdivision 1. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 429.011, 
  1.11  subdivision 2a, is amended to read: 
  1.12     Subd. 2a.  [MUNICIPALITY.] "Municipality" also includes a 
  1.13  county in the case of construction, reconstruction, or 
  1.14  improvement of a county state-aid highway or county highway as 
  1.15  defined in section 160.02 including curbs and gutters and storm 
  1.16  sewers and includes; a county exercising its powers and duties 
  1.17  under section 444.075, subdivision 1; and a county for expenses 
  1.18  not paid for under section 403.113, subdivision 3, paragraph 
  1.19  (b), clause (3). 
  1.20     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 429.011, 
  1.21  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  1.22     Subd. 5.  [IMPROVEMENT.] "Improvement" means any type of 
  1.23  improvement made under authority granted by section 429.021, and 
  1.24  in the case of a county is limited to the construction, 
  1.25  reconstruction, or improvement of a county state-aid highway or 
  1.26  county highway including curbs and gutters and storm sewers, and 
  1.27  to the purchase, installation, or maintenance of signs, posts, 
  2.1   and markers for addressing related to the operation of enhanced 
  2.2   911 telephone service. 
  2.3      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 429.021, 
  2.4   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  2.5      Subdivision 1.  [IMPROVEMENTS AUTHORIZED.] The council of a 
  2.6   municipality shall have power to make the following improvements:
  2.7      (1) To acquire, open, and widen any street, and to improve 
  2.8   the same by constructing, reconstructing, and maintaining 
  2.9   sidewalks, pavement, gutters, curbs, and vehicle parking strips 
  2.10  of any material, or by grading, graveling, oiling, or otherwise 
  2.11  improving the same, including the beautification thereof and 
  2.12  including storm sewers or other street drainage and connections 
  2.13  from sewer, water, or similar mains to curb lines. 
  2.14     (2) To acquire, develop, construct, reconstruct, extend, 
  2.15  and maintain storm and sanitary sewers and systems, including 
  2.16  outlets, holding areas and ponds, treatment plants, pumps, lift 
  2.17  stations, service connections, and other appurtenances of a 
  2.18  sewer system, within and without the corporate limits. 
  2.19     (3) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain steam 
  2.20  heating mains. 
  2.21     (4) To install, replace, extend, and maintain street lights 
  2.22  and street lighting systems and special lighting systems. 
  2.23     (5) To acquire, improve, construct, reconstruct, extend, 
  2.24  and maintain water works systems, including mains, valves, 
  2.25  hydrants, service connections, wells, pumps, reservoirs, tanks, 
  2.26  treatment plants, and other appurtenances of a water works 
  2.27  system, within and without the corporate limits. 
  2.28     (6) To acquire, improve and equip parks, open space areas, 
  2.29  playgrounds, and recreational facilities within or without the 
  2.30  corporate limits. 
  2.31     (7) To plant trees on streets and provide for their 
  2.32  trimming, care, and removal. 
  2.33     (8) To abate nuisances and to drain swamps, marshes, and 
  2.34  ponds on public or private property and to fill the same. 
  2.35     (9) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain dikes 
  2.36  and other flood control works. 
  3.1      (10) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain 
  3.2   retaining walls and area walls. 
  3.3      (11) To acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, alter, 
  3.4   extend, operate, maintain, and promote a pedestrian skyway 
  3.5   system.  Such improvement may be made upon a petition pursuant 
  3.6   to section 429.031, subdivision 3.  
  3.7      (12) To acquire, construct, reconstruct, extend, operate, 
  3.8   maintain, and promote underground pedestrian concourses. 
  3.9      (13) To acquire, construct, improve, alter, extend, 
  3.10  operate, maintain, and promote public malls, plazas or 
  3.11  courtyards. 
  3.12     (14) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain 
  3.13  district heating systems.  
  3.14     (15) To construct, reconstruct, alter, extend, operate, 
  3.15  maintain, and promote fire protection systems in existing 
  3.16  buildings, but only upon a petition pursuant to section 429.031, 
  3.17  subdivision 3.  
  3.18     (16) To acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, alter, 
  3.19  extend, and maintain highway sound barriers. 
  3.20     (17) To improve, construct, reconstruct, extend, and 
  3.21  maintain gas and electric distribution facilities owned by a 
  3.22  municipal gas or electric utility. 
  3.23     (18) To purchase, install, and maintain signs, posts, and 
  3.24  other markers for addressing related to the operation of 
  3.25  enhanced 911 telephone service.