§ 28. Public utilities.

The mayor and city council of Fort Valley shall have full power and authority to establish and maintain a system of waterworks and sanitary sewerage for said city, and also a system of telephones and electric lights for said city, and to compel lot owners to connect with said sewers, and may purchase or condemn any property within or without the city that may be necessary for either of said public works. In case it shall become necessary to condemn any property under this section, or for any other public works, the proceeding shall be the same as in section 25 of this Charter. Said mayor and city council of Fort Valley shall have power to pass such ordinances and enforce compliance therewith by suitable penalties as may be necessary for the protection of the city waterworks, sewerage system, electric light plant and telephone system and appurtenances to each, and for the securing [of] the purity and healthfulness of the water supply, and shall have full power and authority to abate or cause to be abated and remove through its proper officers anything that may hinder, retard or impair the usefulness of any of said public utilities, and shall have full power and authority to make rules and regulations respecting the introduction of water, light, sewerage or telephone connection into or upon any premises, and from time to time regulate the use thereof in such a manner as to them shall seem necessary and proper, and the officials representing said mayor and city council and in their services are hereby authorized and empowered to enter at all reasonable hours any dwelling or other place where any or all of said public utilities are taken and used, and where unnecessary waste thereof is known or suspected and examine and inquire into the cause thereof. They shall have full power to examine all surface pipes, stopcocks, or other apparatus or other appliance connected with the electric light system, sewerage or telephone system of said city for the purpose of ascertaining whether the same are of the character and fixed and used in the manner directed in permits issued thereof and, if any person refuses to permit such examination, or opposes or obstructs such officer in the performance of said duties, the person so offending shall be liable to such penalty, not exceeding ten dollars ($10.00), for each offense as the mayor and city council may by ordinances provide; and the water, light, sewerage or telephone connection, any or all of them, when necessary to meet exigencies of the case, may be shut off until the required examination is made and such alterations and repairs are completed as may be necessary and directed by the proper authorities.