§ 41. Enumeration of corporate powers.

The mayor and city council of Fort Valley shall have power, either to lay off, vacate, close, open, alter, curb, pave and keep in good order and repair, roads, streets, alleys, sidewalks, crosswalks, drains and gutters for the use of the public or any of the citizens thereof; and to improve and light the same and have them kept free from obstruction on or above them; to regulate the width of sidewalks on the streets; and to order the sidewalks, footwalks, crossways, drains and gutters to be put in good order, free and clean, by the owner and occupant thereof, or of the real property next adjacent thereto; to establish and regulate markets; to prescribe the time for holding the same; to prevent injury or annoyance to the public or individuals from anything dangerous, offensive or unwholesome; to prevent hogs, cattle, horses, sheep, dogs, and other animals and fowl of all kinds from going at large in said city; to protect places of divine worship in and about the premises where held; to abate or cause to be abated anything which, in the opinion of the majority of the whole council of said city, shall be a nuisance; to regulate the keeping of gunpowder and other combustibles; to provide in or near said city places for the burial of the dead, and to regulate interment therein; to provide for the drainage of lots by proper drains and ditches; to make regulations for guarding against danger or damage by fire; to protect the property and persons of the citizens of said city, and to preserve the peace and good order therein; and, for this purpose, to appoint, when necessary, a police force to assist the marshal in the discharge of his duty; to prescribe the powers and define the duties of the officers appointed by the mayor and city council of Fort Valley; to fix their terms of service and compensation; require and take from them bonds, when deemed necessary, payable to the mayor and city council of Fort Valley, with such securities and in such penalty as said mayor and city council may see fit, conditioned for the faithful discharge of their duties; to erect, or authorize or prohibit the erection of gasworks, waterworks, sewerage, or telephone systems in said city; to prevent injury to or pollution of the same, or to the water and healthfulness of said city; regulate and provide for the weighing of hay, coal and other articles sold or for sale in said city; and to provide a revenue for said city and to appropriate the same to its expenses; to organize a chaingang or workgang to work upon the streets of said city; and to these uses may pass all necessary rules, regulations, [and] ordinances and to adopt rules and regulations for the government of its own body.

State law reference

General and specific powers of municipality, O.C.G.A. tit. 36.

Charter reference

General powers, § 2.