Property owners that wish to have water and sewer lines extended, streets paved or curb and gutters installed on their streets can ask the City to participate in the project through our petition process.

The first step in the petition process is to get a petition from the staff at Community Development on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 230 W. Morehead Street. The petition will contain the following information:

• The agreement between the City and property owners concerning the improvements. It basically says that the property owners in the improvement area agree to pay a certain assessment once the project is completed. For sewer service the assessment is currently $11.00 per linear foot of property that the owner has along the project area. For water service the assessment is $9.00 per linear foot. Curb and gutter assessments are $14.00 per linear foot and the assessment on street pavings is based on the actual finished cost of the project. The agreement also says that the assessment can be paid over a 5-year period at 8% interest per annum.
  
• A description of the project improvement area and a description of the improvement to take place.
  
• The Property owners in the improvement area along with their addresses and property identification numbers (PIN).
  
• A calculated total cost (or the projected assessment) for each property owner on the petition.

The person(s) that requested the petition pick up the prepared petition and take it around to their neighbors to get them to agree to participate in the project by signing the petition. A petition is not valid (acceptable) unless it contains the signatures of more than 51% of the number of property owners representing at least 51% of the total footage on the petition.

When the petitioner is sure they have more than 51% of the signatures and footage required, it is returned back to the Department of Community Development. The staff there will check out the petition to make sure it is valid and that no properties have changed ownership or have been subdivided. This can occur when a petition is in circulation for a while.

If the petition is valid it is taken to the City Clerk for verification. A valid petition is then presented to City Council. If Council chooses to proceed with a project, it does so by adopting a Preliminary Assessment Resolution, which sets out the scope of the project, the cost, terms of payment and establishes a time for the first public hearing on the project. All affected property owners will receive a copy of the Preliminary Assessment Resolution and notice of public hearing at least 10 days before the hearing. A public hearing notice is also published in the Reidsville Review at least 10 days before the hearing.

At the public hearing, all property owners will be given an opportunity to address City Council concerning any matter covered in the Preliminary Assessment Resolution. Upon completion of the public hearing, Council can then adopt a Resolution to Undertake the Project.

At this point the Engineering Division of the Department of Community Development is notified of the approval of the project and they begin the planning for the project.

The City will handle the project from the creation of plans to the bidding out to contractors. Once the project is completed, the City Clerk will be notified and City Council will adopt a Resolution Declaring Cost and Ordering Preparation of the Preliminary Assessment Role. This action also sets the date and time of the second public hearing. Prior to the second public hearing, all property owners will be notified that the project has been completed and their projected cost.

At this public hearing the City Council will hear from all interested parties concerning the actual construction or assessment cost. Council will then adopt a Resolution the Assessment Role and Levying Assessments. At this point, the assessment role will be delivered to the Tax Collector for collection.

Property owners can pay the assessment in full within 30 days without interest.