MACON - History Montezuma incorporation ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Galileo ACTS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, PASSED IN MILLEDGEVILLE, AT A BIENNIAL SESSION, IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER, JANUARY, AND FEBRUARY. 1853-4. COMPILED, AND NOTES ADDED, By JOHN RUTHERFORD. SEC. XII. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passage of this Act, the corporate limits of the town of Montezuma, in the county of Macon, shall extend three hundred yards in every direction from the depot, and that James A. Stubbs, J. A. Seymour, William S. Truluck, A. M. Wynne, and John M. Felton, and their successors in office, be and they are hereby appointed Commissioners for said town of Montezuma, with full powers to make such by-laws, rules and regulations, as may be necessary for the improvement and the internal police of said town: Provided, such by-laws, rules and regulations shall not be repugnant to the Constitution of this State. SEC. XIII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the Commissioners above mentioned shall continue in office until the first Saturday in January, 1854, at which time and on the first Saturday in every January thereafter, the inhabitants of said Town who are entitled to vote for members of the General Assembly, shall convene in said Town, and by ballot elect four Commissioners, who shall continue in office for one year. SEC. XIV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That should any vacancy happen in said Board of Commissioners, the remaining Commissioners shall have full power and authority to fill such vacancy, in such manner as may be prescribed by their by-laws. ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA, PASSED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, AT THE SESSION OF 1870. PART I.-- PUBLIC LAWS. TITLE XI. INCORPORATIONS. I.—BANKS AND BANKING COMPANIES. II.—CITIES AND TOWNS. 1870 Vol. 1 -- Page: 211 Sequential Number: 144 Law Number: (No. 144.) Full Title: An Act to incorporate the town of Montezuma, in the county of Macon, and to provide for an election of Mayor and Aldermen for the same. Section 1. Be it enacted, That, from and after the passage of this act, the citizens of Montezuma, and those residing within its corporate limits, hereafter to be defined, and all other persons removing to, residing and sojourning in the same, shall be subject to the laws hereinafter to be enacted, and such laws or ordinances as the officers hereinafter named may see proper to enact, pass and promulgate for the government of said town, the same not being in conflict with the laws of this State, its Constitution, or the laws or Constitution of the United States. [Sidenote: Who are subject to the corporate laws.] Sec. 2. That the corporate limits of said town shall extend one-half mile in every direction from the Southwestern Railroad depot: Provided, That this section shall not be so construed as to subject the corporation hereinafter named to the liability of keeping the bridge now erected over Beaver Creek, within said corporate limits, in repair, further than any extreme exigency of occasion may require. Sec. 3. That said corporation shall be known by the name and style of the Mayor and Aldermen of the town of Montezuma, shall have a corporate seal, and shall perform and execute all corporate acts by said name and seal. Sec. 4. That John P. McCall, G. C. Carmichael, James M. Harrison, J. E. Devaughn and William W. McLendon, are hereby appointed and constituted commissioners with full power -- after taking and subscribing the following oath, viz: I do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will perform the duties as commissioners, truly and faithfully, as required of me by the provisions of this act, and for the benefit and interest of said corporation -- to prepare, draft and codify a system of by- laws, ordinances and regulations for the government of the town aforesaid; that said commissioners, within thirty days after the passage of this act, shall order an election by giving ten days' notice of said election for Mayor and four Aldermen, who shall constitute the Town Council of Montezuma. Sec. 5. That after the performance of the duties required of the commissioners, as prescribed in section four of this act, their term of office shall expire. Sec. 6. That the Mayor and Aldermen, after being sworn in office, shall, when sitting as a Town Council, have the power to alter, amend or pass any act or ordinance that a majority of them shall deem [proper] for the interest and welfare of the town. Sec. 7. That the election recited in section four of this act shall be managed by a Justice of the Peace or Notary Public and two freeholders, and all subsequent elections, annually to be held in the same manner, and at such time as may be designated in the ordinances of corporation; electors at such elections shall possess all the qualifications as are now required by the laws and Constitution of this State, and shall have resided within the corporate limits of said town thirty days, and shall be subject to all the pains and penalties prescribed by the laws of this State for illegal voting. Sec. 8. That the said Town Council shall have the right and power to assess, levy and collect such taxes upon all property, real and personal, within the corporate jurisdiction of said town, as may, in their judgment, be necessary, not to exceed fifty per cent. on the State tax, excluding all property devoted to agricultural, educational and religious purposes. Sec. 9. That all persons residing within the limits of said corporation shall be exempt from road duty outside of the same. Sec. 10. That all laws or parts of laws militating against this act be, and are hereby, repealed. Approval Date: Approved October 12, 1870.