MTAS was asked whether the city and the utility district can contract for the utility district to cut off the water of the city's delinquent sewer customers without the contract also providing for the utility district to handle the city's sewer service billing.

An old tax map shows the property is located in the city but the map was changed sometime within the past 10 years to show the property is outside the city line, in the county.

The City of Gustavus, Alaska, created a policy and procedure for queries to the City Attorney.

Cities across the state have been notified by the county property assessor’s offices of an increased cost of property reappraisal this year and going forward. The argument for increasing these costs is that other functions of the property assessor’s office are utilized in the reappraisal program and must be maintained in order to remain in compliance with the reappraisal program. However, based upon the statutory language and legislative history, MTAS attorneys disagree with any opinion that general property assessor expenses unrelated to a reappraisal can be charged to a city. In fact, it is our legal opinion that the legislative intent is that “local cost of reappraisal” were to be “limited to the increased cost incurred by the requirements of this section and 67-5-1602 – 67-5-1604.”

Materials from an MTAS/CTAS statewide class designed for those city and county staff with ADA compliance responsibilities. Information resources includes the extensive class handout as well as the class slide presentation.

MTAS was asked to review a contract proposed by company under which police car would be provided to city for $1 for 3 years, on the condition that company be able to place advertising on the vehicle, and purchase it back from the city for $1 after 3 year period.

MTAS was asked what the phrase 'function as a sovereign' means.

MTAS created a sample resolution for Tennessee municipalities to use in order to adopt a public records policy that will provide economical and efficient access to public records as provided under the Tennessee Public Records Act ('TPRA') in Tenn. Code Ann. 10-7-501, et seq. by July 1, 2017. The sample resolution adopting a public records policy includes a public records policy, a public records request form, and a public record request response form. (updated 11/2/2017)

MTAS was asked whether the city can enter into a land swap agreement with private parties, and what rules govern such transactions.

The City entered into a Wastewater Treatment Facilities Management Agreement with the County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority for the operation of the City’s wastewater facilities on October 31, 2003. The City actually transferred its facilities to the Authority pursuant to the Agreement. The Authority now claims that it is only responsible for the operation and maintenance of the “main” lines, not the lateral lines, although the City understood that all assets and liabilities of the wastewater facility were transferred to the Authority. MTAS was asked to review the Agreement and statutes and determine if lateral lines are included in the property transferred to the Authority.