13-1331.   Contracts, bids, plans and specifications; time for levy.All contracts for improvements costing more than one thousand dollarsshall be in writing, and there shall be no liability to any contractor orhis or her assignees for the construction of any improvement costing morethan one thousand dollars unless the contract therefor is in writing. Atleast twenty days before the board shall let any contract for anyimprovement, they shall cause accurate detailed plans and completespecifications therefor, together with a detailed estimate, under oath, ofthe cost of such improvement, to be made by some competent person and filedin the office of the clerk of such board, for inspection by all personsinterested therein, and thereafter, and before letting of such contract,the board shall advertise for bids to do such work in accordance with suchplans and specifications for at least ten days in the official city paper.

      All bids shall be made in writing and signed by the bidder, andpresented by the bidder, his or her agent or attorney, to the board, at apublic meeting thereof, and all bids shall be considered and accepted orrejected immediately after their submission. The board may reject any bidsand shall not accept a bid in excess of the estimated cost of the work, anda contract let at a price in excess of the estimated cost of the work shallbe void. No special assessments shall be levied for the cost of any workuntil the contract therefor has been let; but such assessments may belevied before the construction of an improvement, when the cost of the sameis definitely ascertained.

      History:   L. 1907, ch. 115, § 32; R.S. 1923, § 13-1331; L. 1953, ch. 89, § 1;June 30.