A. All local improvements, funds for the making of which are derived in whole or in part from assessments upon property specially benefitted, shall be made either by the city itself, or by contract upon competitive bids. The city council shall determine whether such local improvement shall be done by contract or the city itself. The city council shall have power, without any liability whatsoever to any bidder, to reject any and all bids. The city may provide that all the work to be done in any local improvement district shall be let in one contract or at its option, it may provide that the work in any local improvement district be subdivided and separate and distinct contracts be let for each subdivision thereof. Before awarding any such contract, or contracts, the City Clerk shall cause to be published in two issues of the official newspaper of the city a notice, for at least ten days before the letting of such contract or contracts, inviting sealed proposals to be filed with the city clerk on or before the date and hour named therein. The plans and specifications for such work must, at the time of the publication of such notice, be on file in the office of the City Engineer of the city of Aberdeen, subject to public inspection.

B. All bids shall be accompanied by a certified check payable to the order of the city clerk of the city of Aberdeen, for a sum not less than five percent of the amount of the bid, and no bid shall be considered unless accompanied by such check at the time and place named; such bids shall be publicly opened and read. No bid shall be rejected for informality, but shall be received if it can be understood what is meant thereby. The city council shall proceed to determine the lowest responsible bidder and may let such contract to such bidder or, if in its opinion, all bids are too high it may reject all of them and readvertise or may proceed to do the work under its own supervision by day work and in such case all checks shall be returned to the bidders by the city clerk. If the contract be let, then, and in such case, all checks shall be returned to the bidders, except that of the successful bidder, which shall be retained until a contract in such form and substance as shall be required by the city council be entered into for making such improvement between the bidder and the city and the duly approved and accepted bond therefor be filed in the office of the city clerk. If the said bidder fails to enter into such contract in accordance with his bid, when required so to do, by the city council, said certified check shall be deemed forfeited to the city and the city clerk shall deliver said check, properly endorsed, to the city treasurer to be deposited to the credit of the particular local improvement fund and the city council shall order the city clerk to readvertise for proposals for such work.