There is hereby granted to Midwest Natural Gas,
Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, its successors and assigns, hereinafter
referred to as the "company," the right and privilege to acquire,
erect, construct, operate and maintain a gas plant, gas system, or
both, and to import, transport, sell and distribute gas, whether natural,
manufactured, mixed or propane, within the Village of Siren and for
these purposes to establish the necessary facilities and equipment
and to lay and maintain gas mains, service pipes and any other appurtenances
necessary to the sale and distribution of gas in and along the streets,
alleys and other public ways and places of the Village of Siren; provided,
however, that nothing herein shall prevent or limit any person from
importing, transporting, selling or distributing liquid petroleum
or liquid propane gas within said Village. This franchise shall be
void if the company shall not have commenced to provide service within
a three-year period after the acceptance date. If the company does
not commence the construction of its natural gas distribution system
and facilities required to introduce natural gas into the Village
of Siren within six months of the date when natural gas is delivered
by pipeline to the Village gate delivery point near the Village limits
of said Siren for sale and distribution within the Village or within
six months of the time gas is available by a wholesale supplier, whichever
is sooner, then said Village shall have the option to terminate and
cancel this franchise by giving the company, its successors and assigns
at least 90 days' written notice of its election to do so, such notice
to the company to be sent to Independence, Wisconsin. The grant of
authority herein shall not be transferred or assigned by the company
without the express written consent thereto of the Village of Siren.
The company shall render efficient service and
charge fair and reasonable rates in accordance with the rules and
regulations of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
The company shall have the power and authority
to promulgate such rules, regulations and terms and conditions governing
the conduct of its business as shall be reasonably necessary to enable
the company to exercise its rights and to perform its obligations
under this franchise in accordance with the rules and regulations
of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.
The company, its successors and assigns shall,
if they accept this franchise chapter and the rights hereby granted,
file a written acceptance of this franchise with the Village of Siren
within 60 days from the adoption date of this chapter (April 4, 1968).