The council shall have power to grade, pave, plank, gravel, curb, and otherwise improve and repair the highways, streets, avenues, lanes, and alleys of the city; and for that purpose, and for defraying the expenses thereof, may divide the city into street districts. The term "paving" shall be deemed to include the construction of crosswalks, gutters, and curbing. Whenever any paving has been ordered upon any street or public highway in the city, it shall be the duty of any person owning any lot, or land, or premises adjoining to, or abutting upon such street, before the same shall be paved, to put in and lay all sewer, water, and gas connections in front of their land and premises, and carry the same from the pipe in the street to and beyond the curb line of the proposed pavement as the council shall determine to be necessary for the preservation of the proposed paving, when the same shall be laid and put down, and the connection shall be laid, made, and put in in the manner and at the time as directed by the council. In case the owner of such lot, land, or premises shall neglect or refuse to make, lay, or put in the connections at the time or in the manner prescribed by the council, then the council shall cause the same to be made, laid, or put in, and the respective owners of such lot, land, or premises shall be liable for the cost thereof, together with 10% in addition thereto as a penalty to be recovered by the city in an action of debt or assumpsit, or the costs together with the amount of the penalty for which the person shall be respectively liable, the council shall cause to be specially assessed in the manner provided in this act.

     Such part of the expenses of improving any street, lane or alley, by grading, paving, planking, graveling, curbing, or otherwise, and of repairing the same as the council shall determine, may be paid from the general street fund or from the street district fund of the proper street district, or in part from each; or the whole, or such part of the expense of such improvement as the council shall determine, may be defrayed by special assessments upon lots and premises included in a special assessment district, to be constituted of the lands fronting upon that part of the street or alley so improved or proposed so to be; or constituted of lands fronting upon such improvement, and such other lands as in the opinion of the council may be benefited by the improvement.