The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-12-18
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.
MONDAY, Dec. 10. 1890

Board met pursuant TO adjournment;
roll called, all members present except
Melendy, Meyer and Kelluer; the mayor
presiding. Minutes of previous meeting
read and approved.
Claims 325 to 339 presented and referred
First Ward committee to whom was
referred the report of city surveyor on
the completion of Quay street, between
9TH and Sth streets recommended that
report be adopted.
! City surveyor reported the completion
of Commercial street, between 10th and
| l1th streets, which was on motion adopt
! ed
/ Committee on Fire and Water recon-
mended that claim of tug Arctic of SO
/ be disallowed.
/ City Treasurer reported the following
receipts: A. T. Kdhl, rent, 3rd ward
engine house, year, $500.
Inspector of dredging reported the
dredging of 2291a scow loads and logs.
On motion city clerk was authorized to
draw an order for $1,000 in favor of Ladies
Aid Society, being Christmas fund Of
John Schuette.
The mayor presented the following
message:
Dec. 18Th, 1892
To the Board Of Alderman.
GENTLEMEN:--In vi1w of the fact that the
Legislature will begin its session next month
and will probably not meet again, after adj
journment, before the expiration of two years
it would seem TO be for the best interests of
the city to have such legislation may be
deemed necessary to amend the charter IN
accordance with the present and prospective
needs of the city,, decided upon as soon as
possible.
1t does not appear 10 be necessary, nor
desirable, Judging from past experiences, TO
make great many changes in the charter,
but there are a few, and | would respectfully
submit the following amendments, which
seem to me to he the more impairment ones,
for your consideration:
! l. The assessment and collection of taxes
| fox improvements of streets grading and
gravelling) and the laying of sewers, which
I the charter now requires to be ''apporuon-
| ed according to-the last assessed valuation
of such lots" should be apportioned accord
/ ING to number of front feet in lots regardless
| of value of same as is done i'll most other
/ cities, and which seems to be more Just
mode of assessment, for now the person who
| improves his lot by filling or by grading It
down, for instance, thereby increasing ITS
value by bringing IT to a proper grade with
! the street, and to that extent being public
! benefactor, is punished for doing 50 though
/ being obliged 10 pay, in some instances, two
I or three times as much as his nelgnDor who
! allows his let to remain amudho!e or sand
! bank, and who can after completion OF such
street, fill up or dig down his lot at a less
| aost than before, and enjoying equal bene
fits because of such improvement. with the
neighbor who paid much more and who had,
for many years perhaps, paid additional
taxes for improving his lot, and thereby re
| lilving the unimproved lot as well IS all
| olher taxable property of portion OF their
! taxes.
IL. 1t would seem thai street lighting
ought to be paid for by wardS--out of wand
! funds (as is done in Milwaukee, instead OF
oat of the general fund, for the reason that
now each ward tries to get all the light it can
and requests for lights will often not be re-
! fused by the other wards. or their represen.
tations, even when they should be. because
| these in turn will want similar requests grant
| ed Experience has taught us that this will
!
| especially when. in the future, more light
will be demanded, whether needed OF not.
| If paid for by wards, the aldermen of each
ward VII endeavor TO be economical, as re
CARDS expenses for light, as possible, instead
of being just the reverse, and the ward that
wants more lights 1T any time must then
shoulder the additional expense.
III. That the municipal elections be held
! b'annially instead Of annually, if ii is pos
| sib9 TO have such a change made, fori it seems
to be an unnecessary, aud since the adoption
of the new system of voting costly expen
diture, to have annual elections and even two
elections every alternate year.
! ". Both the Surveyor and Street Com
missioner should be required TO report on
completion Of any street ordered graded, in
stead of the Surveyor only.
| Y. 1t will be necessary to ask for iegis-
lative act authorizing the board of Aldermen
to borrow $4,000 or 100000 for the build
ing of a new bridge on Sth Str. This has
been customary whenever a new bridge was
being built.
This communication is presented to the
board in this manner so that it will be put
on the minutes and published, that the pub
lie may be advised of the proposed changes,
consider same, and make known their wish
es to the aldermen or to the board BEFORE
action is taken on the report of the commit
tee that should be appointed to make such
recommendations of changes in charter as it
may deem necessary.
FRED SCHUETTE.
The Mayor appointed special commit
tee consisting of Rahr Haukohl, Smalley,
Staehle and Dedricks to act and consider
the foregoing message.
Under suspension of rules the follow
ing claims were allowed and ordered paid.
Peter larson fastening niles