The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-01
MUNICIPAL CONTROL.
AID. GONNERMANN TAKES AN
IMPORTANT STEP.
TO BUY ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT
The Present Contract Will Expire Next
August and Aid. Gonnermann is in
Favor of Taking Immediate Steps
to Secure a City Plant

The special meeting of the City
Council Monday evening will undoubt-
eddy prove to be a very interesting one,
for after the business of the meeting
was over Aid. GOnnermann advanced
plan of utmost Importance to every
taxpayer in the city.
The Alderman started a movement
toward securing municipal control of
the city electric lighting, which from
the enthusiastic way in which it was
received by the members of the Council
will undoubtedly result in some action
in the near future.
The contract for the street lighting,
which the City Council has with the
KenOsha Light and Power Company
will expire in August, 1899, and it is
deemed necessary that if the people
want municipal ownership of the cleo
trio lighting plant some action must be
taken at once.
The city debt is so large at present
that according to the city charter the
city could not issue bonds to build
plant. However, the difficulty could
be easily surmounted if the people
think it wise and eXpedient to own
their own plant. Aid. GoDnermann
stated that he thought there would be
little or no trouble in securing the
passage of bill by the state legsla-
ture enabling the city to go ahead and
build the plant. Of course, said the
alderman, the city carnOt pay for it
now, but it will more than pay for itself
in few year. The city now has a
debt of $40, 900, on which it is paying
$500 interest every year, and accord
ing to the plan the electric light plant
could be put in for about $4,000, in
creasing the city debtto $4,000. The
entire debt could then be refunded at
much lower rate of interest without
mourning any additional expense to the
city.
The plan, as suggested by Mr.. Con
hermann, would be that the city at
once enter the field as competitor tor
all the electric light business in the
city, including the street, commercial
and residence systems. 1t should be
run in connection with the water works
system at great saving to all classes
of consumers. The estimate of the gas
and light committee for the coming
year calls for an appropriation of
So, $50, which is nearly 70 per cent. of
the cost of the entire proposed plant.
The water works plant under munich
pal control has been a great success
and has always been self sustaining,
Notwithstanding the fact that the sys-
tenn has been constantly extended
until now it practically covers the en-
tire city.
In regard ID the action of the Legis-
lature, Mr.. Gonnermann said little or
no trouble need be expected, but a
clause should be put in the proposed
law demanding that $4,000 worth of
bonds be paid every year.
The lighting system is now costing
the city nearly $1,000 a month and it
seems that the tax payers should be
allowed to receive some Of the profits
accrung from the business.
While this is the first official action
of the Council toward securing munici-
pal control of the lighting system, all
the aldermen expressed themselves as
greatly pleased with the proposed plan
and on next Monday evening, at the
regular meeting of the Council, spec
ial committee will be appointed to
make Investigations and recommends
tions. In the meantime the tax payers
of the city are urged to give the mat
ter careful consideration.
AumrD mrrr TIP NruTcr