The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-01-04
THE NEW CHARTER
Some Ideas Suggested by Tax
Payers.
Special Care Must be Taken in Drovid-
ing for the Administration OF
the Water Works System.


mission should bear in mind the inn
portance and amount of work now con-
nected with the water system. This
system has cost the city $112, 900, and
if put on the market would probably
bring $3.50, 900. It is by far the most
important property that the city owns.
There are 1877 fire hydrants that have
to be looked after to see that they are
at all times in order. There are Sc
meters to be read monthly, the rental
figured up the bills made out and
collected and the proper entries to be
made on the books. There are nearly
900 bills to be made out semi annually,
collected and the books kept posted.
There is the pumping station to be
looked after and the fuel to be pur-
chased. There are plumbers licenses
to be granted, their bonds to be passed
upon, and watch kept to see that their
work is done according to the ordi-
nance These are some of the things
that devolve upon President Porter anu
Engineer Thompson, and they are re-
quired to consult together and act to-
gether. When the bills are sent out
semi annually it takes about two
months of persistent work. each time
to get the bills made out and mailed
and the money collected about $11, 600,
mostly in small amounts. Besides all
of the duties above enumerated, there
is watch to be kept on water taps to
see that leakage and consequent vast
age does not occur, and much time is
taken up in listening to people who
imagine they have grievances.
At the meeting of the charter COM
mission Thursday evening several ex-
pressions were made TO the effect that
the board of public works could be re-
duced in size by taking the assessor
from it. This would save the city an
annual expense of $3.50, and the presi-
dent of the board of public works, who
could be called water commissioner,
together with the city engineer to do
all of the work that the board now
does This would practically abolish
the board, while providing for the per-
Torrance of all of it's duties If the
commission thought proper the salary
of the assessor could be raised.
Chas Yates, who served as chief of
police for several years, is strongly of
the opinion that the service Of civil
paners should &c ta.ke:.s entirely from
the police force and the chief and Off
GERS put upon salaried basis He
would not abolish fees and mileage
in criminal cases unless it was where
the arrests were made in this city with
expense being incurred by the officers
The salary of the chief of police, if
placed at $40 month, would attract
good men to the place. The salaries
of the patrolmen could be raised to $50
month.
There is a provision in the present
city charter for paying special i'm
provement assessments over a period of
five years if the property owner
chooses and issuing certificates of in
debtedness upon the special improve
ment fund. The reason that this is not
taken advantage of is that the rate of
interest on the deferred payments is
twelve per cent. The interest on the
certificate is not to exceed seven per
cent. If. the new charter would reduce
the rate of interest on the deferred
payments of the special assessments to
eight per cent, and provide for placing
in the special assessment fund the
difference between the interest which
the city would receive on these and
what it would pay on the certificates
it would be doing wise thing. The
certificates would be discounted at the
banks or by individuals, and there
would be less opposition to improve
ments.
The suggestion was made today that
the alderman at large be ex-officio
vice president of the council. This
would prevent wrangling over the
position of vice president such as has
occurred in the past. There is some
opposition to the project of having any
alderman at large.
The commission is likely to have
the new charter provide that where
the mayor revokes liquor license the
council cannot turn around and i'm
mediately restore it.
One great objection to the new char
ter that was prepared two years ago
was that it created several boards,
made the administration more cumber-
some, and largely increased the salary
roll Many members of the former
commission objected to this, refusing
to sign the report or signing under
mental protest. The new commission
will probably avoid this mistake
A. E. Clark has received word that
the township of Winstead has voted
$S, 600 bonds to aid in the construction