The Mankato free press., 1902-06-13
NEEDS ATTENTION
Lax Way of Doing Business
Referred To.
City Recorder Williams Addresses a
Communication to the Council
on the Subject.

The city recorder read the following
to the council Friday
might:
Mankato, Mimi. June 9th, 1902.
To the Honorable Mayor and Common
Council. Gentlemen: l desire TO
call your attention to the condition OF
some of the funds as evidenced by the
records under date of June 1st, l9O2.
especially those in the local improve
ment department.
Local Improvement No. 65, being for
the grading of Locust street, is over
drawn $151, this amount having been
Maid before the money was realized
from the assessment, and over which
there seems to be some misunderstand-
ing. some of the owners of property
claiming that the improvement was
not executed as per plans and specit-
cations hence refusing to pay the as
sessment.
Local Improvement No. 20, being
for grading of Franklin street, is over
drawn 1915, caused by this amount
having been paid the contractor before
even the assessment was spread upon
the books The assessment was, as
understand 1t, made, but no warrant
has been issued.
Local Improvement No. 81, being
for the grading and improving OF
Fourth street from Jackson to Spring
street. is overdrawn 1881. 10. This i'm
proyement cost, as evidenced by esti-
mates given by the city engineer.
81, los. 96. Amount assessed, 81, O05. 30,
of which $232. 90 was assessed to the
G., st. P, M. and o. Ry. Co. The
amount collected on this assessment
is $77777, and all assessments have
been paid excepting that of the rail
road company.
Local improvement No. SO, being
assessment for new sidewalks for the
year 1899, calls for an assessment of
81, OOO Amounts paid as per vouchers,
$751;. A, amount collected $962. O6.
Local improvement No. 81, being
the assessment for State street sewer.
is oyerdrawn $15. o. Amount assessed
1868. IS. collected $237 O3 All assess
ments paid.
Local improvement No. 9s, being
for the grading of Van Brunt street.
| is oyerdrawn SIS. 81. Amount assess
ed s., amount collected 1928. O9,
estimates paid $245.
Local improvement No. 1O2, being
new sidewalks on Van Brunt street,
cost as per estimates $95. So. Amount
assessed, $S7. Oh, collected $S7. 02.
Local Improvement No. 104, being
for new sidewalks for the year 1900,
cost as per vouchers, $500. II. Amount
assessed, 1894 II, amount collected
5000. so. All assessments paid.
Local Improvement No. 106, being
for the improvement of South Second
street from Cherry to Byron streets,
cost as per estimates and vouchers
So, 736. So. At the time of the issue of
| vouchers in this case, the assessments
had none of them been paid, in fact
the assessment had not been made.
The contractor had done his work !;
his estimates were given and allowed.
There being no money in the hands
of the city treasurer properly applica-
BILE to the payment of these vouchers.
] the city recorder issued certificates
of indebtedness for the amount of the
vouchers issued and allowed, since
which time 81, 74S 46 has been collect
ed and paid on said certificates. There
is at this date $t96. 03 in the hands of
the treasurer applicable to the pay
ment of certificates against this i'm
provement. All assessments have
been paid, making total collection
of 81, 944. 40. The amount assessed was
So, 1870. .76, leaving a deficiency OF
$616 O9 caused by an improper assess
ment having been made The certifi-
cate is of course outstanding, and how
it can be paid is beyond my concep-
tion.
Local improvement No. 107, being
for sewer on Record and Fulton
streets, cost as per estimates 81, O73 Do.
Amount assessed 81, 1856 13. Collected
81, O44 81, all assessments having been
paid. There is in this fund the sum
of $144. Al applicable to the payment
of outstanding certificates.
There is at this date the sum o1
S3 947. 70 in the hands of the city
treasurer, collected from old specia
assessments for which the city had NJ
funds for payments at the time o.
estimates, but which were paid b.
reason of the accumulation of float
ing debt of considerable proportions
This amount has been in the hand
of the treasurer for many months.
J called attention to the matter il
September last year, but was inform
ed that there would be no further re
duction of the floating debt.
There is now in the sinking funt
S917. O5, and in the bills payable fund
) fund created for no other purpos
than for the payment of the foatin
debt, the sum of 81, 129 80, the majo
portion of which amount has laid idl
since November last, while we ar
paying per cent and ~ per cen
interest on outstanding notes.
At this time there is the sum G
Sc, 334. SO in the hands of the cit
, treasurer properly applicable to th
u payment of the floating debt, and fo
no other purpose. This amount in
cludes $917.05 in the sinking fund
q which has been used for reduction {
8 floating debt under advice from th
:, city attorney in March, 1900. Their
is also between SO, 500 and IS, 900 mo-
y due to these funds from current ia
It apportionment.
o call attention at this time to thel
If matters for the purpose of showing
+, possible that the system of maxim
local assessments under the presel
u law does not ''wasb out" on the book
le and leaves these accounts in an III
~ closed condition, and to suggest tn
:, the council give the accounting clos
= attention.
- During the past season the sum
< SO, Isl. 63 was expended on gener
street pay roll. Included in th
o. amount is the labor portion for t
!. improvement of Front street at &C
" estimated at about $1,000. Th
Ve amount was expended in face of t