The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1903-06-04
Chairman Goodman OF the Sewer Com
mittee of the Council Gives His
Views on the Question.
RELIEF WITHOUT MORE EXPENSE.
No Change In the Present Sewer System is
Contemplated at this Time Relief
for Property Owners Promised

bers of the Council lead me to believe
that some of our citizens object to the
passage of an ordinance which will
provide for the extension of our sewer
district; also, that these same people
favor the establishment OF separate
sewerage districts. There are, appar-
entity, several reasons why this opposi.
ton exists. The principal one, can
didly believe to be-, lack of information
reg riding the real object of the ordi-
nance. find many of our citizens get
the terms sewerage district" and
sewerage system" confused, to which
fact, attribute the existing belief that
extension of sewer district means ex-
tension of sewerage system. Regard.
ing this, it might be we'll to explain
that the division of cities into sewer
age districts is provided for by the
part of the general charter law per-
tanning to sewers under which we are
now working. The object Of so divid-
ing cities is to provide method of
taxation for the purpose of building
and maintaining sewers. IL cities so
divided, special tax is levied in each
age purposes only in the district in
which it is collected. It will therefore
be seen that sewerage districts are
formed for the purpose of taxation while
the sewerage system, Of course, per-
tains only to the construction of pip
ing, manholes, catch basins, etc, used
in the disposition of sewerage.
Having explained the difference be-
tween sewerage district and sewerage
system, | would impress upon your
readers the fact that an ordinance pro-
viding for the extension of the former
does not mean the extension of the
latter any mo- than would an ordi-
nance provi ing for the taxation of
dogs. Other misconceptions of the
objects of this ordinance which, be-
lieve, find their origin in this same
confusion of the terms above referred
to are, first the belief that if this ordi-
nance is passed, it will be necessary to
proceed at once to the building of the
Jerome creek; second, that the expense
of such large sewer must be borne by
the tax payers throughout the city;
and third, the further belief that if the
Council should establish a separate
sewerage district comprised of the
south and west portions of the city, it
would insure the expense of this large
sewer being borne by the tax payers in
such district. These are all matters
upon which the passage of the ordi-
nance now pending before the Council
will have, practically, no bearing.
However, would say if an alderman
who favors the ordinance was asked
his reason, he would, in all probabil-
ity, answer, because it provides imme-
date relief where most needed without
making the building of the new outlet
an immediate necessity. AS to the ex-
pense of sewer construction, the men
who framed the general charter law
wisely provided for emergencies such
as this where sewers needed are large
and too expensive to be built by own
ers of AUDITING property. Sec. 925-239
gives to city councils the power to
alter, to modify or to abandon an old
sewerage system and adopt an entirely
new one. Regarding expense it says,
ia part, "and assess the expense of
such work upon the lots or parcels of
land thereby benefited, or in the dis
erection of the Council, it may cause
the whole cost of such construction,
alteration or change to be borne by the
city" Your readers will see by this
that the tax payers at large are just as
liable to be called upon to pay for this
sewer if a separate sewerage district is
esta blished, as they would be if the dis
trict is extended to the city limits as
state further, when this sewer is built,
it will, of necessity, be paid by tax
payers at large. Sec. 925-239 a, of
laws above referred to provide that
councils of second or third class cities
may levy special tax not exceeding
one fourth of ..one per cent, for plan
ming, construction, ETC., of sewers, and
that for term not exceeding five
years. The cost of this large sewer is
roughly estimated at 100000 It is,
therefore, very plain that under any
condition it will be necessary for the
city at large to pay for this sewer
when built as one fourth of one per
cent. on all taxable property of the
city, for the length of time allowed by
law, wi1l.be required to cover the cost
of its construction while this percent
age Of the tax collected in the proposed
new district would be but drop in the
bucket. | would state further, the
general charter law provides that no
special tx shall be levied or bonds is
sued without first submitting the ques-
ton to the electors of the city, who
shall decide by ballot whether or not
such levy shall be made or such bonds
issued. will say in conclusion, the
| passage of this ordinance is of vital
importance to every tax payer in the
! city of Kenosha and one in which they
| should show an active interest. Our
/ factories are severely handicapped in