The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1904-01-15
Whole Number 2547.
a SOUTH HAVEN VIEW.
The Tribune Thinks Rental Asked for old
Court House Grounds May BE Too High.
The South Haven Tribune SAYS:

sors seems inclined to resent the atti-
tude of Supervisor Hartman on the old
court house site. 1t should be under
stood that the board, although it adver-
tised for bids for the grounds, was in no
mood to sell even had the highest bid
been much higher than it was. The
motion made Immediately after all bids
we're rejected reveals the reason. The
motion was that the village give the
county free sewerage for the use of the
/ grounds on long lease, thus securing
/ fine park to be controlled by the village.
That the board was not averse to the
park idea, is shown by the fact that
motion was subsequently passed grant
| ing Do year lease of the grounds for
free sewerage and free water
"The village is likely to think this too
/ high a rental, as it is now getting from
the county 500 for sewerage and $50 for
water, and the village would also have the
expense of improving and maintaining
the park. As an offset the village would
get what it could for the fire proof build
ing on the grounds. Whether the
proposition will be accepted or not re-
mains to be seen.
ut may be taken for granted that
/ Supervisor Hartman will not feel deeply
aggreved by references to his 'eloquence'
and craftsmanship, and he will continue
to exercise his judgment irrespective of
what may be said of him"
The True Northerner is not inclined to
question the motives of Supervisor Hart
man in his stand for a high rental for
the old court house grounds, but we do
question his judgment and wisdom un-
der the circumstances, aud we also ques-
tion the accuracy of some of the state
ments he made before the board OF su-
pervisors.
For instance, he stated that the county
had paid nearly $50 in six months for
water, which he thought excessive, and
that if metered at fair rate he was
sure the cost would be much reduced
The fact is that all the water used by
the county is metered, and charged for
at a rate of 10 cents per 900 gallons-a
much lower rate than is in force in the
4 city of South Haven. The charge was
not nearly $50 for the six months. For
J
/ the county used A 800 gallons of water
and paid S44.l6 therefor-about one half
what Mr.. Hartman stated. he balance
of the amount paid to the village was
part payment for the four meters used
/ by the county, which under the Paw
/ Paw ordinance have to be bought by the
user and paid for in installments at
actual cost, as the village could not af-
ford to furnish meters free at the low
water rate in force here.
We have before us the meter rate of
South Haven: 2S cents per ZOO gallons
! for the first 1000 gallons used per month,
% cents per l 900 for the second 1000
gallons, % cents for the third 1000, 20
cents for the fourth 1000, Is cents for
the fifth 1000, l6 cents for the second
| 10000, ii cents for the third 10000, IL
cents for the fourth 10000, 10 cents for
the fifth 10000, 9 cents for the second
$1,000, and cents for all over 100000
gallons per month.
The Paw Paw meters are not read
monthly, so it cannot he told exactly
what the charge would have been at the
South Haven rates, but for the purpose
of comparison it will be sufficiently ac-
curate to assume that an equal amount
of water was used by the county in each
of the six months preceding December
l. Dividing AL 900 gallons, the whole
amount used, by six, we have 73,600 gal
Ions as the average monthly amount
used. Figuring this at the South haven
rate, the amount per month would be
50 5S-for the six months S57.4S, little
more than 30 per cent higher than the
rate actually charged the county in Paw
Paw. This very effectua!ly does away
with Supervisor Hartmans insinuation
that Paw Paw is trying to hold up the
county in water rates.
Now as to sewerage: Mr.. Hartman
made the statement that the village
charter fixes a maximum charge of 50
for each sewer connection In this he is
half right and more than half wrong-if
such a condition is mathematical pos
siblity. The charter does provide that
parties connecting with sewers by a
private drain" may be charged rea-
sonable sum, not exceeding - per year,
for such connection. But fr )m the con
text it is evident such provision is in
tended to apply to property outside of
any established sewer district. and is not
applicable to the county buildings at all.
The charter provides that in establish
ing sewer districts special assessments
may be levied according to benefits,
which was done in Paw Paw, and the
assessments were subject to review, but
no protest was entered on behalf of the
county at the proper time. 1t comes
with i'll grace at this late day to try to
go back of the assessment and review its
equity or inequity.
At any rate, former board OF super
visors agreed to a payment of 800 per
year pending settlement of the sewer
assessment matter, which assessment has
> never been paid by the county, and we do
not believe such charge is at all exces
= sive.
If the old court house grounds hac
: ever cost Van Buren county a dollar
I there would be some shadow of justic,
IL. Al A