New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-05-04
ROASTS SCH|LLINC SYSTEM
Clerk Bobleter Criticises Manner in Which
Books Were Kept
His Communication to the Council Last Night
Created a Sensation.
Church Members Protest Against a Second
Saloon on State Street.

ed after it's system would suit the pur-
prose of the city admirably.
further desire to call your attention
to the condition of certain water
main assessments in this city and the
record of these assessments. L call
your attention particularly to the
water main assessment on Fifth
North street for the year 1899. The
total assessment for water mains on
this street was $3.50 90 assessed against
30 property holders. The names OF
the lots assessed and the amounts OF
the assessments appear in the record
of the board of public works. This
record should be used simply as a re-
cord of the proceedings of the board.
Opposite the names Of eight OF the
thirty property holders who were as
seSSed as hereinbefOre stated is mark
ed the word paid" evidently indicat-
! ing that these eight persons had paid
| their assessments.
.. It is impossible to check up these
| assessments on the journal as money
! received on that account is simply en-
! tered as cash for wv alter Main As
| sessments: the particular assessment
! is not noted, nor the name OF the prop
| ty owner, nor description Of the prop
| ertv. No account had ever been
opened in the books for any of these
property owners, and the only way
| that can determine whether or not
the assessments are paid is to go over
the receipt stubs and get such infOr-
nation from them as possible.
[ have checked over this particular
assessment with the receipt stubs SO
far as [ could find them and out of a
total assessment of $4,000 [ find re-
ceipt stubs for S340. 90, leaving a bal
ance unpaid of $4,000. 1t is possible
| that there may be other receipt stubs
in the Office which [ am unable to find,
which will show a portion OF this
amount to be paid, for since I took
charge of the Office one of the property
owners who had been assessed for this
| Improvement came to my office and
paid his assessment. You are doubt
Iers aware that the charter requires
that all unpaid assessments should be
turned over to the county auditor in
the fall of each year to be levied
against the property assessed in the
next tax rolls. This particular assess
ment should have been turned over to
the county auditor and collected with
taxes during the year 1900. Upon in
quiry of the county auditor [ find that
these assessments have never been
turned into that office for collection.
| You are doubtless aware that | am
not permitted to issue tapping permits
to persons who have not paid their as
sessments. AS the records now stand
it is impossible for me tC tell whether
the assessments have been paid or not
and [ am therefore obliged to give
such permits to all who apply for them,
; This matter should certainly be inves-
tigated without delay, and at the same
time all OF the other assessments for
water mains, sewer, sprinkling, side
walk repairs, etc., should be looked in,
to. [ have not had time to look al
any other assessments except the one
specifically referred to. It is possible
and very probable that there is con
siderable amount of delinquent assess.
ments which can be collected by the
city provided their collection is taker
up at once and pushed vigorously.
The cemetery books should also be
investigated. Very recently applica'
, ton was made to me for q burial LOT
and permit which [ issued. The re.
!: cord showed this particular lot anC
two adjoining lots not to have beer
sold. The party who obtained the per-
{ NIT informed me these three lots hae
been sold and that bodies had beer
inferred in all of them There is alb
{ sOlutely no record in the cemetery
books as to whom these lots were solo
Or who is buried there, and [ am also
unable to find that the money received
from the sale of these lots or for open
ing and closing these graves has beer
s turned into the city.
| furthur call your attention to thu
fact that the financial statement fthis
city for the past year shows that thu
amount received by the city from thu
: sale of stones is 1927. so The stree
commissioner informs me and his re
ports for the last year show that h
. had sold stones to the amount O
; $44 IS and turned this money over tC
the city. Of this amount $500 of the
, deficiency appears to have been credit
ed on a bill against the city. The re
mainder of the deficiency being S12 is
not accounted for.
In calling your attention to these
various matters [ do not wish it IN
derstoOd that [ have made thorough
investigation Of the city records OF
that I have been prying into affairs
for the purpose Of finding Irregular
ties. The matters that | refer to came
to my knowledge in connection with
the regular administration Of my
office. I feel, however, that the mat
ter should be brought to your atten
ton and recommend, in view of the
Irregularities found, that an exper
accountant be employed to make {
thorough investigation of the city
books and records; and furthermore
that such accountant or some Other