Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1907-05-29
SENATOR HYS BILL
Has Passed Both Houses Of
the Legislature and Will
Become Law.
0VERsEER PROVIDED FOR
The Compensation of the Highway
Commissioner Is Fixed by the
Township Board.

Senator Ely's road bill has passed both
houses of the legislature and is step in
the direction of more permanent work
and better roads. Some of its main pro-
visions are as follows:
1t provides for two highway taxes
the road repair tax, assessed on all
property in the township outside the in
corporatad villages, which tax shall not
exceed so cents on reach one hundred
dollars valuation; another tax of equal
amount, known as the highway improve
ment tax, assessed on all property i'll the
township, including that in villages.
The officers under the new law are as
at present highway commissioner,
whose duties in addition to those he now
performs, not inconsistent with the new
law are to supervise and direct the ex-
penditure of the fund for repairs and inn
provements which shall directly benefit
the property taxed not to exceed sIoo on
any one mile of highway. On complaint
OF ten taxpayers an appeal may be taken
to the township board as to the place and
manner of the expenditure of this fund.
To supervise and direct the expenditure
OF the highway improvement fund under
the direction of the township board for
the construction, permanent improvement
and repair of highways and bridges
throughout the township.
A new officer provided for by this bill
is township overseer of highways who
shall be elected at the April election and
hold his Office for one year. He shall
work under the direction of the highway
commissioner and III certain cases per-
form his duties, as in case of sickness,
death, removal, or disqualification.
The compensation of the highway COM
missioner is fixed by the township board,
but must not be less than g. nor more
than So day. The overseer of highways
receives not less than 81. so nor more than
81. so nor more than 81. so a day.
The most important and beneficial
change is that this law does away en-
tirely with working the roads" IN pay
ment OF road taxes. All highway taxes
must hereafter be paid i'll money The
highway commissioner can employ such
farmers along the line of the road as can
give their time TO the work when it is
needed, but the law very wisely provides
. t,a~., x.rg.,-l~ fatr
pairs can be done after September /, of
each year.
The amount of taxes to be raised in
each township each year are voted by
the electors at the annual meeting, but if
they neglect or refuse to do this, it then
becomes the duty of the township board
to fix the amount to be raised for repairs
and permanent Improvements.
OF course, under this law, there will be
but one highway district in each town
ship, and the multiplicity of districts
heretofore will be done away with.
Section 10 provides that "all work here
after done upon roads and bridges, ex-
cept such work as may be required for re-
pairs, shall have in view the permanent
improvement of such roads and bridges.
Before beginning such permanent inn
provement OH any highway shall be made
by competent surveyor and profile of
such survey shall be made and placed on
file with the township clerk" This sec
tion further provides that all turn-piking
shall be done in accordance with this pro-
file and that bet Ore any gravel or stone
shall be put on such turnpike shall be
used one year. The ruts shall then be
filed and the road is ready to be gravelled
or macadamized. The gravel or stone
must be not less than nine or more than
six or more than twelve inches deep.
Section Ie provides that any person or
persons may, by arranging with the high
way commissioner, grade. gravel, maca-
damze or pave any road at their own ex-
pense. that the work may be done under
the supervision of the highway COM
missioner wholshall be paid by the town.
ship treasurer.