The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-05-17
City Council Says "Pay or Quit
To Consumers Of City Water Who Are Not Paid
up...AlI Meters Must be Read Once Moufh.
REAL ESTATE TAX TO Be RAISED THIS YEAR

An adjourned meeting of the
city council was held at the city
hall Monday evening. Mayor
Meehan, Alder men Manley, Far.
ley, Mittelstaedt and F. B. Rob-
erts were present. No great
amount of business was tran
acted.
The matter of assessor which
was referred to the city attorney
was taken up. City Attorney
Bouck had written for the late
laws, but as they had not yet
been printed, he was infor med
by the proper authorities that
the old law had not been chang.
ed Thus H. j. Benedict would
hold the office of assessor until
August first.
On motion of Alderman Farley,
Mr.. Manley was elected presi-
dent of the board, which was
carried and motion was made
by Mr.. Mittelsteadt that Alder
man Farley be appointed vice
president of the board. This
was also carried.
The bond of William Jennings
for assessor, in the sum of $500,
with Emil Johnson and Gus
Mittelstaedt as sureties was al
SO accepted.
The bond of City Attorney
Thos. l.. Bouck for $500, with
Gus Mittelstaedt and Emil John
son as sureties was also accept.
ed.
The matter of valuation of real
and personal property was taken
up. The assessment of the lots
on Main street was high enough,
but the lots on 4th, 5th and 9th
streets, between Railroad end
Fifth avenues, had ought to be
raised trifle, was the opinion OF
all the aldermen, The corner lots
to be held at a higher figure than
inside lots. The assessor was to
use mis- Judgment in this matter
this year as he did last year,
which was quite satisfactory to
all. Mr.. Benedict was asked ii
he attended the meeting of the
assessors in February to which
he replied that he heard one had
been held, but he was not pre-.
sent as he bad never received .
notice of the meeting.
Alderman Farley thought that
it was best to keep the personal
property tax where it was, as it
was high enough now. Two
years age it had been raised 200
per cent, and last year. SO per
cent more, but it would be best
to raise a little on real estate.
Alderman Manley said he favor
ed a lower personal and higher
real estate tax. Corner lots on
the above mentioned streets at
1925 and inside lots at 800 was
considered fair valuation. The
matter of water rent was taken
up. Some meters had not been
read since they were put in,
some of them year ago. Mr..
Manley said he understood that
there was considerable money
due the city for those who did
not have in the meters at all.
The city had never rendered its
bill for water used for street
sprinkling last summer at five
cents tank. The whole thing
was ordered Investigated, put on
a proper basis,and city water tax
collector appointed. to receive
500 a year. The city auditor,
Arthur Bloomqui>t was appoint.
ed collector. Mr.. Bloomquist
was further instructed to look
up all meters, and render bills and
If the same was not paid prompt
ly to have the street com mis-
sloner shut Off the water and
charge them for turning it on
again. The water rents must be
collected monthly and everyone
using city water be compelled to
pay for same. Hereafter no
meter could be put in until an
application had been made and
acted upon by the city council
Hereafter meters should be
placed where they could be easily
reached by the tax collector.
The sidewalk committee was in
structed to inspect the condition
of all walks and order in new
walks where old ones were un-
fit for use.
A note for 5000 that was due o.
the Farmers bank. was ordered
paid.
The city Jail proposition Wa
taken up. The present place
was unfit for use, and the city
marshall thought part Of tho