Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-04-13
CONTINUED from page u

much at some seasons of the year
He looks after the streets, sidewalks
water mains, makes repairs, reads
water meters, makes reports TO the
Clerk of same. makes all collections
OF water taxes and then some,
would recommend for one thing that
the Commissioner be provided with a
book so that when he reads the meter
at any house or factory he could leave
a duplicate slip with the user and
should there be any doubt as to the
amount OF water consumed, the mat
ter might be taken up sometimes
while he was on the ground and be
adjusted, and again, the user might
read the meter himself should he
choose to do so, 10 see If an error had
been made. The Commissioner
should always be on the lookout for
leaks, he being better able to discover
them from his long experience in such
matters and the conditions surround
ing the case For instance the COM
missioner reads the meter ut a factory
or residence There being a leak he
does not look for one for he has no
time When, if he did, and reported
the same to the user at the time, the
user could get it repaired at once and
save that waste of water which would
occur during the time which had
elapsed from the time of reading the
meter and getting around again to
collect the account | think if he fol-
lowed this plan some expense might
be saved the users It should not be
necessary for the commissioner 10
make the second trip in all cases TO
get the money. The clerk should send
out his statements stating that the
water would be shut off if not paid
at such a date.
Our water system might be made
self-sustaining if our pumping rates
were not too high. In that case it
would be we'll to provide for a change
some day. | have seen no statement
as to the amount paid for pumping
water during the year, neither the ex-
act amount of receipts for water rents
which should be given at the end of
each year so the people might see
what the expense had been.
Our lighting system is not as good
as it is in some towns that | have
visited, although we may be getting
all we pay for. I am not posted very
well along this line.
AS TO the enforcement Of the laws,
! am in favor of enforcing them in
every way
Our nightwatch and marshal should
be seen more than heard on our
streets; especially is that so on Sat
urday evenings. know of two or
three fires we have had in the past
that would not have been as extern
sive had the night-watchman been
tending more strictly to his duty, as
he should have been. The salary that
our marshal receives is small, and we
could not expect him to make it his
business to be on the streets all of the
time. But he known what the salary
and duties are when he accepts the
office and he should do his very best
to enforce the law.
If the driver of the city team is
asked to work more on our streets
he should be given some assistance
at such times. He should at least
have one evening week that he
might call his own. Without hiring
some one to take his place and pay
for same out of his salary, should he
wish to be off an evening. he might
not be able to take his vacation,
which all good people need, except
the business man. who is expected to
stay on the job and keep things GO
ing
In my judgment the affairs of our
city have been very well conducted in
the past, and l am also aware that
one on the outside does not always
know what is going on on the inside,
and he does not know just how the
money is being expended
believe in as much publicity as we
can have in our affairs, keeping the |
people well Informed as to what is
going on, and then we will not have
as much kicking. If we need more
money than we are now getting un-
der the law, why not raise the valua- |
ton of property where possible? !
Some improvements must be made |
and we must have the money to make
them with. I do not believe in max
ing any unnecessary improvements in
order to get rid of the money. though.
I assure you that is not and never has
been my plan. I have never con-
Quoted my business along those lines
and again | hope that you will see
fit TO carry out few Of the recon-
mendations that I have suggested.
/ thank you.
NJ MONTIGEI