Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-07-18
WOULD REPEAL
ORDINANCE
METHOD OF STREET ASSESS
MENTS OBJECTED TO.
BUTLER OFFERS SEVEN REASONS
Routine Matters Occupy Council in
Short Session - Ordinances in
Preparation for Storing of ExplO-
sives-NiayOr Granted Vacation.

Routine matters occupied the at
tention of the city council in a short
session last Tuesday evening. Sew
eral communications were read deal
ing with water rates and water usage
and referred to the proper commit
tee. The street committee reported
considerable work accomplished.
The matter of the storing of ex-
plosives within the city limits was
brought up, the ordinance committee
being granted more time for the
drawing up of an ordinance govern
ing this matter. Chief Oien gave
considerable enlightenment on the
subject and suggested that a concrete
house be erected at some safe point
where dynamite might be stored. it
was pointed out that a large quantity
OF dynamite is at present stored with
in the city. Mayor Neil was granted
a two weeks vacation.
The important thing of the meet
ing was the consideration of an ordi-
nance to repeal the one now in eff
feet governing the assessment of
street improvement against abutting
property. Under the provisions of
the present ordinance, no street work
in excess of $50 can be undertaken
by the council, as all in excess of that
amount must be assessed against the
abutting property owner. The new
ordinance seeks to repeal the old and
make it possible for the council to
make needed improvements with the
money now in the treasury for that
purpose. The ordinance was laid
over for the second reading at the
next regular meeting.
In speaking against the existing
ordinance Councilman Butler made
the following statement:
There is only one thing that
find in favor of this ordinance, and
that is, it would keep the council
from showing any personal favors,
and if that is the reason that this
ordinance should stand, then there
is not a councilman that should stay
on the council another day, for when
this council reaches the stage that
it cannot trust itself with the ex-
pendture of the taxpayers money,
then, as | said before, it is time they
were resigning.
Points Against the Ordinance.
Il. The paving of some OF the
streets cost the taxpayer at large
over 81 per cent of the total cost OF
such grading, paving, etc.
'2. 1t falls upon the taxpayer at
large to pay for the upkeep of aIi
the paved streets, such as sweeping,
cleaning, repairing, cutting for sew
ers and water mains, etc.
"3. The taxpayer at large paid
for the grading, upkeep and repair
of all the streets before they were
ordered paved.
"a. Under the-provisions of this
ordinance the council cannot spend
one cent of street money on the
streets, unless it is to remedy an ac-
cident that has happened to the
streets with the exception of street
intersections)
IS. Ninety-five cents on the dollar
of every dollar that you have spent
on the streets since the passage OF
this ordinance has been a violation
of the ordinance.
sc. A levy of 2 mills on Ashland
property was made by the county
court of Jackson county for the re-
pdlI vi lllC SJl SSlS vi IliO
city of Ashland during the year 1912
and it is a violation of the state laws
to use this money for any other pur-
pose, and it is a violation of the
ordinance to use it for the purpose
as indicated by the state law. What
are you going to do with the money -:
~. Under the provisions of Sec
tion 2 of this ordinance the council
is required to advertise for bids for
street improvements in excess OF
$780,, and the letting of a-contract on
such bids, while Section 22 of Article
VII of the charter of the city of Ash
land provides that the council shall
advertise for bids for all improve
ments in excess of $500, and if the
council fails to receive satisfactory
bids the council may, by two-thirds
vote of the council, undertake and
perform such improvement under the
direction of said council. Now you
can readily see that this ordinance
is in direct conflict with the city
charter.
(Which should prevail, the city
charter or illegal ordinances?"