Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-04-11
MAYOR AONIGEL'S MESSAGE To THE CITY COUNCIL
The Recommends Bklh Sidewalk be
Cemetery Dumping Full
Well tento O Readers
To the Clerk, Common Council and

To the Clerk, Common Council and
Citizens of the City of Alma:
In assuming again the Office of
mayor, it is with a feeling OF still
greater responsibility than a year ago.
At that time | called your attention
to several improvements. Some we
have disposed of, others we still have
under way. The most important ones
are the paving of our streets and the
removal of the poles from Superior
street. We have the assurance of the
several companies that they will re-
move the poles as soon as the weather
permits.
| wish at this time to thank the
officers of the Alma Electric Light &
Power Company and telephone COM
panies for the kind and courteous
manner in which they received the
several committees which have been
appointed to confer with them in that
matter. | am very sorry indeed to in
form you that it will be necessary for
us to hold another special election for
raising money for the paving we wish
to do and the laying of new water
mains on State and Superior streets
We are unable to float the paving and
Improvement bonds, for the reason
that it is not lawful for the Council
to authorize under one resolution, nor
for the people to vote under single
ballot, improvements involving street
paving, sewers and water mains, un-
less such resolution and ballot clearly
specify distinct and separate propo-
sitions. So that the electors may
have an opportunity to pass on each
separately. The laying of sewer or
water main is not a necessary Incl
dent to the paving of a street and
separate proceedings must be taken
for each of these propositions. You
will remember that we asked you to
vote $4,000 for the paving of streets
and the laying OF water mains and
sewer repairs under one issue, this
you Will see as stated above could not
be done legally. | would recommend
the Council ask you as soon as pos
sible TO vote for an issue of bonds.
perhaps little larger than before
for the reason that we should, in my
opinion, add the two blocks running
from Pine avenue to the west side of
Court avenue on Superior street east
wish to thank all of our people and
especially the ladies' for the splendid
vote they gave the other proposition
and | hope they will do the same with
the new one, which we will bring be
fore you as soon as it can be done
| believe the work can be carried out
successfully this season il the vote is
favorable. / would recommend that
We pave with brick from the east side
of Gratiot avenue to the west side of
Prospect avenue, "a feet wide between
curbs, and from Superior street south
on State street to south side of Cen
ter street, 81 feet between curbs. The
balance OF State street to Pere Mar
quette railroad track 80 feet between
curbs with concrete. From the east
side Of Gratiot avenue to the east side
of Pine avenue on Superior street
east with 81 feet with concrete, the
remainder to east side Of Court ave
nue. with a 30-foot with concrete.
From Prospect avenue to Park ave-
nue. 54-foot concrete and from Park
avenue to the Ann Arbor railroad west
80 feet with concrete. Should we de-
eide to do part of this work with brick
and add the two blocks on East SUI
perior street we should call for an
issue of $4,000 instead of $4,000 as
before, because our estimates were
then made with the intention of using
concrete only. This will give us a
chance to find out which is the best
material to use. | have talked with
several engineers and all of them but
one recommend brick for heavy traffic
which we have on our main street.
Again should we decide as it now
seems advisable to me, to allow farm
ers to hitch teams on the main street,
am of the opinion that brick would
serve better in that case. We will.
therefore, ask you to vote on two sep
arate bonding propositions. One for
street paving and one for the laying
of water mains. The funds for each
will be kept in separate accounts. !
wish to thank the retiring and pres