The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-05-10
MEETING OF CITY
COUNCIL
The Mayor Sends in Two Messages
Administrative Officers Are
Elected for New Year


An important meeting of the city
council was held Tuesday night
Most of the councilmen were in at
tendance.
Mayor Robertson sent in the follow
ing message:
To the President and Members of the
City Council, City of Ocala:
Gentlemen-It is with regret that l
find it necessary to call your attention
to a purely personal matter. The
mere fact, however, that l am mayor
of the city should not deprive me of
any substantial right, and l should
have the same fair treatment that all
citizens are entitled to. 1t is for this
reason | desire to call your attention
to the valuations put upon various
properties in Ocala.
On my dwelling house you placed "A
valuation of $1,000. This property
produces no income; on the other
hand, it is a source of continual ex-
pense. On my building at the corner
of Oklawaha avenue and Main street
you put a valuation of $4,000. The
building on this lot has value, and
| consider the lot worth more without
the building. So much for the valua-
tions put upon my property.
Now let us see how these valua-
tions compare with some others.
The property of the Ocala Manu-
featuring Company, in which company
Mr. j. H. Taylor, a member of your
board, is largely interested, is valued
for the purpose of taxation in the
sum of $4,000. 1t will be safe to say
that the property so modestly valued
600. This same manufacturing COM
pany, with it's forty-odd mules ana
seven to eight thousand pound log
wagons do more damage to our roads
and streets and derive more benefit
from them than all other vehicles
combined.
The next comparison is that of the
valuation of the stock of Helvenston
& Pasteur-Mr. Helvenston being a
member of your board. The stock is
assessed at $4,000, and is worth no
less than $4,000, and yet it is claim
ed that the council serves without
compensation.
These two instances are so grossly
unfair and unjust that merely to men
ton them is sufficient.
Again, you have valued the Ocala
National Bank at $4,000. The build
ing itself is worth at least $4,000,
and the lots, without the building,
should be valued at $4,000.
If you can reconcile these different
assessments with honesty and justice
you have succeeded in doing that
which | wholly fail to do.
Respectfully,
]. D. ROBERTSON,
Mayor City of Ocala
Other complaints were made.
Mr.. Edwin Spencer appeared in be-
half of Mr.. Robert T. Adams, and had
the assessment of the Ocala House
fixed at it's old valuation, to-wit: $780,
600, instead of $4,000.
Mr. H. G. Sistrunk was reelected
clerk; Mr.. r. l.. Carter, marshal; Mr..
c. L. Sistrunk, city attorney; Mr.. w.
I. Gary, treasurer; Mr.. w. w. Clyatt,
tax collector; Mr. H. S. Chambers,
fire chief.
The office OF day policeman was
abolished.
The following message from Mayor
Robertson was also read before the
council, and filed for information:
To the President and Members of the
City Council, City of Ocala:
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES have passed
since the citizens of this city express
ed their opinion at the polls that we
should have more water and better
water, and in order that you might
carry out their wishes in the matter
they voted for and put In your con-
troll, and at your command, a bond is
sue of one hundred thousand dollars.
Since that time you have exhibited
masterful inactivity With this fund
at your disposal, with the power in
your hands to carry out the wishes
of your constituents you have done
absolutely nothing save to make to
the water company a counter propo-
sition TO purchase the old plant in the
face of the expressed desire of the
people for new plant.
Ii 1t were your earnest desire to
I~A