The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1912-10-03
NO STORM SEWER
IN SECOND WARD
Council Rejects All Bids For Them
Because Of High Cost.
Mr.. SElBERT WANTS TO RESIGN
Says he is Too Busy to Give Position
Proper Attention - His Motion,
However, is Laid on Table
Holds Secret Session.

Oskaloosa will have no storm sew
ers in the Second ward. Not for the
present at least. The council at spe
cial meeting Monday evening set for
, the time of opening bids, voted to re-
ject all bids. The reason given was
beyond the anticipation of members
of the council. Five bids were receiv.
ed and were as follows: ..
Tschirgi & Sons, Cedar Rapids,
$40, 10000.
J. w. Turner Implement Co., Des
Moines, $3S,16O.1O.
M. A. Cameron, Harlan, $40,050.00.
George NJ. King & Co., Des Moines,
$49,345.OO.
II. j. CAthroe, Omaha, $36,755O9.
City Engineer e. F. Bridges made
an estimate of the cost of the work
and his figures for the total job were
$37,22111.
The work contemplated the surface
drainage, that is, the caring for the
storm or surface water in a district
south of High avenue, including the
acclmulations Of the avenue itself,
from the Burlington passenger sta
ton on the west. to the court house
on the east, and that section of the
city lying between ID street on the
west and Market street on the east.
The outlet is located in a creek or
natural water course near the inter-
section of Eight avenue, between A
and B streets and is planned for 60
inches in diameter.
w. r. Campfield made the motion
appointing committee of the coun-
Gil to open the bids. Mayor Reynolds
named Blattner, Milligan and Minnick
together with the city clerk, r. II.
Carlin and II. b. Mccoy, city solicitor
The report of the committee to the
council was as above given.
Time was taken by the committee
to verify the figures before the con-
sideration of bids should be in order.
. This having been done Jacob Seibert
of the Third ward, moved that all
bids be rejected, as too high and be-
at this time. The motion was Second
p, ed by Lafollette, of the First ward
Then followed an animated discus
sion of the problem. Mr.. Bridges
went into the matter in detail, show
ing the reasons for the plans. Mr..
Blattrer asked Mr.. Cathroe if he
knew how and where his money was
coming from in payment. Sewer
warrants were to be issued bearing
six per cent interest. A sewer levy
of two mills would take care of this
debt III ten years, pay the interest
and, with the income of the sanitary
sewers. would leave something in the
sewer fund to care for other work.
Almost every member of the council,
mayor, engineer and solicitor had
questions to ask and statements to
make. Mr.. Seibert stated his posi-
ton on the question and Campfield
held to view the damage suits that
would result if the sewers were not
constructed. Lafollette stated that
when the council first took up with
the idea the estimate of the work to
be done did not exceed twelve to fif-
teen thousand dollars.
Mayor Reynolds finally ordered the
roll called and the motion of Mr.. Sci
bert carried by the following vote:
AyeS-Lafollette, MiIngan, Penders
and Seibert Nays-Blattner, Camp
field and Minnick. In the roll call
4 l. Il
when the roll was called and he pass
ed. The vote then stood three to
three for and against the motion. Mr..
Milligan thus mad the deciding vote
and he CAST his ballot on the side
voting to reject all bids.
Immediately following the announce
ment of the result of the vote, Mr..
Seibert offered motion that the city
Immediately proceed to comply with
the orders of the district court and
close the openings to the catch basins
and the sanitary sewers on High ave-
nue. West The motion was seconded
by Lafollette. Mayor Reynolds gave
notice that he would veto the passage
of any such resolution, stating that 1t
were better for the council and mayor
to be placed in Jail for contempt of
court than to deliberately make a
move that would result in injury and
damage to property. After a discus.
sion more or less heated, Seibert
withdrew this motion with the per-
mission of Mr.. Lafollette.
Seibert Resigns. ...
Councilman Seibert then presented
written communication to the city
clerk to be read to the council. 1t
was his formal resignation from the
position of councilman. He made a
statement to the effect that he was
too busy to serve longer. Il have
had enough of it."
Motion to table the resignation was
promptly carried, all members thus
voting, with the single exception of
Spihart Adiournmant follnuad