The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-07-25
COUNCIL COMMITTEE
SUBMITS STATEMENT
Defining The Issue In The PaIatka Heights
Annexation Contest.
Only Reason for Opposition on part of Heights Citizens is
UnwiingneSs to be Taxed for Benefits.

IllIS WdISI company Hdo pGllu llO CtlA-
es into the city except an annual Ii
cense of $4,000. 1t defeated the city,
effort to tax it's water mains in the
city on the ground that the pumping
station and source of supply were out
side the Incorporation. In event this
territory is annexed the City of Pa
latka will have the undoubted right
to tax this water corporation, cor
poration whose revenue is almost sole
ly derived from this city. Its proper
ty would have no value were it not
for the proximity of the city.
At the time the City of Palatka at
in tn courts the water company,
through its expert witnesses, two of
whom were stockholders in the compa
ny, established a valuation of the
liant at about S140,000. If this val
ue be true, then a fair valuation for
purposes of taxation would amount to
a considerable, and would tighten the
burden of taxes now being carried by
the homes of this city.
This water company has a right in
perpetuity to the use of the streets
and to do business in the City of Pa
latka. 1t is a competitor with our
own municipal water plant. 1t is not
fair for this foreign company to en-
joy all these great privileges, own
such valuable property and bear none
J of the burdens of taxation.
This position will not be difficult
for any citizen to understand and ap-
preciate.
Palatka is a growing city of 5000
| inhabitants. 1t will soon, unless this
annexation measure be passed, utter
a crying demand for more territory.
! The territory sought to be annexed
will be advanced in value because of
annexation and the fact that the city
can then proceed with those improve
ments of walks and streets and lights
and sewers and which will add to its
deslrableness as a place of residence.
Any opposition to this annexation,
no matter what the reason given, can
have but one ground upon which to
stand, and that the selfish one of will.
ingness to enjoy all the privileges and
let the burdens be bourn by others.
The Council committee hereby af-
firms that the action looking to this
present plan for the annexation of
portion of Palatka Heights was not
done Ill a corner; that the action as
has been charged, was not in secret, but
| was accomplished in open meeting
with the unanimous approval of all
the members present.
1t is true that previous to this ac-
ton the City Council did hold an ex-
acutive session at which the advisa-
bility of the action was discussed and
agreed upon.
Executive sessions are not only
lawful, but are the custom in all leg
!slative bodies. They are for the pur-
pose of informally discussing and ar
irving at the desirability of some pro-
posed action. They are provided for
in the law and charter and are not
only proper, but a most reasonable
manner by which a legislative body
can arrive at some definite plan OF
action on proposed measure. The
action itself was taken in open meet
| ing.
| The Council believes that in this
plan for the annexation Of needed ter
ritory it has acted in the best inter
asts of our growing city, and that in
the manner of its submission to the
citizens it has violated no rule of mu-
nicipal procedure or law of honest
| business action.
The management Of a city is bus
ness undertaking; you have entrust-
81 this business with YOUR council
The members of that council. while
not claiming immunity from mistakes.
believes that in this matter the only
mistake was not in attempting to take
n more territory.
But this can be remedied at anoth
2r time if found desirable. For the
present they are conscious of the rec
.ituda of their motive and are rest
ing in the confidence that their fell
low citizens will RECOGNIZE the ms
lice of their contention and will by
heir votes ratify their action on the