The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-05-22
Hancock Department
MAY Be FORCED
TO RAISE TAXES


reduction Of close to $1,000 600 in
the assessment NJ corporation property
in the city of Hancock has cteated a
new problem for the city officials 10
worry about, as was shown at the
meeting Of the city council last even
ins. The council wrostled with the
question last night in an informal ses-
sion but did not take the question up
in an open meeting preferring To let
it stand until Monday when special
meeting OF the council will bc held.
The equalization committee of the
county board of supervisors reduced
the assessment on the Hancock mine
ny s40l 900 and also reduced the val
uation placed on the property of the
Houshton County Electric Light com
PAW. The Hancock Mortgage Loan
and surety company, another company
paying taxes i'm Hancock. has gone out
Of business and tho result IS that there
j. about S1,000,0o0 less taxable prop
erty in the city this year than last.
Realizing these conditions. the coun-
ell shaved the appropriation bill to the
limit last evening trying To reduce it
still more hut it was found that the
bill is already as low as IL can he
made. To attempt To spread last
years tax on this years rolls would
result in tax rate that would cause
no end Of dissatisfaction and might
bring complications. Although the
valuations on the city property have
been cut down, the city expenses have
not and the result can be foreseen.
10 raise the valuations on the other
city property was suggested but ac-
Cording to the council this would mean
an increase of ten per cent and this
was not Il pleasant prospect for the
city officials to contemplate. Finally
the mayor conferred with the council
men and the decision tn call a special
meeting for Monday was arrived at.
The council did transact some inn
portant business however before adj
iourning. Alderman Fred Francis was
elected mayor pro tenn; the street
commissioners reported that the city
had spent S62S during the first eight
cen days in the month. His report was
accepted with instructions To be care
ful of expenditures for the balance of
the month. The bill of Charles Ken
nerson for hauling city garbage and
ashes was allowed although the at
tempt to collect per cent interest
was stricken out. Alderman Francis
made the passing of this bill the oc-
casion for "A few words on the ash coll
lections, declaring that the work was
not being done in his part of the city.
He asked that i'm the future the work
be done more promptly and that the
street commissioner see that the reg
ulations imposed in the contract he
lived up to.
The report of Justice EichkcTn
showing $50 collected in fines during
the month of April was accepted. The
mayor and the street commissioner
were ordered to look after the Front
street fill and to see that certain OBJ
legations on the part of contractors
were fulfilled before the bills which
had been allowed some time ago were
paid.
Paul ENlcy, chief of the fire depart
ment, presented "A report showing that
in the past year. fires had caused
damage To property in the city
amounting Ia 5000 Three fires had
each carried more than $500. The
chief reported that the department WAS
i'm good condition.
An invitation to the council and
city officials To take part in the con
vention parade of the German Aid So
Cicty on the evening of June 10 was
accepted. \ protest on the sewer con
ditions on Finn street was made
through Alderman O'Neill who stated
that they should be tended to at once.
The board of public works was given
charge of this matter with power and
instructions To act.