The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-06-11
ANENT COST or COUNTY BOARD

In its issue of May 29th the Manito-
voc Post (German) published an article
on the high cost Of last years county
board and evidently furnished the Her.
aid and the News with advance proofs
translated into English as both of the
Dailies of that day contained the arti-
Gle and were on the streets before the
Post. The Herald said the "publica-
| tion of the figures given by the Post
have created sensation throughout
the county" And the News said, "Ar-
ticle causes sensation" How could
the article "create a sensation through
out the county" before the Post was
off the press? The fact is the wish was
father to tho thought with the Daiiies.
They tried to make it sensational and
then hid behind the Post like towards.
| But we digress. We were going to
, say that the Pilot was not favored with
a translation of the article and so the
following Statement of facts has been
compiled from the records in the office
of the county clerk. 1t is in no wise in
tended as defense of committees that
held unnecessary meetings in 1913, il
such is the case.
The total amount of Committee work
service as shown in the article in the
| Post. ......... 4SOS. 70
Total amount covering the same per-
iod as shown 10y the original sworn
| itemized claims filed in the county
clerk S office. ........ oooo. lo
Total number of days services per-
formed by County Board Members
ll5l at s 300 per day. ....... 3o3 W
Miles travelled, 2GSS3 at 4 cts. l6l3.lO
Total Committe Service. 80. S 5066.OO
OF the total amount of days and miles
of service, 4l2 days were allotted to
Bridge Commissioners at $500 per day,
or $l236. 90 and ST29 miles travelled at
6 cents per mile or $52334, making the
total cost for Bridge Commissioners
service $780, y, or about 35% of all
the committee work performed went
to Bridge Commissioners.
Section 1892 of the Statutes provid-
es. That when Town petitions the
county for aid in the construction of
bridges the cost shall be as follows:
"When such bridge to be construct
ed or repaired is located wholly or
partly within town having a total
valuation of 100000 or more as equal
! 2ed b., the county Board, the Coun.y
shall pay the cost in excess of $4,000
until the cost is $4,000. When the
cost exceeds $4,000 the town and coun-
ty shall each pay one half Of such con-
struction or repair.
Section 1896 Supervision-provides
that the County Board shall at the
time of acting upon said (bridge) pet
itions designate two of its members
who shall act as its commissioners and
who shall cooperate with the Board OF
such town: and such board and such
commissioners shall have full charge
and authority to act in the letting, in
specting, and acceptance of the work
where the cost of such work shall ex-
ceed $500 and where the cost is less
than $500 one commissioner of an ad-
joining town.
Last year there were 2S bridges con-
structed in Manitowoc County under
County Aid; several of the bridges eX-
ceeded $500, therefore two commission
err; several under $500 90, therefore
one commissioner. Then how can we
reduce the commissioners mileage and
per diem on bridges? How?
Amend the bridge law. Remember
a bridge costing over $780, county aid
and one commissioner; a bridge cost
ing over $500, county and two com
missioners, and q bridges built last
year. The law is mandatory, the Coun-
ty Board must appoint these commits
sioners. Out of the l6 commissioners
that acted last year, Of them served
over 20 days and the amount over 20
| DAYS is $5l0. These I commissioners
had of course more than one bridge and
performed services accordingly.
Chapter 337 Laws of 1911 known as
the County System of prospective State
Highways caused anadditional commit
tee known as the County Highway Sup
ervision Committee. This committee
performed l55 days service which
amounted to $iGj, and travelled $500
miles at 6 cents a mile S323.40, total
S7Ss. .40 there were 33 days service ex-
ceeding 20 days or $l65.