The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-04-30
COUNCIL HOLDS UP
LIGHT FRANCHISE

and while the variety of subjects un-
der consideration was large, little or
nothing was definitely decided.
The matter of aiding the Ladies'
Improvement Association on the clean
up day came up and council decided
on plan whereby the town should
be divided into sections of one block
each; lady to be assigned to solicit
funds from each resident, council to
make up any reasonable deficit should
there be one. Health Officer Sedge-
wick was decided upon as the proper
man to collect rubbish, as no dumping
violations would be allowed. One Of
fender Of this ordinance was threat
ened with arrest unless he Immediate
ly removed quantity that had been
misplaced.
The matter of signs for the streets
was left in allegiance, no one seeming
to know the exact kind of signs
wanted.
Two complaints of bad sidewalks in
the village was tabled as the offender
had agreed to rectify same.
The matter Of garbage disposal was
a long drawn out affair; it being sug-
gested that some person with a good
team might make profitable business
by collecting garbage from each fam
lily once week and for compensation
to collect nominal sum of twenty
five cents month from each family.
This council referred to Health Officer
Sedgewick, with the suggestion that
he endeavor to find some man to take
the job.
Several other unimportant meas
ures were taken up, one to repair two
catch-alls that have been broken and
inspect the Harding farm with the
idea of digging ditch thru the lands
large enough to carry all the overflow.
At present Mr.. Harding is forced to
keep his cows out of the pasture.
The main topic of the evening was
an electric light franchise. F. o. Phil
lips was present and prayed for a
twenty-year franchise, a duplicate of
the present one, which expires in De-
cember, 1915. Mr.. Snyder Of the
Cleveland & Southwestern was present
and asked council until its next meet
ing, May II to decide on and gather
estimates as to whether his company
could and if SO at what rate they may
supply current to Medina. It was sug-
|gested that the maximum rate that
could Discharged consumers should be-
q part Of the new franchise, which MI.
Snyder agreed to do, Mr.. Phillips sug
gested that the Utilities Commission
Of Ohio would not allow an exorbitant
rate, to which a reply was offered ask
ing what private citizen would hire
lawyer and submit complaint, to the
commission for an overcharge of say
Is or 80 cents a month.
One councilman suggested that Mr..
Phillips ask for, a ten-year franchise
instead of a twenty-year one. To this
an offer was made to inject in the
franchise the right to free the consum-
ers from the obnoxious charge of rs
cents month meter rent. This is
feature that council may or may not
see fit to allow in granting a fran
chise. Users are paying a rental Of
rs cents month at the present time
simply and solely because council in
granting the old franchise did not
specify that no rental should be
charged.
The contract for street lighting
which does not expire for nearly four
years, was brought up and change
in the present mode was advanced.
When asked if the Electric Light &
Power Co., would allow two extra cur
cults of 6 lights each, to be placed
around town and at no extra expense,
providing all street lights, except
those on the square, were turned out
at l a. M, Mr.. Phillips stated that he
thought it could be arranged, provid-
ing he was granted renewal of fran
chise' He also said that he would in
the course Of two years transform the
present obsolete system of lighting in
to alternating current although he
would not agree to put same as con-
dition in the franchise. This matter
was finally held over until the next
meeting, May II.
The Sentinel has no ak to grind in
the matter Of franchise, but believes
council should work for the benefit Of
the public. It is matter Of specula-
ton as to whether the Cleveland &
Southwestern could satisfactorily sup
ply the public, but it is a fact that
with modern machinery the Electric
! light & Power Co., can supply the pub
| lie at a much lower cost than now and
derive q handsome profit. What is
needed is readjustment Of rates
based upon the amount Of current
| used.
The representative of the G. S. &.
w. reiterated his statement that
the West Liberty track would be i'm
proved this summer, giving his inabil-
ity to secure special rails, as his rea-
son IN delaying action, It is probable
that 2 cement foundation will be laid