The Ocala evening star., 1915-02-10
LOCAL LEGISLATION
City Council Tuesday Night Had a
Busy and Interesting Session


Tompkins, w. A Knight, VI. J. Roess
and G. A Nash.
In Good Financial Condition
The city's financial statement pre-
pared by the. clerk at Mr.. Meffert's
request, was taken up and the out
standing bills read and discussed. The
statement showed that the city is in
debt something over $4,000 includ-
ing the $1,000 borrowed from the
banks, but between $4,000 and $4,000
of this is amounts owing to itself
from the water and light depart
ments, which is largely matter of
bookkeeping and this indebtedness
could be balanced by transferring the
accounts. This statement developed
the fact that the hospital, the Board
of Trade and the fair association each
owed the city large bill for lighting.
Considerable discussion followed as to
what was to be done with these bills.
Mr.. Roess finally moved that the bills
be Cancelled and the fair association,
the hospital and the Board of Trade
in future pay the nominal sum of So
each to the city per annum for lights.
Arches viii be Ornamented Again
A discussion followed about lighting
and up-keep of the three big arches
over the streets. Mr.. Tompkins finally
moved that the city supply the bulbs
and current for the arches and keep
them lighted and the Board of Trade
and fair association keep them pant
ed and in repair, or they can be re-
moved at the discretion of the street
/ department of the city.
The cancelled bills against the above
mentioned associations, on motion of
Mr.. Nash, were to be charged against
the street lighting fund.
A discussion took place on water
meter charges All were agreed that
the city should furnish and pay for
the meters as it did in the light de-
partment, only the city is not fnan-
cially able to do so. Enforcement of
meter charges was ordered, or rather
a previous order to that effect was al
lowed to stand.
Work on the Streets
The street committee, by Mr.. Roess,
chairman, reported that it had exam
ined the grades on Sanchez and Adams
streets and that it recommended the
grade to remain as now on Sanchez
street but be lowered as much as pos
sible to conform to abuttments and
drainage necessities on Adams street
in the vicinity of MIR. Coleman's resi-
dence. Report was made on the trim
ming of trees and patching of holes in
| the streets. Mr.. Roess said that ar
rangements had been made to haul
| lime in on the railroad from Oak
hurst for street work.
1t is thought that the lime rocI
can be shipped in by the railroad anC
cars placed at most convenient points
. much cheaper than the lime can be-
removed from the city pit.
The light and water committee ask
ed for more time to report on the
: property owners petition filed some
5 time since from Adams street.
The report of the American Audi
: Company was taken up and on tn,
suggestion of the chair will be reac
in installments. A good portion wa
e read last night.
s Changes in the Charter
Some additional amendments to tn
city charter, to be advertised ant
y submitted to the legislature wer
taken up and discussed. One was tn
property qualification for voters a
S bond elections. This finally passe,
i and was adopted, that persons mus
:. pay taxes on at least $500 worth o
g real or personal property to be eligi
S bic to vote in bond elections.
It 1t was suggested that the propose
d amendment, allowing the council t
purchase from its own members 70
the city, be limited to 81 900 per yea
IS from any individual or firm interest
IS ed in business, who was also a mem
y Der of the council. This was to pre-
e vent any possible letting of larg
;" contracts such as paving, sewerage c
g other work.
g Mr.. West, representing the J.
d McCrary Co. of Atlanta, made tn
20 council an interesting talk on munic
in pal improvements and was very desil
n, Gus of securing the sewerage contrat