Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-28
COMMISSIONS
ARE RECEIVED ]
FROM GOVERNOR
River Improvement Boar1
Members Are MOrren, s
Wellman and Mynard a
NOTIFICATIONS ARE s
SENT BY PRES. HARPEI

The wish of many Ottumwans haia3
been realized and means for giving th0l
proper attention to the river banks -
the city limits of Ottumwa under TT
state law is now granted by the govss
ernor in the commissions sent to Pre94z
ident c. S. Harper of the Commercla1s
club for three Ottumwans, John Hss
Morrel, G. A. Wellman and w. H. NM
nard. These men comprise the rivOog
front Improvement commission AT
pointed under law and will havSS
charge Of the river banks in the corr
porate limits. Improvement Of vario01E
kinds Is thus made possible under th
state law and within the next feU@
years 1t is expected that places on thGs
banks of the Des Moines that have
been eyesores and repugnant to many
will have been transformed into beau&
tiful and useful sites.
President Harper recently recom
mended to Governor Clarke the az
pointment Of the board after petitiol8
bearing 515 signatures of electors ha2
been obtained. The commissions f61l]
each member recommended to the gos.
ernor were received Saturday by th9E
president Of the Commercial club wh1S
today sent them to Messrs. MOrrelk3 4
Wellman and Mynard.
These three men will comprise thGX
river front improvement commissions
of Ottumwa and will serve without pay
as the Office Is an honorary one and
each member serves until his success
sor is elected, which takes place hlya
ennially. ssS5 s$5
Given Much Authority. Ez,
The law under which the appoinSsa
ment is made is found in the supple
ment to the code of Iowa, chapter S-aS
title 5. on page 323. 1t gives Z city
under 25,000 population the right
have the governor appoint such a cor
mission when 500 electors petition biz :
to do So The law provides amon
other things the following: M
The commission shall immediateI <
organize, draw lots to see which u
their number shall have his term e1;]
pire at the next spring election. Th0S
other two members will continue, one
for two years and the other for FOUR
member being elected at each bi0H
NAL election.
They shall elect a chairman frou
their number. also a secretary an
treasurer not from their body, all q
serve without pay. The treasurer viii
give bond
The commission has authority 0vo4
the banks of the river within the Cot
porate limits of the city and may ta1C
title in trust for the public Of any LAM
lying inside Of the meander line Of thu
river where the riparian rights hav
been extinguished.
The authority extends to boatind
skating, swimming. wharves, dumpin1&|
eliminating signs, bill boards, ETC., an
the commission has power to beautit
the river banks, build drives along th41
river, acquire riparian rights for th1
public subject to the approval Of th43
executive council at Des Moines AMI
to receive donations for the public, ue(
the redeemed for public buildings, etc
This authority vested in the commiG
sion also includes the right to wall thCF
river. to widen or narrow the streau
also to police, light and survey the
same. -
The records Of the commissio
shall be kept open to the inspecti0
of the public and no member Of tn
commission shall have any pecunfaEX
interest in contracting firms In lan&
or in material used for river improv1
ment or in any way be connected VIII
the pay for such improvements.
has the power in conjunction with th
town council to levy river smprOvG|
ment tax not to exceed two mills ar
the town council is directed to coc
crate with the commission in policin(
surveying, also in saving in the lengtf
Of a bridge, and any saving so acc0n;
plished shall be turned over to th4
river front commission for use In th1s
Improvement fund. I