The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1917-07-20
Council Met Friday

The Village council, together
with a number of interested citi-
zens, met at the town hall Friday
evening for the purpose of discuss
ing the advisability of forming an
improvement district in Kendrick
to enable the citizens to have uni
form cement walks, sewer system
and possibly paved main street.
Engineer Biggs had a large map
of the sidewalk and street grade
which he had just completed. The
plans as drawn up by Mr.. Biggs,
allow for either forty or fifty
foot pavement with parking strip
the length of Main street and on
all side streets.
There were some objections to
the plans but as a whole they SEEM
ed satisfactory. The councils idea
was to form the improvement dis
trict by getting seventy percent Of
the names of the resident property
owners on a petition. Three petit
tions were prepared. each pertain
ing to one of the three branches of
improvement work. After circu-
lating the petitions it was found
that there were more property
owners in favor Of the sewer sys-
TEN than there were in favor of
either the paving or sidewalk con-
struction. The council has not yet
obtained the necessary signatures
to go ahead with the improvement
district.
One of the strongest arguments
advanced in favor of the sidewalk
improvement district is the fact
that all of the work can be done at
one time, thus getting much
lower price on construction than
could be obtained by each citizen
putting in a walk for his own
property. The sewer system could
also be installed while the sidewalk
work was being done and the ad-
vantage would be in the fact that
. the one engineer could handle both
jobs.
The council is taking great
deal of interest in this matter.
Each member of the council is
property owner so the improvement
, district would affect the councilmen
just about the same, from finan-
| cial standpoint, as it would the ma
| jority of resident property owners
; of the town. The councilmen have
: practically made up their minds to
= one thing and that is that cement
walks must be installed in the near
f future and they must be put in on
s the proper grade. This being the
e case it would surely be advisable to
e take advantage of the saving in
n price of the improvement district
plan and have the sidewalks built
;. in this manner. Ten years are al
lowed in which to pay for the con-
Il struction of the walks and the rate
e of interest would not exceed seven
e percent.
Il If the sidewalk proposition is ac-
r cepted, the sewer system will no
J. doubt be installed also as conditions
p here make it almost necessary that
u system be installed as soon as
, possible, if for no other reason than
from the standpoint of sanitary
conditions.
1t might be we'll for those who
have refused to sign any one o1
these petitions to reconsider the
- matter. 1t is practically certain
that at least the sidewalks will al
- have to be of cement within shor
- period of time. The question re
mains whether the resident propert!
owners would rather take advan
, tage of the ten year payment plal
- and get lower rate for construc
~ tion or put in the sidewalks them
- selves and have the added expens
:. of getting the grade established ant
- paying more per square foot TO
- putting in their walks.