The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-09-14
Brentlinger Wants People To
See Departments Wheels
Go Round
LAXITY In ENFORCING
TRAFFIC RULES SCORED
Distinct Violations OF Ordin-
ances Pointed Out By
CounciImen

MT. Vernon is to be gwen an oppor.
tunity to learn how the waterworks is
being run, where the money is spent
ana why and how much and the whv
OF increased water rents and the other
questions that private citizens as the.
oretical stockholders in the municipal
plant often have a curiosity to know.
rms action was decided upon by the
city council Monday night at the first
meeting following vacation of sew
eral weeks. The action was instituted
by Councilman Bpentlinger of the First
ward, who declared that the citizens
nave no more idea what is going on
IN the waterworks department than if
it were privately owned and operat-
ed concern and that since the plant is
a municipal one they are entitled to
know
Mr.. Brentlinger said that consider
able dissatisfaction exists over the re.
cent raise in the water rates and that
partment can show that there is a
legitimate reason for the increase.
The citizens are entitled to know"
said Nir. Brentlinger, "and move that
committee be appointed to ihvesti-
gate and prepare report showing the
business of the plant in detail so that
they can find out
The motion was seconded by Mr..
Sockman and carried unanimously.
President Salisbury then appointed
the members of the waterworks COM
mittee to prepare the report. City
Auditor Gates attended the meeting
and at this time announced that the
state examiner conducted an examina-
tion Of the business Of the various de-
partments of the city, including the
one in question, and that his report
will probably be published within a
- short time.
Practically all the councilmen had
something to say about the enforce
ment of traffic ordinances in the city
following Mr.. Brentlinger's motion to
have q resolution prepared providing
for new traffic rule en- the public
square. Mr.. Brentlingers idea was
to require all traffic to keep to the
right around the square instead of per-
hitting vehicles to enter the square
and thence converge into streams run
ming all directions and merely keeping
to the right insofar as passing other
vehicles is concerned.
An argument followed this motion,
several councilmen being of the opin-
ion that the present traffic ordinances
cover this point and that traffic is sup
posed to do this without the enactment
of a special ordinance. Mr.. Brentlin-
ger withdrew his motion pending in.
vestigation of the present ordinances
The discussion, however, brought up
the subject of traffic regulation in 9TH
er respects and criticism was passed
ont freely over permitting vehicles to
block water plugs while the ordinance
hc!es parked within 20 feet of them,
disregard of the ordinance prohibiting
turning in except at street crossings
and the partial obstruction of side
walks by merchants displaying their
wares in front of their places of busi-
ness Councilman Hookway was es-
pecially sarcastic over the practice of
allowing this to be done, saying that at
one especially busy corner crowds are
often forced to walk, in the street in
order to pass distractions placed on
the walk by merchants. TITS up to the
police to step such things as well as
other traffic ordinance violations" he
said.
Safety Director Parker remarked
that \if the council were willing to
r. provide more policemen this could pos
sibly be done and Mr.. Hookway said
perhaps you are right, our police are
so busy the greater part of the time
that they haven't time to look after
things like this"
During their vacation" from council
meetings the councilmen seemed to
have accumulated considerable busi-
ness to bring before the meeting and
practically all brought up questions OF
street improvements, ranging from the
location OF light to filling up mud
holes and raising sidewalks.
Councilman Weaver made a motion
that a committee be appointed to have