The Mena weekly star., 1919-03-06
CIVIC RETIREMENT HAS R|CHT-OF-WAY
More Street Lights, Street Paving, Signs for Streets and Increase of Official Salaries Among Things
 Considered by the City Dads.

Mena's city fathers in their month ly session Tuesday night to consider the municipal family affairs contin- ued their progressive program by talk ing action on nine important items designed for the improvement of the community.
 The nine matters considered were:
 More street lights.
 Regulation of billboards.
 Paving Mena street.
 Bridge over Ward creek.
 Signs for street intersections
 Conserving city water.
 Interest on city money. Joining the White Way.
 Increasing official salaries.
 At the request of interested citizens additional street lights were ordered at Mena street and Dallas avenue; another at Jansen avenue and Eve street and third on the east end of Jansen avenue near Ward creek.
 A petition asking for the removal of the bill board at DcQueen street and Port Arthur avenue resulted in the couneilmen entering into a dis cussion of the bill board problem, as it now exists in Mena. The result was that the antis had a monopoly of the argument and City Attorney Bur nett was directed to draw up an or- dinance for passage at the next meet ing embodying the following points: No bill boards to be permitted in the pavement district on DeQueen and Mena streets; all boards to be placed on the rear of vacant lots and to be far enough from the sidewalks that there will be no danger of them fall ing over and injuring passersby. Approved Street Paving. Without dissenting vote the coun- cil approved the petition for the ere ation of an improvement district for the paving of Mena street from Kick ory avenue to Gillham avenue. Upon motion of Alderman H. W. Roberts an ordinance directing the establishment of the paving district was passed and the council adjourned to meet again next Tuesday night to take final &C., tion on this matter and also upon the paving of DeQueen street.
 The street and alley committee was instructed to investigate the matter of building a bridge over Ward creek on the east end of Janssen avenue. Property owners living in that vicin- ity called attention to the fact that the former bridge had been washed away, and that another was needed.
 Secretary Eastin Of the Commercial Club appeared before the council and brought forth the fact that recent survey of the city showed there were IA street intersections that were not properly marked with street signs. Mayor Smith and his associates agreed this was too important mat ter to be neglected and they will se- cure prices on different kinds of signs and decide at once which kind to use
 The city fathers determined to take official notice of the White Way and have part in this improvement. A light was ordered placed in front of the fire engine house on Pickering avenue
 Proposing Raise in Water Rates.
 One of the most important matters taken up by the council was that of conserving the municipal water sup ply. Superintendent George Duganne of the waterworks department called attention to the wastage of water and gave graphic description of class of citizens he termed "water hogs" To prevent abuse of the city system and prevent a possible short age during the summer months, he recommended changes be made in the present scale of price, and that the minimum be reduced to 1,000 gallons. The council directed Superintendent Duganne and City Attorney Burnett to join forces and prepare an ordi- nance embodying the changes desired for consideration at the next session.
 Want Interest on City Funds.
 Now that the city has real money in excess of it's running expenses, the matter of getting interest on the sur plus funds was brought up for dis cussion. It was decided that this ques- ton will be disposed of at the coming session.
 The matter of increasing the sal aries of the mayor and the street commissioner was discussed inform ally. It was the general opinion that the mayor was worth more than the meagre salary now paid, and it was also held to be unfair that the street superintendent should be paid less per day than the men under him. The men get $250, but the boss only draws $2 day
 
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