Baxter Springs news., 1919-07-18
City Council Passes Annual Tax Levy
to Meet City ExpenseS-Will
Bring SlO,676.18
COUNCILMAN WELLS
FILES RESIGNATION
Resolution for Twelfth Street Paving
Re-passed TO COrrest Error In
Locating End Of the
Paving

An ordinance levying q fourteen
mill tax on the taxable property Of
the city, was passed by the city cOun-
ell at the meeting last night. The
levy Is calculated to bring $40,676.18
to meet the expense Of the city gov
ernment, interest on bond issues; sink
ing fund and other purposes. The
levy is for fourteen mills, an increase
Of one and half mills over last year.
The tax Is apportioned among the
various funds as follows:
General fund, four mills; Street and
Alley fund, one mill; Cemetery fund,
one-fOurth of one mill; Library fund,
one-fourth Of one mill; Street Light
ing, three-fourth of one mill; Main
tenance Of Fire Department, one-haf
Of one mill; Bond Interest fund, four
and one-half mills; Sinking fund to
pay of bond issues, two and one
fourth mills.
The principal increase was in the
fire department fund, as it is planned
to put on two paid fremen just as
soon q sthe waterworks is completed.
The employment of two full paid men
on the fire department, together with
the new waterworks system, would
give the city a better classification as
regards fire insurance rates and would
result in reduction of the rates more
than sufficient to pay the additional
expense.
Elm order to rectify the error made
in drafting the resolution providing
for the paving of Twelfth street, a
new resolution was passed. The first
resolution failed to give a sufficiently
clear definition Of where the paving
would end at the west end of the
street. With the exception Of the
change in the wording the resolution
remains the same.
The estimate Of the Dieter Con-
struction Co. of $1,000 for sewer work,
which had been held up pending a
more clear definition of the amount
to be allowed for rock excavation, was
allowed subject to correction as to the
amount of rock excavated. The esti-
mate allows the contract eighty per
cent Of the amount due from COM
pleted work, leaving twenty per cent
which will notbbe paid until the work
is all completed and accepted by the
city.
An ordinance providing for the re-
mOval Of the city offices to the Cham
ber Of Commerce rooms was passed.
The ordinance provides for the pay
ment by the city Of half the office rent
Of SIS and half the light bill. The Of
fee Of City Engineer Hogdon, for
which the city is now paying $40 per
month rent, will probably be moved
to the same location.
The room formerly used as meet
ing place for the council will be used
by the police Judge and the city
marshal.
A sensational surprise was sprung
on the council when City Clerk Twente
read the resignation Of Charles Wells,
councilman from Ward No. /.
Mr.. Wells stated that the majority
Of the citizens Of Baxter Springs did
not appear to desire any public i'm
prOvements or any kind Of progress
i've action on the part of the cOuncil'
and that he was tired of hearing pro-
tests every time the council passed an
appropriation ordinance. He stated
that he wanted to help make a real
city out of Baxter Springs, but if the
people here did not want it, he would
get out Of the way.
The resignation was not accepted
and Mr.. Wells is being urged to recon-
slider his decision.