The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-01-08
SEWER ASSESSMENT AND WORK
DONE, EXPLAINED BY OFFICERS

So much interest has been aroused
by the call for sewer tax payments
and so many inquiries have beer
made as to how the assessment was
reached, and what has been accomp-
lished, that a detailed report of the
methods used in arriving at what was
believed to be an equitable assess
ment, and full report Of the work
done and the cost of work and ma
terial to date, will be of interest to
the tax payers. The Star Mirror has
secured from Mayor Gibson detailed
account Of the methods employed in
reaching the assessment for the sew
er extension and septic tank, and also
has detailed report by H. J. Smith,
city engineer, of the work done and
what it cost. These reports should
be interesting reading to Moscow tax
payers. They follow:
Mayor GibsOn's Statement.
Because of the fact that consider
able criticism has been made of the
of property to pay for the construc-
ton of the new septic tank, and be-
cause of the fact that considerable
difference of opinion exists as to the
method used in making the assess
ment and the administration respons-
ible therefor, I have felt it my duty,
in as brief a manner as possible, to
give little history of the construc-
tion of the septic tank and the as
sessment made for it's payment.
1t will be remembered by some that
when was mayor before, the council
passed an ordinance declaring it's in
tentlon to construct septic tank at
the site of the old tank. Because of
the fact that sentiment was so divided
as to the feasibility of placing the
new tank at the site of the old, and
for other reasons not now material, |
the tank was not then constructed.
The administration of Mayor Tru-
lit came in and on April 12, 1918, |
the ordinance, declaring it the inten-
tion of the council to construct the
new tank at the point where the tank
is now being constructed, was passed. |
On May l, 1918, an ordinance was
passed ordering the construction of
the new tank Mayor Truitt and At
torney Pickett were directed to and
went to Spokane and Seattle for the
purpose of trying to sell bonds to
secure money with which to do the
work. The proposal of Ferris &
of Spokane, for the pur-
chase of the bonds was approved by
the council and an arrangement was
made to secure advances of money
with which to do the work. Bids had
been called for contract to con-
struct the tank, but no contract was
let, and it was determined that the
city itself should do the work.
The Truitt administration awarded |
a number of contracts for the purpose /
of constructing the tank, such as {
contracts for sand and gravel, cement, :
sewer pipe, to Frank Hickman for ,
certain work, to ]. Pierce for certain t
excavating. Most of these contracts {
were awarded by the Truitt admins
tration in March and April, 1919. \
Some contracts, two l believe, were {
let by the Truitt administration after T
the present officers had been elected {
out before they had taken office, as g
It was desired by all concerned to +
push forward the work as rapidly as /
a
The present administration took I
'ffice in May, 1919, and actively took
lpon itself the duty of carrying for
ward the work that had been started
~ the previous administration. n
During the time herein discussed t.
Aessrs. Nisbet and Morris composed t
dayor Truitt's committee that had v
pecial charge of the septic tank p