Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1920-02-05
MAYOR TO GET MOREPAY;
LIGHT CONTRACT APPROVED
City Fathers Also Raise Pay of Engineer City
Clerk and Paving Gang-Will Have Use of
Double Amount of Current Under New
Water & Light Agreement-Price
The Same.

Though everything else has scared
skyward Grand Rapids citizens will
not have to pay larger electric light
bills for the next five years to come
than at present as the report of the
Water & Light Commission submitted
TO the city council Tuesday night pro-
vides that the city will contract its
current from the Consolidated at the
same old rate.
This new contract, which the council
unanimously approved is for five
years to come and has a clause in
serted that prevents either party from
terminating the contract without Civ
ing six months notice of their inten-
tions.
Get Mere Juice"
An increase in the amount of ''iuice"
which the city requires in the future
is provided for. At present the esti-
mated "peak load" is 400 kilowatts
per hour The new agreement pro-
vides for an increase of 200 kilOs, and
should the city require it. the number
may be increased to 800 kilowatts by
giving six months notice.
The city also has the privilege of
contracting for 5000 watts for manu-
featuring purposes. The last clause
was inserted at the request of the
Chamber of Commerce who desire to
have power at their disposal as an in
ducement to manufacturers who might
seek to locate here.
Increase Pay.
Mayor Briere was voted an increase
in pay for the rest of his term. When
the matter of salaries for the present
year came up Alderman Lynch, ask
ed that the mayors yearly stipend be
fixed at $1,000, so that a laboring man
could hold the office Alderman Roen-
ius, presented an amendment fixing the
amount at 5000, and by vote of 10
to that amount was approved The
salary of City Engineer Thompson
was fixed at $2400, and that of City
Clerk Gilkey, at $1,000 Laborers will
draw so cents per hour for eight hours
during the remainder of the year and
teamsters will be paid at the rate of
Sl00 an hour. This is an increase of
II per cent over the prevailing wage
scale, and is 20 cents an hour more
than is paid for similar work in Marsh
field.
The list of clerks and inspectors for
two years was confirmed.
Don't Like Plans.
Protest was registered by the al
dermen against the proposed plan sub
mitted by the State Highway Depart
ment for building the new bridge. The
plans call for the same level and
grade of y per cent Gambler. City
Engineer stated that this might make
the structure unsightly, as the bridge
will be four feet higher in the center
than at the ends, The council also op-
posed the lengthening of the bridge
thirty feet at the west approach. The
protests were made as matter of re-
cord as the State will do as they please
about the matter.
Cut Out Free Lights
Taxes for 1919 were remitted on the
Armory and it was voted to discontin-
ue furnishing water and light free af-
ter March 1. If the city desires to use
the building, rental will be paid the
owners in the future.
The matter of closing the streets, a
long Second and Third avenues, where
property has been recently acquired
by the Consolidated, was presented in
the form of a petition. March End,
was set as the date of hearing, at
which time it is expected there will
be not little said for and against the
proposal, as there are many who op-
pose closing the streets.