Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1921-02-16
OPPOSITION TO PAVING
AT. THIEF RIVER FALLS
Complaint Made Against City Council
and Firm Evolved in Proposition
Alleging Irregularities.

sAfu II III CnvOAVcU III TTOpOSNlOn
Alleging Irregularities.
Alleged unlawful Overdrafts, in
crease Of taxes during the last five
years to such an extent that they are
unreasonable and confiscatory, that the
city will shortly become practically in
solvent unless expenditures are curbed,
that the proposed assessment against
property affected by the paving for the
installation Of storm sewers and other
preliminary improvements In ineauit-
able, not uniform and contrary to law !:
that the contract for paving was let at
a time when prices were at the highest
level and that they are exorbitant; that
the council did not properly advertise
Tor bids for the preliminary work; and
that the resolution passed by the coun-
Gil ordering, and determining to make
possible the paving Of the city streets,
was never signed by the mayor during
the period of time provided by law, and
that for this reason no paving has been
authorized; are charges alleged in a
summons served by Deputy Sheriff
Frank McGinnity' on the city Of Thief
River Falls as a municipal corporation,
John Bratrud as mayor of the city, A.
II. Akre as clerk, Ole lille, III. A.
Brumund, Andrew Mes, John Dahl, Carl
Froseth and Severn Brandon, as COM
mon council for the city, the Bitulithic
Contracting company of Winnipeg and
the Capital Trust and Savings bank, to
appear and answer complaint on the
part of the Den Mercantile company.
WI
mons; Immediately following the au-
th0rlzation of the sale of municipal
certificates of Indebtedness aggregating
q. quarter OF million dollars to finance
the 1921 program by the city council Of
Thief River Falls last week.
According to the Thief River Falls
Times, the complaint alleges that the
sBitulithic Contracting company in en-
ter1ng into contract which calls for
paving work at cost to exceed
100000, has not furnished bond as
required by law: that the terms of the
contract We're not fulfilled. as it called
Tor all paving to be completed by Nov.
10, 1920; that the city treasury is with
out funds to undertake improvements
OF so extensive a nature; that the city
council unlawfully caused Overdrafts
on the Current, Special Assessment, Lo-
cal improvement, Waterworks. Inter-
est, Auditorium, Poor, Library and
Cemetery funds to be met by transfers
from Sinking and other funds to the
extent Of $97 ,152.O1, and that these
amounts have never been properly re-
funded
Claim Taxes Unreasonable
1t is further alleged that the bonded
Indebtedness of the city is 1901 900 !;
that the tax levy in 1920 was less than
necessary for current expenses; that
the city is so badly in debt that taxes
have been increased during the last five
years to such an extent that they are
unreasonable and confscatory and
That the city will shortly become prac-
tlcalv lnsolvent unless expenditures are
curbed. = That proposed assessment
against property affected by the paving
Tor the installation of storm sewers and
other preliminary improvements is in
equitable, not uniform and contrary to
law; that the contract for paving was
let at a time when prices were at the
highest level and that they are ex-
orbitant; and that it is the duty of the
council to cancel the contract and Dr0-
coed no further under the present
terms.
= 1t is also alleged that the city or
council did not properly advertise for
bids for the preliminary work and that
contract entered into with the Capital
Trust and Savings bank for the same,
was for the purpose of combining bids
roc % lol>A
that organization, giving them an un-
fair advantage over other bidders and
thus causing financial loss to the city
and the tax payers; that no election
was held to authorize the sale Of GER
tificates Of Indebtedness that the
resolution passed by the council order
ing, and determining to make possible
the paving Of the city streets, was never
signed by the mayor during the period
of time provided by law, and that for
this reason no paving has ever been
authorized.
The plaintiff requests judgment OF
temporary injunction.
The serving Of the summons has as
yet In no way 1nterferred with further
plans for early paving. %. D. Hanson
Of the Bitulithic Contracting company
OF Winnipeg, who was present at the
council meeting Tuesday evening, or
Tuesday afternoon issued the state
ment that the shipment of equipment
would proceed at once and that the
company hoped to begin work here
early in March with the view of com.
plotting the contract by the first Of
July. Much of the equipment is already
upon property leased along the Soc
right Of way.