The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1922-03-18
Mr.. and Mrs. Taxpayer:

Mr.. and Mrs. Taxpayer:
Here are some things You pr0bt-
bly, are wondering about and want to
know IN making your decision on
how to vote on the Light Plant Bond
Issue.
You probably know that the entire
system has been appraised in the
manner provided in tho franchise by
three expert, nonresident and disin-
terested electrical engineers OF ex-
cellent reputation and standing. In
this manner the valuation of the pre-
sent system was determined to be
$24, ,4o6.O7. The appraisers report Is
OH file In the Office OF the Town Clerk
and is open to inspection. II you
question the valuation perhaps you
had better look over this report and
see how absolutely fair it is.
You want to be assured also II you
buy this plant that the waste aud ex-
travagauce usual in the opera
tion of municipality owned util-
tiles will he eliminated. This has
been provided against because tits the
plan of the Town Board to lense the
plant MS soon ns the Town takos 1t
over. We have one proposition
made by II. @. Graham before us at
this time. In few words, Mr.. Ora
ham proposes to take twenty year
lease on the plant and operate the
same at his own expense, the Town
to receive 40 per cent of the gross re-
ceipts from the business. Under such
q lease the Town would receive its
street lights free of charge to the ex-
tent of ten thirty-two candle power
lights in each block, the Town to in
stall the fixtures only.
| The cost OF maintainance, repair
and upkecp, in addition to the cost OF
operation, will be taken care of by
! Mr.. Graham without expense to the
| Town. He further agrees to advan-
ce the money as required for exten-
sions, additions and permanent i'm
provements, for which tho Town
may reimburse him almost Mt Its
pleasure during the term of the lease,
or walt until the expiration thereof.
1t is further agreed that executions
or permanent improvements can not
be made during any one yenr In ex-
cess of a cost of 800 without the APP
provai of the Town Board, so the
Town is fully protected along this
line.
The question has been asked what
constitutes extensions and perman-
ent improvements for which the
Town will be Obliged to reimburse Mr.
Graham. We want the people to un-
derstand In this connection that eX-
tensions, additions and permanent
improvements under this proposal
will be defined in the lease as consti-
tuting only such new or additional
equipment as shall increase the cap
acity or add to the present efficiency
of the plant, or increase its Income.
They do not include replacements
of any of the present installation, eX-
cept to such extent as any replace
ment might increase the present cap
acity or efficiency of the plant, and
then they must be approved by the
Town Board. requirements neces-
sary to be made at any time during
the lease simply for the purpose OF
keeping the plant up to its present
standard OF efficiency will be at Mr..
Graham's expense, and at the e1pir-
alton OF his lease he will not be en-
titled to any remuneration for any
such new installation required for re-
placements other than to whatever
the replacement unit might exceed
the value of the unit replaced, less
depreciation figured at the standard
rate provided by the Public Utilities
Commission. The valuation of the
unit replaced would be- determined
by using the report of the recent
Board of Appraisers as the basis Tor
arriving at further depreciation al
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