The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-11-09

LHe regular meeClngJ VoCed TO aDollSh
four city boards--the Police and Fire
Commission, the Water Board, the
Park Board and the Health Board
thus clearing the way for the new
city manager form of government to
have better control Of the various
departments of the city. The action
was taken upon the recommendation
of City Manager c. NJ Osborn, who
in Communication to the council, ex-
planned that this step was necessary
to Organize the several city depart
ments into close and harmonious
working organization, where the most
strict economy may be obtained in
conducting city business"
"These commissions and boards are
all money spending boards and unless
we organize so that all receipts and
expenditures Of the city are controlled
by or through one department, we will
not be able to practice the economy
that the citizens are going to require
of u.s." continued the city manager in
ethe communication.
Receive designations First.
The council first acted upon the
designations Of the members of these
four boards, all of which were filed
several weeks ago. After accepting
these designations city ordinance
abolishing the boards and authorizing
the city manager to take over their
functions was unanimously adopted.
In mastering out the various COM
missioners, the council passed reso-
luton thanking the members for their
efficient service on the boards, de-
claring that in the years in WHICH
the boards have been in control of the
departments mentioned, the commits
sions have done much to safeguard
the interests of the city and to in
crease the efficiency of the various
= departments.
The last step in the muster out"
was the allowance of SIS for the
nominal salary of City Clerk George
Harrington as secretary of the Board
Of Health for the last six months
of it's existence.
A suggestion was made to the coun-
Gil by City Attorney Higgins, who was
speaking for the city planner, Har-
land Bartholomew, that the city might
we'll consider the possibility Of pur-
chasing the site now held by the
Sheridan Hotel Corporation at the
northeast corner of Sheridan road and
Market street for the site of city
hall. This property was excavated by
the hotel corporation tut lack of funds
has practically forced the abandon
ment of the hotel project and left the
excavation untitled. The property
may soon be- sold on a mortgage fore
closure and the proposal was laid be-
fore the council in order that the city
might act in such a case.
The suggestion made by City Plan
ner Bartholomew was that the civic
center plan should be extended east
ward another city block so as to pro-
vide a place fo- the erection Of new
city hall, when this was necessary.
1t was expL lined that the purchase of
the site would merely be looking to
Che future and that no immediate
steps for the building of new city
hall could be expected.
Council Hesitates to Act.
Because of the many other large
ventures which have been undertaken
by the city council, it was agreed to
give more time to consider this sug-
gestion before taking any action.
The city manager and the city attor-
new were instructed to keep in touch
with the foreclosure proceedings on
the property in order to safeguard
the claim Of the city for the. improve
ments which have% been made neces-
sary in building "a sidewalk about
the "lake."
Deeds for several properties pur-
chased in the blocks west and south
west Of this property by past action
Of the. council, were presented and
we're ordered to be recorded. The
work Of clearing the site for the new
courthouse will start Immediately.
Condemnation proceedings against
the Pacini- Bruins property on West
Salem avenue, desired for school pur-
poses, have been formally startd and
action on this will be secured before
the end of the month.
Water Survey is Suggested.
City Manager Osborn presented to
the council an offer of Chicago con-
Germ to make water survey of the
city on a contingent basis. The pur-
pose would be to locate leaks and to
save the city enough in one year to
pay for the cost of the survey.
Figures from the water department
we're produced to show that during
The past year 1854, $4,000 gallons OF
water had been pumped at the station
snd that 1,2S0,OOO,0O0 gallons of this
,ould be accounted for in the reports
This left leakage of 500,000,000, OF
n per cent. Imperfect water mains
md slow meters were suggested as the
cause for large part of the leakage
The Chicago company offers to make s
survey of the city and locate the leaks
On basis of being paid according tc
he amount sacved the city up to 5000
t was declared that ten per cent was