The Meeker herald., 1922-04-01
Mr.. and Mrs. Taxpayer:

Mr.. and Mrs. Taxpayer:
Here are some things you proba-
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
systsm- has been appraised In the
manner provided In the 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
s24, ,498.G. The appraisers report is
on file In the Office Of the Town Clerk
and 10 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 and ex
travagance usual In the opera
ton OF municipality owned util-
tiles will be eliminated. This has
been provided against because tits the
plan Of the Town Board to lease the
plant - soon as the Town takes 1t
over. We have one proposition
made by r. G. 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 tbe gross re-
ceipts from the business. Under such
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 maintenance, repair
aud upkeep, 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-
GO the money as required for exten-
sions, additions and permanent i'm
provements, for which the Town
may reimburse him almost mt Its
pleasure during the term Of the lease,
or walt until the expiration thereof.
Il 10 further agreed that extentions
or permanent improvements can not
be made during any one year In ex-
cess Of . cost of 800 without the ap-
proval 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 rs shall increase the cap
aoity 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-
oept 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. Replacsmenta 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 expir-
alton of his lease be will not be en-
titled to any remuneration for any
such new insta llstion 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 for
arriving at further depreciation al