The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-01-18
VOTE NEW WAY
TOEXTEND WATER
Mains to be Extended by
Special Assessment Plan
i'm the Future.
STAVE OFF INCREASE

Making the way easier for outlying
districts to secure the extension of
water mains and staving off any I'M
mediate necessity for a general in
crease in the water rates, the city
council on Monday evening at its reg
ular meeting adopted motion provid-
ing for a special assessment basis for
the extension of water mains. The
new plan provides that in cases where
the water mains are extended the cost
will be charged against the property
owners on the tax roll just as sewer
and paving improvements are handled.
The property owner will have the OPP
tion of paying cash or of paying in
several installments. The sum will be
so small ordinarily that it was not
deemed advisable to spread the pay
ments over longer period than two
years.
The action was taken on recon-
mendation made by City Manager G.
NJ. Osborn, in which he declared that
in his opinion the special assessment
plan was far preferable to the old plan
under which the city extended the wa
ter mains within a certain limit at
the general expense, the cost being re-
hected in the general water rate.
Long Been Considered.
o. The plan has long been under con-
sideration in Kenosha. Tt was brought
before the old aldermanic system of
government several times but each
time rejected because Of the argument
that extensions in the past had been
made without any special assessments.
AS a result the extension of water
mains has been held up in many sec
tions of the outskirts Of the city until
sufficient number of customers have
been secured to authorize the city to
proceed.
1t is believed that the new plan will
meet with the favor of those who de-
sire the extensions and who will be
willing to pay the cost Of the work in
order to get the extension of water
service more quickly. 1t is pointed
out that the new system will place
the cost of the extension on those who
will benefit thereby.
To Stave OFF Increase.
The discussion brought out the fact
that unless some such step was taken
general increase in water rates would
be necessary to carry on the extern
sions needed. A report showed that
the cost of extensions each year were
in the neighborhood of $4,000 and
that under the old system the water
department was hampered in extend
ing service. With the cost born now
by the property owners affected it is
certain that no increase in water rates
will be needed now.
1t was shown that within two years
a bond issue of 100000 will be needed
to enlarge water mains and to make
improvements necessary in the service
and unless the present step was taken
this bond issue would have to be in
creased materially.
The action of the council will put
into effect the special assessment sys-
tenn for water main extensions plan
ned for the coming spring.
Suggest Ten-Year Basis.
The council also discussed q plan
for the adoption of plan of spread
ing the street paving assessments over
ten years instead of five as in thespast.
The property owner would be given the
option either of paying cash or of pay
ing in five or ten years. No definite
action was taken on this proposal.
City Manager Osborn also suggested
A that revolving fund might be created
Z whereby the city would be able to pay
cash to contractors on paving contracts
and reimburse the fund by the sale of
the bonds. Definite action on this
plan will be taken at a subsequent
meeting of the council.
Balk on Canal Protest.
The city fathers baked on taking
any action on the protest to the work
of the Chicago Drainage Canal sys-
tenn which, according to reports from
other lake cities, is lowering the lake
level and endangering harbor facili-
ties along the lake. The council held
that they were not in a position to.
judge just what the effect of the drain
age canal was and for that reason
would not join in the protest.
A claim of G. S. Lathrop for $4,000
for a piece of land which he alleges
was taken for the opening of Balm
avenue was presented and the council
disallowed it in order to open the way
for suit which would settle the long
dispute in the courts.
Petitions for the paving Of Florence
avenue from Rowland to Charles. of
North Lyman avenue from Grand ave
nue. to the north end of the street and
of Bond street from Pomeroy to Strong
street were granted. A petition of E.
E. Better for rebate on his assess
saast in connection with the opening