The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1925-09-04
NOT SO EASY TO HIRE
A NEW CITY MANAGER
At Least Not For Combination Job; Knobbs
Creek Dam to Cost $4,000; Church
Street Needs Attention

in store for those citizens and
office holders who have got the
idea in the head that they can
combine the office o; City
Manager with the job of en-
g:ncering the city's utiIitH pro-
gram calling for tx eXpendl-
ture of more than a m.ltCD
dollars. The plan won't work
because William H. Olsen has
the city hog-tied with a con-
tract that gives him i'll return
for his plans, various percen-
tages ranging around four
cents on the dollar for every
dollar the city spends.
In whose fertile brain was con-
ceived the scheme to combine these
two jobs, throw Miles Ferebee out
the job now paying $3.50 month,
hire a practical engineer for $500
month. and supposedly save the
city $4,000 or so that will be paid
to Engineer Olsen, it is not vouch
Safpd this writer to answer. 1t is
certain that some miSinfOrmed poll
tician only q misinfOrmed politician
or self-secker would entertain the
! idea, because those who are familiar
with the situation know that Engi-
neer Olsen is far too shrcwd and
experienced to dicker long with the
crowd that has been in office, with
ont having an iron-bOund contract.
! The scheme would send a-glimmer-
, i'm any ambitions certain members
of the Board Of Aldermen might
have for the job.
1t was the idea of some, to secure
the services of Tom Higgs, former
PaSquOtank County road engineer
later of Perquimans, and now with
Ncllo 4. Tecr, contractor grading
the Camden-C n-Currituck highway.
Tom Ifiggs Is noted for his indc-'.
! fatigablc industry and marked abil-
ity. and ii was believed he would
seriously consider an offer not so
far in excess of the salary being
paid The present City Manager.
To RuiId 4 Dam
The much talked of Dam for
KnObhs Creek is about To material
iZe. the Utility Commission having
advertised for bids Oh Il structure
to cost approximately $4,000. 1t
is to he of concrete and will be
! located near tile State Highway
bridge OH the Newland Road. Bids
will he opened on September %.
The Utility Commission will also
receive bids for the. construction
of the second sewer zone, work hav-
ing progressed rapidly OH the First
Zone. The zone now under con-
Struction is TO cost something like
SlOJ.O0G, which means that before
the Commission can go very far OH
the second. the Aldermen will have
to so something OH the way Of rails
ing more funds.
The attention Of the Board Of
Aldermen is respectively called to
the fact that Church Street might
be paved and completed at a con-
siderable saving, if the work is done
shortly, inasmuch as the bricks
have been taken up by the sewer
contractors, and since they are up,
it is foolish waste of money TO
put them down twice when Onco
will do. This street is to be cover
ed with asphalt, and if finished,
would relieve Main Street of II large
part of the traffic that now con-
gcSts Main Street. This may he
considered at the monthly meeting
Monday night.
The attention of the City Manager
is called 10 the fact that the police
force seems to be ignoring the qucS-
ton Of parking, which grows
greater menace and handicap TO
traffic daily. There seems TO be
no effort taken toward enforcing
traffic rules with respect TO park
inS. Cars are Strewed up and down,
and across street in every direction
like buggieS at an Old-timc country
camp meeting. On the most con-
gcsted streets traffic is further
impcded because careless drivers
park their cars on the wrong side
of the street, or head them i'm the
wrong direction, and without re-
gard to Oncoming traffic. Needless
to say the situation has caused con-
siderable criticism, which might as
well reach the City Managers ears
now as later.