The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1941-05-22
Session Scheduled by
Council for tuesday
POLICE MOTORCYCLE,
CAR ARE PURCHASED
Disagreement Arises in
Filling Position of
Deputy Treasurer.

An informal meeting to discuss a
long list of requests for permanent
improvements viii be held by the
city council Tuesday at 2 p. m.
A decision to consider the requests,
ranging from street light installations
to making passable unimproved city
streets, was reached at the regular
council meeting last Tuesday night
after another group of Improvement
requests had been received. Alderman
o. T. Friedsburg asked that they all
be gone over at a special meeting
called for that purpose.
This afternoon members of the
council and city officials are touring
the city inspecting sites for which
improvements have been requested
The council was in session only two
hours, but it transacted multitude of
business items.
Midway in the session the resigna-
ton of Martin Grahek, Jr., deputy
city treasurer, was read and when an
attempt to give the position to Joseph
Mavetz failed on 4-3 vote, Alderman
Toimi Ahola took members of the
body opposing the action to task for
what he said was an attempt to
put men in Office behind our backs"
Alderman Gust A. Anderson moved
to give MaVetz, for nine years time
keeper in the clerks Office, Grahek's
position. On the roll call Ahola and
Friedsburg supported the action, while
Aldermen John N. Maxi, Edward E.
Porthan, and Rudolph Tisovich. and
Mayor John KapSch, opposed it.
Grahek's resignation became effective
at once. He had held the position
since 1892, and left it to work in the
mines.
Wednesday morning, however, Ma
vetz took over Grahek's work on a
temporary basis.
When the roll call on Mavetz was
completed, Ahola declared that there
is something in the wind"
He went on to indirectly accuse
those opposing Mavetz's appointment
of "conniving" to place a man not
now employed by the city in the posi-
ton, and condemned such action as
not giving city employees a chance for
advancement.
He hit the hiring of men not now
employed by the city as being against
the interests of the taxpayers.
81 am up here to serve the people,
and everyone of you took an oath of
Office to do the same" Ahola declared,
after which he continued, Don't plug
offices up. Give men here a chance to
advance. Make the city a business
like organization"
Friedsburg then declared that a
promotion in this instance would be
"for the best interest Of the city"
Mayor Kapsch, after saying that
1--WE have a right to our own con-
victions," denied that there was any
stuffing of Offices, that there had
been any conniving, or any majorities
formed.
Both the mayor and Maxi declared
that they had not been approached"
by anyone seeking the position after
Ahola had said that "under the cir
cumstances" such action must have
occurred.
Anderson then moved that the filling
of the position be delayed until the
next regular meeting, and it carried,
with Maxi opposing it.
At the request of Assessor Fred
James, business men viii be asked to
meet with the council to consider in
creases that must be made in the as
sessed valuation of stocks of goods.
Next week James viii confer with the
state tax commissioner on the sub
ject before the meeting is called.
The increases are an outgrowth of
an investigation in January made here
by appraisal experts from the COM
missioner's Office.
The city assessor was given permiS-
sion to hire additional workers during
the next two and a half months to
| assist in completing the work of his
Office.
The Evergreen Mines company re-
ported to the city that it did not con-
template any changes in its mining
operations for the next few years. The
| city had asked for this information so
that it would know in advance any
changes that would necessitate NOV
ing water, sewer, and light lines.
Contracts were awarded for a new
police motorcycle, a new police car, and
for a quantity of pipe
A Harley-Davidson motorcycle was
purchased from the Jarvi Cycle COM
pany, Virginia, the only bidder, at a
cost of $522.
The Ely Motor Sales was the success
full bidder on the police car on a bid
OF $3.50 for Ford va, less $500 al
lowance on the present car, or a net
of $3.50. Total cost viii be sos, with
| the addition of SIS for a 100-horse.
Continued on Last paual