The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1943-07-22
Revision of Charter
is Sought by Council
Governing Regulations Are
Unchanged Since Their
Adoption In 1917.

AuiClOluCnLS W IIlC City
charter will be drawn up by
the council and presented to
the charter commission for its
consideration, it developed at
Tuesday nights meeting of the
city governing body.
After the meeting Mayor
John Kapsch said that he
would call an informal session
of the council within a short
time to consider amendments
to suggest to the commission.
Alderman Joseph Koschak pro-
posed that the charter be brought
up to date, and said that the amend
ments be submitted to the voters for
approval at the next city election.
A new charter commission was ap-
pointed by the judges OF the eleventh
judicial district nearly three years
ago, and since then three OF its
members have resigned and two have
left the city.
The present members are John Por-
than, M. ]. Murphy, E. w. Hanson,
Peter Schaefer, Louis Champa, j. A.
Rothman, J. j. CAN, Mike Somero,
A. j. Slabodnik and Matt Vertin. John
Rikhus, Stanley Adkins and Olof
Knutson have submitted designations,
and Dr. John Thompson and DR.. o. w.
Parker have left the city.
The commissions tenure in office
expires on Oct. 80, 1914.
The city has operated under its
charter, without amendment or
change, since it went into effect in
April, 1917.
In a report to the council, Paul Buc-
cowich, Jr., superintendent Of the wa
ter and light plant, declared that the
city would have to enlarge the capacity
of the water system in order to meet
present and future demands upon 1t,
but no action was taken.
Buccowich pointed out that although
during the past 10 years the water
department has not increased the
capacity of its equipment, the water
pumped into town has increased 40
per cent"
He "recommended that the city set
I'D some control over sprinkling OF
lawns and gardens so as to have an
adequate supply Of water for fire pro-
lection.
las a postwar project, because OF
an ever increasing demand for water,
the city will have to replace the 400
gallon-per-nlinute pump at the Burnt
side pumping station, install another
100000 gallon-per-day filter at the
water plant, for which provisions are
made, and larger capacity high head
pump for fire protection. With the
above improvements, We viii be able
to meet all demands at all times to
come"
Later during the meeting the council
formally approved Y cent rate for
up to 1900 cubic feet of water per
month for July and August for
sprinkling purposes.
A check-off system was authorized
for the collection of dues from city
employe-members OF the Ely local,
State, County, and Municipal WORKERS
of America, CIO.
The city clerk was authorized 70
write the state highway department
requesting that it install concrete
walks along the state highway between
18th and 18th avenues east. This &C
ton was taken at the request OF Al
derman Koschak, who said the walks
would eliminate a hazard TO pedes-
TRANS.
In a letter to the council, the state
highway department said the city
could control drainage and entrances
to property bordering this section OF
the state highway, but members OF the
council questioned their right Co any
action involving state-owned land.
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