The Wrangell sentinel., 1949-05-20
CITY COUNCIL
 SELLS TWO LOTS TO
 RECEIVER FOR MILL


 night, presided over by Mayor George Gunderson and attended by a group of local citizens, the Town of Wrangell gave quit claim deeds to lots 1 and ? in block "A and lot 13 in block 2 to Col. o. F. Ohlson, receiver for the Alaska Asiatic Lumber Mills for the sum oG $1O.
 Col 0hlson appeared before the Council and explained that the lots were included in the inven- tory of mill property recently bid on by the c. T. Takahashi Comp any and added that title to the lots had to be obtained by the re- ceiver to be turned over to the Takahashi Company before the purchase money for the mill would be turned over to the re- ceiyer for disbursement.
 Motion was made by Council man Peter Mccormack and carried unanimously to give the deeds to , Col Ohlson for the sum of $10.
 Councilman Mccormack, in thanking Mir Ohlson for his ex- planation of the situation, and clarifying the Councils stand, said that until now the only informa- ton was a lot of transformation along Front Street ..... ... no one had attended a Council meeting or even asked the clerk"
 At previous meeting, when Mccormack was acting Mayor, Councilman George Smith h asked the city to set a price on the lots in behalf of the receiver, but the Council felt that the 1,800 owed the City on the lots by the Alaska Asiatic Company would have to be paid or the lots Ieadvertised for bid. Councilman Mccormack said: There is an or dinance where the Council has to offer city property for bid"
 Mir Mccormack, in making his motion to sell the lots to the re- ceiYer for ten dollars, said that the Council was not trying to hin der purchase of the mill.
 After the vote on the motion Councilman Lennie Engstrom ask ed Col. ohlson if the City would get it's money owed for taxes on the mill, or any portion of it. Col. Ohlson stated that in many cases the courts have decided in favol -of cities in giving priority dainl in court sales.
 The meeting became litd 'heated" when John Coulter, al pairing as a member of ( i,izea committee, asked what's a few taxes compared with getting the mill started?' and stated that the committee of citizens was there to expedite matters. Councilman Engstrom took exception to Coul- ter's remark by retorting that there has been nothing previous ly to expedite"
 Mayor Gunderson brought upI the matter of the exchange of deeds between Sam Cunningham, the City and the Alaska Asiatic Company. MT. Cunningham had turned over piece of property adjacent to the mill and owned by him to the Alaska Asiatic Comp any in exchange for a lot across the street owned by the city. City Clerk Robert Wickman explained that all that was necessary was for Cunningham and the receiver to exchange deeds. The city had already given it's deed. Col. Ohlson is remaining in Wrangell an extra day to get the matter strengthened out.
 Col Ohlson requested that the town write to the Takahashi Com pany welcoming them to Wran- gell, if they have not already done so. Mayor Gunderson said that a letter would be sent immediately Col. 0hlson said further that the Takahashi Company was long es- tablished and very reliable and he felt, personally, that they would operate the mill.
 MT. Coulter asked Col. Ohlson if everything was now cleared for the mill as far as the City was concerned. Col. ohlson replied that it was.
 The Council went over the or dinance for the two per cent city sales tax, voted for by the town last Monday, and after three read -ings and minor changes, passed the ordinance which is similar to the one now in force in Sitka. Copies of the ordinance are to be printed and distributed before June 1.
 A discussion was held on keep ing the streets clear of bicycles, cars, and pedestrians during a fire alarm after a near accident last Monday night when a youngster fell off his bicycle in the path of a fire truck.
 The Council decided to hold an- other meeting next Thursday night to take up the matter of regulat-