The frontiersman., 1952-10-23
City to Reconsider Sewer Proposal at Special Election
RESIDENT REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY OWNERS TO VOTE ON PROPOSAL NOV. I8

ing in special session Tuesday night, adopted an ordinance pro- viding for a special city election Tuesday, November Is, to recon sider the sewer proposition that failed by three votes to win the necessary approval of 65 percent of the property owners in the October 2 general city election.
 The proposition called for ap- proval of an indebtedness up to $250,000 for the purpose of acquir- ing from the United States Gov ernment an extension to the sew craze collection system. The pro- posal provided for the issuance of general obligation bonds to cover the city's one-half share of the project cost. The bonds were to mature in no less than 20 years and were to be secured by a pedge of full faith and credit of the city and the levy of tax sufficient to pay interest and prin- cipal on the bonds when due.
 The proposed project is made possible through Congressional appropriations to Alaska Public Works, an agency of the federal government. APW would assume responsibility for construction of the project, advance all funds, and assume one-half of the total cost. The city's obligation for its one half share of the project cost would begin only when the pro-
 ject was completed and turned over to the city.
 In the last city election, 68 per-
 cent of the electors approved in-
 debtedness for the sewer system,
 but only 63.6 percent of the prop
 erty owners approved. For the
 proposition were 149 property
 owners; against 1t were 85. 1t
 was pointed out at the special
 Council meeting that judges in
 the last election, in the absence
 of an opinion to the contrary,
 ruled that the term property
 owner" applied only to owners
 of real property who were quail fled residents of the city. In a decision given Tuesday night, City Attorney Harold Butcher
 ruled that both real and personal property owners who are quail fled residents of the city should
 have been permitted to vote. He
 pointed out that the assessment roll includes both real and person. al property owners; both would
 be responsible for any tax inn posed by the Council to meet pay ments for the sewerage system. Attorney Butcher further stat ed that the city's assessment roll should be brought up to date as of 1852 so that property owners who have acquired their property , in the past two years may vote.
 Only property owners whose
 names appear on the assessment
 roll may vote, he added.
 Butcher told member of the
 Council that this may be the last
 opportunity the city of Palmer , will have to get the needed sew , CT extension at half price. He ', said that enabling legislation for , Alaska Public Works expires in , 1855 and the present political
 trend suggests that an extension
 of the time might not be granted. APW officials have informed the c Council that there may still be
 time to get the sewer project in Q their 1854 budget for presenta- Y tion to Congress in January. Or z iginally, APW had insisted on
 early October approval to get the
 project included in the budget for
 the next fiscal year.
 l. Butcher urged the Council to e consider favorable publicity for s the sewer system. Outlining the : history of the proposed sewer pro- - iect, he concluded that long :. range planning dictates that we - have to have the sewer extension. : The question is, he said: Shall we
 get it now when "the shoe pin Continued on page 10