Council Proceedings

[OFFICIAL. [ COUNCIL CHAMBEK, J Aun Arbor, J-aly 17, 1893. i Regular session. Called to order by Fresident Watts. Roll called. Quorum present. Absent- Aid. Wagner. Herz, OMara, Taylor- i. The journal of the last session was approved. FETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS. T the Common Councïl of the City of Ann Arbor: Gentlemen: I would respectfully ask leave of your Honorable Body to erect a bain on lot number 10, blo'ck 3 north, range 4 east. Said lot is on North Fourth avenue, between Catherine and Beakes streets. M. J. Martin. Dated July 10, 1893. Beferred to Fire Department Committee. A petition sigued by John Young and other residents and property holders of the city of Ann Arbor, asking that a sidewalk be ordered built on the east and west sides of Mary street, from Packard to Edwin streets. Referred to Sidewalk Committee. KBPOKTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. 7'o the. Common Coundl: Your Committee, to whom was referred your resolution directing an investigation of the water supply for the city as affecting domestic consumption, beg leave to report that on the 7th day of July your Committee visited the Water Company's pumping station and reservoir, and found that while the supply of water frorn the Company's wells seemed fairly ampie and of gbod quality for domestic use, the pumping machinery was out of repair, and at the time not of sufflcient strength to supply the city. We also found the Company to be practically out of a supply of fuel for pumping purposes. The wells, or supply seemed to your Committee to be on the decline and not as strong as one year ago, and j'our Committee were strongly impressed with the opinión that other wells or larger wells would have to be construeted in the near future, or a supply from some other sources be obtained, or the Company would have to discontinue the supply of water for mechanical purposes. Your Committee next directed their attention to the river at the point of the Company"s connections, and found the water wholly unfit for domestic purposes. It is but fair to the Company to state, in this connection, that the Company make a strong denial of making use of the river for any purpose. Your Committee also visited the reservoir and catch basins, and found a condition which we can only desígnate as a disgrace both to the Company and its managers. These catch basins and the reservoir can be said 10 be mud-holes only. No person having a decent regard for his health wouk think of staying near their stinking influences, much less drinking from these seeming impurities. What wil' remedy this unwholesome condition your Committee is at a loss in a meas ure to suggest. Your Committee feel that the managers of the Water Company ought te be severely censured, in these particu lars1. lst. For permitting the fuel supplj to become exhausted. 2nd. For their negligeace in prosecuting the repairs to the pumping machinery. 3rd. For selling water in large quantities, at this season of the year, for mechanical puiposes (motors, fans, and elevators), to the injury of their private consuméis and to the detriment of the flre protection of the city, endangering the property of all the people. 4tli. For their repeated faüure and ref usal to draw off the water pipes and reservoir when ordered by the Common Council, thereby assuring cleanliness where now is lilth, andconstantly exposing and jeopardizing the health of all the people. oth. For being almost crimiually negligent in protecting the water and dllowing it several times during the past year to become contaminated with íetroleum, forming a nasty combina,ion that our citizens were obliged to use for several days at a time. Your Cominittee would recommend bat the Water Company be required to draw off and entirely clean the reservoir, catch basins, and pipes; that he reservoir and catch basins be thoroughly and newly paved with cement, and made water tight; that such pavement be extended over the bottom, as well as the sides; that a roof be contructed over the basins and reservoir, o that the water shall at all times be haded from the sun's rays; and that he Company be required to proceed vithout delay to construct one or more arge wells, say 30 feet in diameter, bO to 70 feet deep, from which your Committee feel assured that an ampie upply of pure water will be obtained. Your Cominittee further recommend ;hat a special committee of five members of this Council, with the President as chairman, be appointed, and nstructed to confer and negotiate vith the Water Company relative to hese suggestions; and unless the suggestions herein made be accepted, or ther suitable solution or problem unlertaken by the Water Company forthvith, then such special committee do onsider the advisability of the city's nirchasing the Water Company's )lant, if it can be had at a reasonable um, and if not, then the propriety of he city's undertaking to build and onstruct a system of water works for re protection and domestic use, on its wn account, or of granting a franhise for that purpose to some other esponsible company, or such other method as the said special committee hall deern most advisable tor a more ffleient supply for flre protection, and vater possessed of greater purity for omestic purposes. All of which is respectfully submited. A. P. Fekguson, Christian Maktin, C. H. Manly, Water Committee. Aid. Prettyman moved that the reort be and the same is hereby aproved and confirmed. Adopted by unanimous vote. A!d. FerguBon asked for a report of the Sidewalk Corainittee oncrosswalk referred to thetn at the junction of Fonrth Ave., ajjd Detroit street. Aid. Martin rnwed tliat Sidewalk Comrnittee be allowed furtlier time to report. Adopted. MOTIONS AND UBSOIUTIONS. By AU). Schairer. Resolved, That the Board öf Public Works be requested to submit to this Couucil an estímate oí the cost of trading and fillinii in Mary street i'rom Paekard to Edwin streets, alsoto submit a proper grade for said street, at the next regular council meeting. Adopted. By Alderrnan Ferguson: Whereas. The water pipes are believed to be in such condition as to render them not of the best of use for üre protection, Therefore resolved, That the Ann Arbor Water Co. is hereby ordered to blow off and clean all the mains in the city, wnder the supervisión of the Chief of the Fire Department, within ten days from this date. Adopted. Aid. Prettyman moved that a committee of four citizens be appointed by the chair to act in conjunction with a special committee of the Council on Ann Arbor's water supply. Adopted. President Watts appointed the following committee: Aid 's Ferguson, Martin, Manly, Prettyman, Col. H. S. Dean, George AV. Bullis, John Heinzman and Robert Shannon. Aid. Manly moved that a warrant of $5.00 be ordered drawn in favor of Mrs. Ann Evans, as aid for the month of June. Adopted as follows: Yeas- Ald's. Schairer, Martin. Snow, Ferguson, Manly, Prettyman, Kitson, President "Watts- 8. Nays - Xone. On motion the Council adjourned. City Clerk.