HomeMy WebLinkAboutCounty Board of Supervisors - Minutes - 4/26/1921Special Session,April 26,1921
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A special session was held by the County board of Bayfield County,Wis. at the
Cour.thouse,in the Circuit Court Room,on Tuesday,April-26th,1921,pursuant to the follo-
fi
wing aall:`-
To J. Yderstad,County Clerk of Bayfield County,`,Wisconsin,
Dear Sir: -
We,the undersigned members of the County Board of Bayfield County,
Wisconsin,hereby request that a special meeting of said County Board be held at the Cott
rt House in the City of Washburn,Wis.,on Tuesday the 26th day of April,A.D. 1921,at
ten o'clock in the forenoon,for the purpose of organizing the Board for the coming
year,and to transact such other business that may legally come before :tke said board
at such meeting. Signed, Harold Stark, -'kris. Iverson,H.Lamont,Wm. Potwin,
W.h.Bradfield,Andrew Mihalak,Otto Regelein,Peter Johnson,Geo A,Curry,Peter Soronen,
Geo Frbney,Luke J.- Lavin,John Taipale,H.Nourse.,Jas ,`.Good,Alois Habelt,Roy H. Okerstrom,
L.D.Pease,B.R.Tetzner,*{+m. Malm,01e Handberg,Donald C.Bell,G.G.Boutin,Peter Kjarwick,
Henry Wachsmuth,O.M.Axness,G.V.Posey,Geo. Karow,Vlm. Ewing,A.G.Johnson,17m. Arntson,
A.M.Warden,and H.H.Peavey.
The RIm County Clerk,upon receiving such request,thereupon duly mailed to
each member the following notice:-
Bayfield County Wisconsin,Office of County Clerk,`47ashburn,:`isconsin,Apri1 14,1921.
.bear Sir: -
The undersigned having been petitioned to call a meeting of the County
Board,you are hereby notified that a meeting of the County Board of Supervisors will be AL
held at the office of the County Clerk,at the Court House on Tuesday,April 26th,1921,
at 1o.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
Fours truly,
J.Yderstad,
County Clerk.
The meeting was called to order by O,M.Axness,Chairman.
Roll call,showing the following members present: -
Harvey Nourse,Otto Regelein,L.D.Pease,
Peter '_FQarwick,H.M.Juel9Geo. Karow,19m. Ewing,Peter Soronen,F.H.Bartlett, Geo. A. Curry,
W.L.Bradfield, A.G.Johnson,Chris Iverson,gym. Malm,Peter Johnson,Geo. Froney,John Taipalq
Andrew Mihalak,Roy H. Okerstrom,Alois Habelt.,Hector Lamont,Luke J. Lavin,E.R.Tetzner,
Henry Wachsmuth,G.G. Bout, in, D.C. Bell, H.H.Peavey, A.M.Warden, Wm. Arntsen,Ole Handberg,G.':V
Posey,ift. Potwin and O.M.Axness.. Absent,Jas '+V.,Good and Harold Stark.
Reading of the Minutes of the previous meeting was on mmtion,dispensed with
and said minutes were duly approved.
The first 4iatter taken up was a contest entered by Mr. Geo. Barnes, of the
Town.of Bn.rnes, contesting the election of L. D. Pease. The records read by the
Clerk showed, lst., that the certificate of election signed by John D. Kennedy, Town
Clerk, was filed in the County Clerk's office on April 8, showing the L. V. Pease was
duly elected Chairman; tally sheet was also filed the same day and signed by Geo. S.
Barnes, as one of the inspectors. of the. el ection showing that 7bx. L. D. cease, had the
majority of the votes.
On this date April 26, the County Clerk, received a statement in a registered
letter signed by John Kennedy, as Town Clerk, stating as follows:
I
BAYFIELD COUNTY )
�Ss
Town of Barnes
I. John Kennedy, Clerk of the Town of Barnes, do hereby make this amended
certificate as to the election of the Chairman of said town elected at the annual
meeting held on the 5th day of April, 1921, to -wit: The whole number of votes
cast at said meeting for the office of chairman was 73,,of which L. D. Pease re-
ceived 38 votes and Geo. S. Barnes received 35 votes. Of the votes counted for
said L. D. Pease,five were illegal; therefore, said Geo. S. Barnes received a
majority of two of the legal votes -at said election; that said George Si. Barnes
has duly qualified as Chairman, is recognized by me and the supervisors as Chair-
man, and is now acting and discharging the duties of Chairman.
Dated this 25th day of April, 1921.
John Kennedy.
Town Clerk.
To
J. YdeTstad,
County Clerk.
On motion of Donald C. Bell, and duly seconded, L. D. .'"ease, tias declared
the duly elected Chairman add duly recognized as such by this Board, and declared
seated. The motion was carried unanimously. It -was moved and seconded, that thee.
Board dispense with the reading of the minutes.of the last board meeting. Motion
carried.
Moved and seconded, that the Board proceed to elect a Chairman for the
next ensuing year. Motion carried. Moved and seconded, that an informal ballot
be taken. Carried; The Chairman appointed as tellers: Roy'Okerstrom,'and
George Karow. The result of the first informal ballot was as follows: 0.
Axness, received i4 votes; D. C. Bell, received 11 votes, and H. H. Peavy, re-
ceived 4 votes; . 1A. Warden, 3 votes R. 171, Smith,. received. 1 vote. On motion
of Ii. H. Peavy, aanother informal ballot was ordered. Before vote was taken, 3r.
Peavy made a statement vd thdrawing from the contest, urging the election of Mr.
0. II, Axness. A M. Warden, made a similar statement, The result of the second
informal ballot was as follows: 0. M. Axness, received 20 votes, and D. C. Bell,
12 votes; not voting,,one. On motion of D. Bell, duly seconded., the informal
ballot was made formal, and 0. T.ff. Axness, was duly declared elected as Chairman
of County Board for coming year.
Moved, and seconded, that the Board proceed to elect a Vice -Chairman.
Motion carried. Result of the first ballot was. as follows: A. H. Warden, re-
ceived C votes; H. H. Peavy, ;received 6 votes; D. C. Bell, received 18 votes;
George Curry received 1 vote; George Karow, .received 1 vote; not voting, one.
It was moved -and seconded; that the informal ballot be declared formal and that
D. Bell, be duly elected Vice -Chairman, of the County Board for the coming
year. Motion carried.
Moved and seconded, that the Board proceed to elect a County Clerk for
the unexpired term, because of the failure of Nels I.T. Oscar, to qualify as
Count;- Clerk. Mittion carried. The _Following resolution was upon proper motion
and duly seconded, adopted.
WEEREAS, at a meeting of the County Board held on the first day of March,
1921, the County Board elected Jacob I derstad, Count-v Clerk of Bayfield .county, and
WHEREAS, at the time of said election, Jacob Yderstad had been Chairman of
the Town of Lincoln, and that the time for which he had been elected had not yet
expired, and
�NTHEREAS, the elect.ion of said Yderstad was illegal, and that his appointment
thereto is illegal, pursuant to Section 960 of Wisconsin Statutes, which -provides:
"No member of any County Board shall, during the term for which he is elected be
appointed or elected to any office, the election or appointment to, which is vested
in'such County Board, and
"1111I.REAS, Jacob Yderstad, is merely a de facto clerk without legal authority
to actin that capacity,
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the office of the County Clerk is vacant, and
that the Board proceed to the election of a Clerk to fill such vacancy.
Peter Kjarvick.
Result of the election of County Clerk; Jacob Yderstad received 17 votes,
and R. W. Smith received 16 votes. It was moved and seconded, that the informal
ballot be made formal and that Jacob Yderstad be declared duly elected County Clerk
of Bayfield County, for the term ending first Monday in January, 1923. Motion
carried.
It was moved and seconded, that the Board proceed to name an o-,.ficial news-
paper. Talotio'n carried. Result of the first informal ballot, Iron River Pioneer --
received 3 votes; the Washburn hews --received 8 votes; -Washburn Times --received
10 votes; Bayfield County `z'ress received 8votes; Bayfield Progress --received 3 votes
No choice.
Moved, and secoftd6.4, zthAt the compensation for printing the official proceed-
ings of this Board by set at '�.60 per folio, roll call. Result of the vote was as
follows: Aye; Regelein, Pease, Bartlett, Froney, .111ihalak, Okerstrom, Habelt, Lamont,
Wachsmuth, Boutin, Bell, Peavey, Posey, and Potvin. Total, 14,.Tvbtes, Nay: Nourse,
Kjarwick, Juel, Karow, Ewing, Soronen, Curry, Bradfield, Johnson, A. G. Iverson,
Malm, Johnson.-P. Taipale, Lavin, Tetzner, Warden, Arntson, 11andbery, and AXness.
Total,19 votes. Motion declared lost. Moved, and s econded, that the compensation
be set at fifty cents per folio, for printing the official proceedings.. Motion
carried. Moved andwecDnded, that the Board proceed to elect an official newspaper
by a formal ballot. Motion carried. The result of the first formal ballot was as,
follows: Washburn News --received 15 votes; Washburn Times --received 11 votes;
Bayfield County Press received 6 votes; Bayfield Progress --received 1 vote. No
choice. D. C. Bell announced that the Bayfield County Press withdrew from the
contest.
The result of the second formal ballot was as follows: Washburn News re-
ceived 18 votes; Washburn Times received 14 votes; not'voting, one., The Washburn
News having received the majority of the votes was thereupon duly declared the
official newspaper for the coming year.
The following report from the special Committee appointed to investigate
the "Port ding-Orienta_Douglas County road, reported as follows:
REPORT
To the County Board of
Bdyfield Counter, Wisconsin.
Gentlemen:
We the undersigned appointed committee to inspect that portion of the
proposed secondary system known as the '`ort Wing and Orienta Road to connect with
the Douglas County Highway wish to report as follows:
Having inspected said road on the 22nd day of April, 1921, we find begin-
ning at the. Iron River Road in the village of Port Wing running Test One and three -
fourths miles, the road well turnpiked and drained and in first class condition,
The next One mile running South on the fi`own line of Port ding and Orienta the grade
and drainage is also in first class shape. The next.three miles running west,
through the town of Orienta also well graded and drained. The next one-half mile
running South in the same d.ondition. The last three and one-fourth miles running
Vest to the Douglas County line as follows: About one-fourth mile we find a steel
bridge crossing the :Iron River, length 120 feet covered with planked floor, said
Floor being in good condition. The other two bridges on said road are built of
cedar, one is about 45 feet in length and the other 66 feet in length and are in
fairly good condition and will carry the traffic for a few years. This road -has
been graded and well opened up and will make a good road with a little upkeep.
We find the total mine and one-half miles is almost level -d.th the ex-
ception at the bridges mentioned, there, some improvement could be made as to grade.
Therefore, this committee recommends that said highway be placed on the
County Secondary System for this reason. It passes through a fine agricultural
district being mostly developed and settled. This road will also connect with the
Douglas County Highway system, and will make a valuable extension to Route Number
13 of the State Highway System to the city of Superior and Dulut;I,�.
Signed:
Pat. Galligan.
//
H. Jario.n Juel.
,
The County Clerk thereupon read to the Board
a statement of
the financial
conditions as follows:
Washburn, Wisconsin
April 26, 1921
Gentlemen of the Bayf.ield County Board:
I desire to -call your attention to the financial Status of the County
as it appears to date with a view of having you consider and devising a possible
way out --how to finance the business during the summer. There was turned into the
County Treasurer in delinquent taxes this Spring, the following amount:
Real Estate Taxes
Personal 1roperty Taxes
$103,866.77
5,924.82
Total $109,791.59
Up -to April 21, there was collected of said tax by the
County Treasurer 8,931.82
Total $100,859.77
I am unable to say at this time how much more will be collected before
the tax -sale, but it is safe to say that we�will probably have about 590,000.00
worth of certificates to be sold at the coming sale in June. The question is, will
the County have to bid in tthie majority of these tax certificates, I wish you to
M-6
consider, that at the present_ time the interest on these certificates has been fixed
by the Board at 10%. Theme is a provision whereby the Board can fix the rate at
15%. With the interes't at 10%, no speculator will invest his money in buying the
certificates with the money market as ,it is at present, and even in normal times, there
is no inducement for anyone to invest in same at the rate of 10%.
I am interested in seeing that we can realize some money out of the sale,
and the• question I like to have you consider is, will we realize more cash out of the
sale, by selling at 15 o interest, than at 10 % interest, If you -think we' will; then
it would be well f.or the County Board to pass a resolution at this meeting, setting
the rate of interest at 15°.
follows:
The finances as figured on the 21st of April, 1921, are approximately as
Delinquent taxes for 1920 uncollected
101,859.77
Tax Certificates on hand, approximately, 34,000.00
Total,taxes uncollected $134,859.77
Cash on hand and in Banks $114,816.16
Of that amount must be deducted the amount
due the State for the Iron River Project which must
be paid in during next month. 57,000.00
Cash available 57,816.16
That amount is dwindling every day as the collection does not come up to
the exbenditures and I -venture to say that in the Fall, we will have to.resort to
borrowing money unless we can realize on the tax sale. The question is then, can
the banks spare .the money?
The Sanatorium alone will take about $25,00.00 of the budget before the
year is up. As you see, we will have ample funds, if we can realize on our taxes
and I therefore ask you to consider carefully the question: will we be_able to realize
more at the annual sale by setting the rate at 15% or not;
I hope you all realize, that to appropriate and levy taxes is one thing,
and to collect and finance the budget is the hardest.
Respectfully yours,
Jacob Yderstad,
County Clerk.
A
At 12 o'clock noon,,, the Board ,duly adjourned until 1:30 P. M.
At'1:30 P. M. the Board met pursuant to adjournment. Roll call showing all
members present, except J. W. Good of Ilamakagon. The following resolution was duly
presented and read.
RESOLVED by the County Board of Ba,yfield County that the rate of interest
to be paid on certificates on sale of lands sold for taxes be 15 per cent per annum.
George Froney.
Opinion from the District Attorney was asked for touching upon the. legality
of this resolution. The District Attorney rendering an oral opinion, held that the
County Board had no right at this special meeting to set the.v..e of interest on
Tax -Certificate, and could only adopt such rate at its annual or adjourned annual
meeting. Their resolution_ was laid on the table by mutual consent.
The following recommendation from the County Fair Committee was read
and duly accepted acid resolution following said -recommendation was on proper motion
and duly seconded adopted. The roll -call showing that all members.voted aye.
RE 0Tfi 0-10AT IONS
of County Fair Committee
Gentlemen of the County Board:
Your committee on County Fair:; beg leave to submit a supplementary report:
In our annual report which we submitted at the Fall Meeting of the County Board, we
reported that a new Barn -for the housing of pure bred Stock was something needed
very much; now, we wish at this time to further emphasize the importance -of a new
Barn, as the Barn room at the Fair Grounds last year was not anywhere near adequate
for the needs of pure bred stock on exhibition, which was owned in Bayfield County
alone.
�'e have also throughly investigated the general expenses of the Fair, and
we find that the Fair cannot be run successfully with less than One Thousand Dollars
of an appropriation from the County Board. Therefore, -vie s trongly recommend that
this Board appropriate at this time, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for a new
barn, and one thousand dollars for paying 200 of the premiums and the general -run-
ning expenses of the Fair; which, together with the five hundred dollars v:ich the
Fair Association now has on hand, we'believe will be sufficient for this year.
Respectfully submitted, this 26th day of April, 1921.
E. F. Daniels
L. J. Lavin
Geo. Karow
Geo. Froney
RE S .,LU T ION
BE IT RESOLVED, by. the County Board of Supervisors of Bayfield County, that
there be appropriated, and there is hereby appropriated the sum of Two Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars for County Fair purposes and the clerk and treasurer of said
County is hereby directed to execute a County Order in the above amount, payable
to the "Treasurer of the Bayf ield. County Fair Association; the said money to be
used to build a new Barn and equip the Fair Grounds with Electric Lights.
One Thousand Dollars to be used for paying Premiums and General Expenses.
Dated this 26th day of April A. D. 1921.
A. G. Johnson.
The following resolution was presented and was on proper motion laid on the
table.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF BAYFIELD COUNTY ASSEMBLED ON THIS
26th dad- of April, 1921:
�'Vhereas, the potato acreage is steadily growing in our county and knowing that
we need to encourage the planting and selecting of better seed, and to advertise
the qualty and grade of our crop, and whereas, it is necessary to continue the ex-
perimental work which has been conducted annually at the Fair Grounds at Iron River,
BE IT RFSO AT7,D, that the members of the County Board appropriate the sum of
t?undred and Fifty dollars to take a County exhibit of potatoes to the State potato
shoe at Milwaukee this fall, and to pay the expenses of conducting the experimental
work at the County Fair Grounds during 1921.
Signed
LUKE J . LAST IN
�sv
It was moved and seconded, that the resolution just laid on the table be
adopted by substituting the amount -of $150, instead of` 350 M-otion carried,
The following resolution to abolish the second Municipal Court at Iron River,
Wisconsin, was on motion adopted unanimously.
V.MREAS, it has become necessary that taxation has become so burdensome
that our expenses must be reduced, and that roads, bridges, and the levies for high-
way purposes, and the opening of new highways for the newcomer, is already burdensome,
that it will be necessary to dispense with some of the,offices that are no more a
source of revenue to the county, and that a beginning was made by the recommendation
of the abolishment of the Third Municipal Court at Bayfield, and as appears from
reports that since the nation and state are made dry by the 18th amendment to the
Constitution, that the Second Municipal Court at Iron River, Iffiseonsin, has become
a source of expense rather than an aid in the.administration of justice,
BE IT RESOLVED, by the County Board of Bayfield County, in special session
assembled, that it be and hereby is the sense of this body that the sari.e be abolished,
as wa.s done with the Third Municipal Court at Bayfield; that a copy of this resolution
be sent to each, the member of Assembly, and our state senator at Madison, `:Wisconsin,
as the opinion of this county board.
Geo. Ka -row
A. Mi Warden.
The following resolution to urchase certain files for the C1exk of the
Circuit Court was adopted. All members voting "Aye".
V1IM�REAS, the vault in the office of -the Clerk of Circuit Court of Bayfild
County, is in need of more equipment as to filing cases and under the present con-
ditions, the papers and files in said office cannot be properly filed and cared for
without more and better filing facilities.
TIEREPORT, be it resolved by the County Board of Supervisors, now in
session that F. A — Bell, Clerk of said Court, together with the committee on Buildings
and Grounds, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to contract for and purch
such quipment and filing cases as may be deemed necessar.,y and suitable to eglip said
vault and office.. Provided however, that such filing cases and.equipment shall not
cost to exceed the sum of $2,000, and that the contract for said equipment shall pro -
,vide that payment be not made until after an appropriation can be made therefore
at the next annual meeting of the County Board of said Bayfield County.
H.-H.-Peary
Supervisor.
The following report from the County Clerk, in relation.to the County Agent
read as follows:
1,77ashburn, Wisconsin
April 26, 1921
Gentlemen of the County Board:
I desire to call your attention to the fact that there will be a shortage
in the County Agent Fund, according to budget made -last Fall. The budget amounts
to �3,500, and has been spent up to date, the sum of 2,774.17. Counting the salary
and other ;expenses to be paid, the end of this month will show the amount of $3, 000
expenses. T,hat arffount has been expended for the last six months since '14ovember 1, 1926.11
and a verages at the rate of $500 a month. In that item I have included expenses for
printing the annual report $302.50, and for cost of cuts allowed at the last meeting
$352,--total $652.50.
I am asking you for instructions, if we are to continue issuing orders it
will be necessary to ov•,rdraw that part of the -budget, in my estimation, _about §l,500.
1J
Yours very truly,
J. Yderstad.
County Clerk.
It zraas moved, and seconded, that the report be placed on file, and that the
Clerk be authorized to transfer from any funds available to the .sum of $1, 500, to
cover the deficiency.
The report from the County Clerk in relation to the Pure `_ir Sanitorium,
was on motion laid on the table.. Loved ands econded, that it bethe sense of this
Board that the County Clerk be instructed to report any illegal or over -charges,
which in his opinion, should be called attent-Jon to. ,Motion carried.
The Following resolution was on proper motion, duly seconded, laid on the
table.
To the County Board of Supervisors,
Bayfield County, ,Wisconsi.n
SEAS., it appears that the present janitor of the County Court House,
had the misfortune to lose his daughter by.death, she, at the time,, living at
Iffittenberg, Wisconsin, and
WHITEREAS, due to this death, 'Mr. %lfred Marsh has served the county in the
capacity as janitor for a number of years very faithfully, and has.put in much over-
time when required, and'has kept the building exceptionally clean and trim,
SiT RFFOPLE be it resolved, that the Count; of Bayfield, compensate Mr.
Alfred marsh for the substitution aforesaid, and that the County Clerk be authorized
and directed to issue an order to him for said amount, namely, "T46.1.5.
Dated, April 26, 1921.
Ole Handberg,
Following resolution was on motion adopted:
RES01V-ED, by the -County Board of Ba; field County assemble.d at a meeting
thereof this 26t' day. or April., ,1921, that the sheriff of Bayfield coyinty shall
hereafter be paid fo:,.:transporting prisoners and other persons committed to the
charitable, reformatory, penal and hospitable institutions of this state, in lieu
of all other compensation provided by law, ,the actual expenses of such conveyance for
himself, such other person or persons, jnd when necessary, - ah assistant or assisstants
together with it;20, and that such expenses and said fee of 20, for each trip, shall
be in full compensation for,sucn expenses and services. All provisions of the re-
solution of _ this board adopted January 20, 1920, in conflict with the provisions of
this resolution are hereby repealed,
Ole Hand erg.
rs
The following resolution was introduced:
RESOLVED by the County Board of Bayfield County assembled this 26th day of April,
1921, that a sum be appropriated for the erection of a monument for our soldiers and
sailors.
H. H. Peavey
Supervisor
On motion, the Chairman was authorized to appoint a committee of three for the
purpose of recommending action.on said resolution'at the next annual meeting.
The following resolution was on motion referred to a committee of three members
to be-apponted by the Chairman, said committee to investigate the premises and report
their findings to the next annual meeting.
RESOLVED. That a committe of this Board be appointed to meet with the Ashland
County Road Committe to discuss and hake plans for the adoptiop, as .a joint inter -
Bounty highway, a connecting road between Ashland and Bayfield counties, said high-
way containing that portion of the road in Bayfield county which commences at the
Northwest corner of Sec. 6-45-5 and running in an easterly direction a distance of
six miles to the Ashland County Line.
Dated this 26th .day of April, 1921.
Chris Iverson.
The following report.from the Road and Bridge committee was thereupon read by
the Chairman, George �\. Curry, and on motion, placed on file.
To the County Board of Bayfield County:
We the under --signed road and bridge committee, and highway commissioner, submit
the following report at this time, mainly for the reason, that a large number of the
members of this board have just been elected,'and we take it, are somewhat interested
in our road program for 1921. Those who have been members of this board are familiar
with the road program,.because it was presented to, and debated on, and voted upon,
and adopted by this -board at last annual meeting. The older members of this board
must excuse us under the circumstances for repeating some things which have been men-
tioned before.
To begin with, in the first paragraph of our annual r eport last f all we s tated
as follows: In our recommendations for highway improvements for 1921, you will notice
6
we mention rather a large program, however, it does not cover half of the. necessary
road improvements in Bayfield County. `:•-e have tried to make our program cover as far
as possible the most urgent improvements so far as prospective Rands are concerned.
If the progra;:1, as, outlined, is adopted by the County Board, it may mean a deficit
in the funds at the close of the season.
Now without mentioning each:, improvement in d etail, our road program for 1921
covers as follows: two Federal Aid jobs under control of State Hhway Department
entirely and money for same is provided by Federal, State, and County, each one
third,, making a total available on one job $171,000, and the other job, )66,000.
Now as already mentioned those jobs are entirely under the control of the State Depart-
ment. They locate the improvement, estimate the co-st, make all surveys, and spec-
ifications, advertise for bids, accept or reject bids, and inspect the work. However,
every step made in connection with federal work must be approved by the Federal
Engineers. The State Department consults with the County Department in an informal
468
manner as to placing and carrying out federal wrk. About the only thing actually
for the County to do, is to provide, and deposit with the State Treasurer one-
third of the estimated cost.
Next, we have That is called and known as State Aid work, and the money for
State's share of cost of this is taken out of the automobile license fund.
Bayfield County's share of State aid for 1921 is $5171. One half of this
amount must be expended upon the State Trunk System and one half -on the County
System of highways. - In each case the. -County must provide at least an equal amount
of money. In 1921-we have the improvements on State Trunk System placed on cer-
tain bridges and on County system placed on ereconstruction and sand -surfacing.
Improvements are specified and money is expended by the County Department subject
to the approval of State Engineers. Next we have the improvements which are made
by the County alone. They are arrived at and determined as follows: at our annual
meeting of the County Board the Road and Bridge Committee recommend and County
Board vote upon and make certain appropriations of money for different improvements,
and in 1921 we have appropriations for twenty-six different improvements of roads
and bridges, also appropriations for machinery, guard rails, freight and mis-
cellaneous, maintenance of county system, and for administration,
When all of these items are -added together and deducting amount due as State
Aid, there must be raised by the County in round figures „�65,000; and to meet this
amount we have the'two mill tax levy, which amounts to $55,900.37. If this pro-
gram is carried out estimated deficit $10,000.
You will notice that we have,not mentioned any emount.as available from
"Incom.e Tax" which for the last few years has been rather a large item, and by
resolution of this board goes to.the highway fund;
When we made our recommendations and the County Board voted the appropriations
for highways at last annual meeting, it was estimated that Income Taxes for 1921
would in all probability be sufficient to cover the balance as shown by the above
figures. However, oui- County Clerk informs us that according to the information
he has received, the income taxes for the present year will be a very small item.
Therefore, it is very plain that the probable deficit is entirely due to the un-
expected slump in receipts by the County in income taxes. Our object -in mentioning
this at this time, is to place all information in our possession before this board.
As previously. mentioned, we called attention of County Board {to a possible deficit}
before the board adopted this program. We are again calling the attention of this
board to make alterations if they wis, to do so.
This road program is not our program alone, but it is the program of Bayfield
County as voted upon, and adopted by this County Board., It must be distinctly
understood that should there be a deficit next fall (as there probably will be)
this County Board as a whole is PA_ ible and that amount will have to be met
with -next year's resources. If this County Board is not willing and ready.to do
that, then the only thing we know ofis to reduce our program for the year, and
those improvements dropped this year to be -out on next year.
We have a large part of the program carried out as follows: hauling sand on
clay roads in seven different jobs covering about 16 miles of road, Rip Rap at
Long Bridge, and built Onion River Bridge all duripgtth.e m nter. April 6, we con-
tracted for 700 cubic yards of fine crushed rock for stone road in Town of Barksdale
at a cost of >2.50 per,yard and freight will amount to about a $1.00 a yard.
ess5.ry-
April 15 we opened bids and let contracts for building bridges as follows:
r
South Fork Fish Creek -.Bridge Town of Keystone $5250.00, culvert between Eileen
and Kelly on. S. T. H. -#24- at $25.00 pex cubic yard of concrete, Terwilliger Bridge
Town of Barksdale $2250.00,'Siskwit Bridge in Town of Bell, �14600.00, host Creek
Bridge in the -.Town of Bell, $1, 500.00,' Culverts near Cornieopia, ti 28.00 perc oftbie
yard.
Yle have purchased for the County, one Five Ton Holt Caterpillar Tractor at a
cost of 4,325.00, and a White Truck on which we traded in an old Twin City Truck
at $1,750, paying balance of �2,921.70. We have bought small tools such as plows,
slush scrapers and hand tools, and our repairs on machinery is a large item. We
co - sidered the purchase of tractor and Truck as absolutely necessary and on this
account our machinery fund is way overdrawn.
Iffe rind the building of guard rails, painting and putting up signs aInd markets
to be quite an expensive item and totals more than expected. When our appropriations
are made at the annual meeting and a sum of money named for a •lertain purpose, there
is no definite information to go by and the amounts guessed at, and it is not humanely
possible to always guess right.
The big $171,000 Federal project No. 121, was advertised and bids opened in
October 1920; all bids appearing very high and having a cost plus basis. The low
bid being
$176,000 vd
th
surfacing
at cost plus 10%.
All bids
were rejected. Certain
reductions
in yardage
to
be moved
were made and on
February 15,
1921, bic:ts were again
opened and again all bids were rejected. The low bid was $124,00, with surfacing
extra at <„2.00 per yard. Engineers again made certain changes and on April 5, 1921
bids were once more opened, and contract let at 93,108.21, with surfacing at *1.75
per cubic yard. We have not the actual amount of yardage that was to be reduced, but
from what information we have it is quite plain that a saving of $25,000 was made
by rejecting other bids. Contractors are on the ground building camps and getting
started on their contract.
The $66,000, Federal Project will not be advertised for some time as the plans
and -specifications are being worked out int.the Division Zngineer.'s Office.
In regard to the patrol maintenance of the State Trunk Highway system, the
money for. this also comes out of the automobile license money. The State IIighway
Department outlines the plan to be followed, and holds the County responsible for
carrying out the plans. The County pays the bills as they become due. Patrolmen
are under direct supervis-ion of the County Highway Commissioner. When work is
approved by the Division Engineers, the State refunds the money up to the amount
available according to the number of automobile license issued. If the expense is
greater than this amount, the County must stand the dif"ierence.
There is another'point in regard to money available which we might mention.
We are informed by the County Treasurer that the delinquent tax roll turned in to
the County by the various towns amounts to ovex $100,000. A.number of towns turned
in practically no cash, but have appropriations for road improvements inv arious
amounts and when work is done must be paid in cash. For instance, take the Town of
Bell, which turned in a delinquent tax -roll of 8,259.38, and the towntlof Bell has
road improvements in 1921 of two bridges, two culverts on S. T. H. number 13, and
a reconstruction job on County System which in all amounts to about $11,000. It
appears that here is a p7roblem for the finance committee to scratch their heads over.
�R We would like to cal 1 the attention of the various members of this County
Board, to a more or less common habit of the members in regard to continually
complaining to us about this bad place in the road, or that bad .hill, or that
awful piece of clay road, eta. etc._ It seems to us, that a number of the members
df this Board believe we are able to fix this or that if they only kick hard enough
about it, .regardless of what it may cost or whether there is any money available
or not. We wish all would bear in mind that the very first thing needed in order
to get a bad piece of road improved, is to ge.t an appropriation voted on by the
County Board for that particular purpose. Another thing we might mention is the
more or, less common belies' among members that w. have some authority over the
placing'of additional mileage on the County System of highways, We wish to inform
all members that there is a set of established rules and regulations which have
been adopted by this Board and must be followed in those cases. Any member inter-
ested in adding additional mileage to the County System will save time and trouble
by informing himself as to those rules. 4're believe the County Clerk will be
glad to furnish interested members with a copy of those rules when requested to do
so.
:e hope the question of continuing our road program as adopted at last annual
meeting of the County Board, as to making reductions in the program by carrying
over to next year some of the improvemd:.nts, will, receive some consideration at
this time, in order that we may clearly understand the wishes of the County Board
in this matter.
Respectfully submitted: Bated this 26th day of April, 1921
Geo. A. Curry
George Vester
C ( Vrr. , Smith
Road and Bridge Committee
John Friberg
Highway Commissioner
It was moved and seconded that the County Treasurer be authorized, until
further notice, to assign all tax certificates now on hand at face, without interest
and that the former :resolution passed at the previous meeting calling for 10%
interest, is hereby rescinded . ". o:L1? call. All members present, voting Aye.
Motion carried.
Moved and seconded that the Chairman appoint five members on the Finance
and Budget Committee. Motion carried,
Moved and seconded that the County Clerk be given 200 extra for clerk hire.
Motion carried.
Loved and seconded that the Road and R:L+� Committee, proceed vA th the
program as outlined and determined at thei* last annual meeting.
Motion carried. This action was taken by virtue of an oral statement made by
Chairman Curry to the effect that if the program was carried out as outlined,
there would likely by a shortage in the Road Fund. The following per diem
and mileage was upon motion duly allowed.
C&XXXXXNe XXKXXpt gQUW U7c3C�'7ia C Y�CX�Xx K x�FXr3CX3�tx
RYi r of .• f'i,�. 1`r,P _�f� r, ,fii T,f? 1`�k'PPr:
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RESOLVED, THAT THE, F OLLU'VIITG A1, OUNTS Br , .A.-I�TD Thy SA':T, ARE HEREBY allowed to the
members of the Board of Supervisors as per diem, mileage and committee work, and the
County Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay the. said members, and the Clerk and
-the Chairman of this Board are hereby directed to issue a County Order to the County
Treasurer for the total amount of same as indicated below:
Name
per diem
mileage
Comm. 'Work
Mileage
Total
harvey Bourse
4'00
1.44
5.44
Otto Regelein
_4.00
1.44
5.44
L. D. Pease
12.00
7.20
19.20
Peter. Kjarwick
4.00
.72
4.72
H. M. Juel
12.00
3.84
8.00
3.18
27.02
Geo. K_arow
12.00
6.08
4;00
22,08
WM. Ewing
12,00
6.08
18.08
Peter Soronen
12.00
4.32
16.32
F. H. Bartlett
12.00
4.32
16.32
Geo. A. Curry
12.00
2.04
14.04
W. L. Bradfield
12.00
5.64
17.64
A. G. Johnson
12.00
4.80
16.80
Christ Iverson
12.00
2.88
14.88
lUm. Malm
12.00
1,68
13.68
Peter Jol.nson
12.00
3.60
15.60
0. 11. Axness
12.00
2.76
1.05
15.81
Geo. Froney
12.00
9.72
4
25�72
John Taipola
12.00
6.48
18 7
Andre , klib.alek
12.,,0
I'm
13.80
Roy Gkerstrom
12.00
9:;24
21.24
Alois Habelt
12.00
3.72
15.72
Ha Lamont
12,00.
2.04
14.04
L. J. Lavin
12.00
5.64..
4.00
21.64
E. Tetzner
4.00
.48
4a48
H. Wachsmuth
4.00
1.44
5.44
G. G. Boutin
4.00
1.44
5.`L4
Harold Stark
4.00
1'.44
5.44
D. C. Bell
4.00
1.44
8.00
3.36
17.80
H. H. Peavey
4.00
.12
4.12
A. M. Virarden
4.00
..12
4.12
'Wm. Arntsen
4.00
.12
8.00
12.12
Ole Handberg
4.00
.12
4.12
Geo. Posey
4.00
.12
4.12
Wm.. Potvin
4.00
.1-2
4.12
Pat. Galligan
8.00
4.20
12.20
Total 457.23
It, was moved and seconded that the Board adjourn, subject to the notification
of the Road and Bridge Committee for the purpose of taking a trip over the State and
County System of Roads.
Motion carried and Board duly adjourned.
Attest: 0. MI. Axness,
Chairman.
a
Signed: J. Yderstad,
County Clerk.