|
As he had demonstrated with the creation of the police bill and the levee
board legislation, FJD once again displayed the special skills he had in writing bills. He capably put forth legislation
that not only confronted an immediate need head-on, but established an independent board of commissioners who could
carry out efficiently the initiatives that he suggested. The original handwritten draft of Act 114 remains in the
FJD papers and, in the first paragraph established a nine-member Drainage Commission for the city. With the power
"to issue and dispose of its negotiable bonds," the Commission would be responsible for providing the
"means and funds" for proper drainage and for taking charge of the existing drainage system. Like Howe,
FJD well understood that the work of the Drainage Commission and that of the Levee Board would intersect, and he
made it clear that the two boards of commissioners must cooperate in their endeavors. To reinforce that cooperation
and to strengthen the power of the commissioners, both boards were granted authority to continue the levy of the
tax of one mill on the dollar until the construction of the levee and drainage systems of the city had been completed.
The creation of the Drainage Commission was the first major step in organizing the city's sewerage and drainage
problems. In 1899, however, the creation of the more effective Sewerage and Water Board replaced the Drainage Commission.
The new managerial structure could deal with the related problems of securing proper sewerage and dispensing healthy
drinking water.
In November, 1898, President of the City Council and chairman of the Council's Finance Committee, A. Brittin, called
a very important session in the mayor's parlor with the mayor, the city attorney and his assistant, and several
key members of the City Council, including FJD, in attendance. The hot topic of the day was financing a public
city sewerage system. Brittin suggested that a proposal be drawn up and submitted to the taxpayers to vote whether
or not they would subscribe to a special tax (not to exceed two and a half mills) to cover the cost of necessary
construction of the sewerage and drainage for the city. His arguments received a sound hearing. According to a
long article in the November 18, 1898 TIMES-- DEMOCRAT, FJD and several others were to "draw up an ordinance
calling for an election in the near future which would give the people an opportunity to vote on the two and one-half
mill tax for sewerage and drainage."
|