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295
<br />
<br />June 2~,~,
<br />
<br />property ia worth more than that from a Real Estate view point, If, however, w~ could pur-
<br />chase the Southern pure, of the property, it would make an admirable playground and it is
<br />probable that mll needs of the City could be satisfied so far as stormge, etc., is concern-
<br />ed by purchmsing additional land near the present incinerator.
<br />
<br />"Yours truly,
<br />
<br /> J. P. Jervey, City ~'Manager."
<br />
<br /> Thenthe City Manager made a verbal recommendation that the City do not purchase
<br />the property at the price named, $~,000.00.
<br /> On motion of Mr. White, the privilege of the floor was granted to Mr. J. V. Parker,
<br />who stated that the owners of the property could not and would not make another offer for the
<br />property.
<br /> Mr. Brooks moved that the recommendation of the City Manager be concurred in, and the
<br />motion was adopted by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes-- Brooks, Esleeck, Smith, Hall, Hutchins, White,
<br />
<br /> 2nd. Recommendation that a temporary hall be rented on a suitable location, at $150.00
<br />or more per month, in order th house the present library and ~,000 new volumes which have
<br />been offered to the City,
<br /> Alee in' this connection, communication stating that he has looked into possible lo-
<br />cations.for housi~$ the present lSbra~y and new volumes, and thinks the best place avail-
<br />able is the mssemoAy room in the ~w Building, the annual rental of which will be $1500. per
<br />year.
<br /> On motion, the communications were referred to the Finance Committee.
<br />
<br />TO THE HONORABDE CIT~ COUNCIL:
<br />
<br />"June 20, 1921.
<br />
<br />Portsmouth, Va.
<br />
<br /> Gentlemen:-
<br /> In addition t~ the items of paving mentioned in my letter of June 1st,
<br />the Council has been asked to give consideration to the ~ving of Green St. from High St.
<br />North St. and to the paving of Park Ave.
<br />
<br />1921,
<br /> to
<br />
<br /> The paving of Green St. will cost $19,3]'5 and is very advisable but in view
<br />of the fact that the work ~lready recommended to the Council together with certain items of
<br />equipment, which it will be necessary to purchase for the Police, Fire and Engineering de-
<br />pam~ments, together with mew buildings for the Fire Delm~rtment will approximate $~00,000 and
<br />wilt give us all the work which we can accomplish this year, I am of the opinion that the
<br />Paving of Green St. between High and North may be deferred until next year.
<br />
<br /> The paving of Psmk Ave. will cost $12,000. She totaA assessed valuation
<br />of property on this street is about $70,000, giving a re~_~n ~o the City in taxes of $15~5.~.
<br />If the school tax be de~cted from this, there r~l~s for other purposes only $875.00. The
<br />late~est and c~rying charges on the paving ~I1 ~ ~.00. I~ will therefore be seen that
<br />the available taxes will b~ely pay interest ~d c~r~ng ch~g~s on the pavia, leaving-no-
<br />thing for puliee protecti~, fire protection, g~bage collection, co, ts ~d overbid expenses.
<br />From a strictly fln~olal standpoint, therefore, the ~i~y can not afford to underYake this
<br />improvement at present..._
<br />
<br /> Park 'Ave. occupies the unusual position of having tax-paying property
<br />only on one side of ~ it and it does not form a through artery of traffic. Unless, there-
<br />fore, the property owners assist in~ the project, it seems to me there are other streets in
<br />Park View which~ have prior demands on the City, as the taxes paid bY the abutting owners on
<br />these other streets will more nearly pay the carrying expenses of the cost of the improve-
<br />ment. If the prop.erty owners on Park Ave. would assume half of the cost of the improve
<br />merit or consent to mn increase of $36,000 in the aseesement of their property, the City
<br />would he more jusitifed in undertaking the paving at present.
<br />
<br /> With reference to Gilmerten Ave., it does not seem to me that the curb-
<br />lng and guttering of this street cmn be undertaken this yea=. I will have it shaped up with
<br />the road machine and the surface drainage bettered as far as practicable.
<br />
<br /> I~ think it would be well to have It definitely understood that no further
<br />paving projects can be undertaken this year both on account of the impossibilfty of complet-
<br />ing more than we have scheduled a~d also on account of the inadvisability of borrowing more
<br />money just now at the existing rates of interest.
<br />
<br />"Yours truly,
<br />
<br />J. P. Jervey, City Manager."
<br />
<br /> Whereupon, Mr." Hall moved that the recommendations of the Man, get be co~curred in.
<br /> Mr. Esleeck moved to amend, that the report be considered with the other street improve-
<br />ment programs now before the Council. The amendment was adopted by the following vote:
<br />
<br />Ayes-- Brooks, Esleeck, ~mith, Huti~hins, ~hite, 5.
<br />Nays-- H~ll, 1.
<br />
<br /> Mr. White called attention to-the fact that the petition of the Va. Railway & Power
<br />.to the State Cgrporation Commiesiom to be allowed to increase its fare to ?~, will be heard
<br />before said Commission on June 2?th, 1921.
<br /> Mr.. Brooks. move~. . t~t. ~he. City Man.ager. be. instructed.. , to employ, addi~lo~a~ ....... pou~el,_ if
<br />
<br />
<br />
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