History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

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one each year; term, two years; salary, $2 per meeting for not more
than twenty-six meetings.
City attorney: Appointed by the council; term, one year; salary,
$Ioo per year and reasonable pay in the judgment of the council for
the conduct of actual cases in court, or other extraordinary services.
City marshal: Appointed by the council; term, one year; salary,
$450.
City treasurer: Appointed by the council; term, one year; salary, $50.
Official paper: Designated by the council; term, one year; salary,
the fees allowed by the statutes of the state for legal printing.
Night watchman: Appointed by the council; term, one year; salary,
$700.
Chief of the fire department: Appointed by the council; term, one
year; salary, $50; two assistants to chief, $25 salary each.
Health officer, or city physician: Appointed by the council; term,
one year; salary, $50 and pay for extraordinary services.
Driver to hose cart: Appointed by the council; term, one year;
salary, $500.
Driver to hook and ladder truck: Appointed by the council; term,
one year; salary, $400.
The council have the power to remove for cause any appointive
officer.
(Third) Schools-The city and school district include the same territory. The school board have charge of the schools. Its members are
chosen at an annual meeting of the electors held on the first Monday
in September of each year. Woman may vote at school elections. The
school board is composed of five members; term of office, three years,
and same are elected each year.
(Fourth) Assessment and Review-The city has a supervisor in
each of the five wards and they are the assessing officers. The city
collects city, state and county taxes at the same time. The board of
review is composed of the supervisors of the city, but the city clerk
is made clerk of the meetings of this board. The limit of the city's
taxation is three-quarters of one per cent and a permitted indebtedness
of $3,000 outside of bonded indebtedness; and that is regulated by the
statutes of Michigan. The taxes are collected by the ward treasurer
of each ward, who holds his office (elective) for one year. The compensation of ward treasurer is the same as township treasurer, the fees
allowed being fixed by statute.
(Fifth) Public Improvements-The city has waterworks, owned and
controlled by the municipality through a.board of water commissioners
composed of four members, the mayor being an ex-officio member. Said
four members are appointed by the council, the term of office of one
member expiring each year.
The city streets are lighted by the arc system of electricity, the plant
being owned by a private company. Light is furnished under a threeyear contract which expires in October of the present year (1894).
Street improvements are assessed in the first instance to the city at
large. The city keeps the streets in repair. Under the statutes of the
state it is discretionary with the city to either pay for private property