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Austin Water Dispute Heads to Court

Friday, July 28, 1905 special called

Legal Battle Over Street Lights: The city council met to address a lawsuit against the Water and Light Commission, specifically seeking to force the commission to turn on the "lower lights" (street lighting).

Emergency Bond Approved: Alderman Haynes introduced an ordinance allocating $150 to post a bond as security for the city's court case, which passed unanimously with all 12 present aldermen voting in favor.

Swift Action Taken: The ordinance was fast-tracked, read and passed on the same day under suspension of normal rules, indicating the council viewed the matter as urgent.

Full Transcript

393 Called Meeting of the City Council Austin, Texas, July 28, 1905 Hon. W. D. Shelley, Mayor presiding Roll Called Present Aldermen Armstrong Crooker Cuneo Haynes Moore Petri Powell Redd Shunnate Smith Von Rosenberg & Wilhelm 12 Absent Aldermen Maeksen O'Connor 2 The following Call of the Council was read Austin, Texas, July 28th 1905 A Special Meeting of the City Council is hereby called to meet in the Council Chamber at the City Hall, at 8.00 o’clock P.M., this 28th day of July 1905, for the purpose of taking such action as the Council may deem proper, looking to the making a bond in the case of the City vs the Water and Light Commission in the mandamus proceeding seeking to have the lower lights turned on W. D. Shelley Mayor E. H. Porcell Austin, Texas July 28th 1905 I hereby certify that I have served the above call by reading same to the following named Aldermen, Smith, Vorwieger, W. D. Redd, W. B. Cuneo, C. B. Powell L. W. Crooker, C. Von Rosenberg, Joe Maeksen, C. Armstrong, Henry Petri, E. J. Wilhelm, I. D. Shunnate, A. C. Haynes Tom Smith and J. B. Moore W. G. Worris City Marshal By Alderman Haynes an Ordinance appropriating the sum of $150.00 for the purpose of indemnifying and to be used for security as surety an injuction bond for the City in the case of the City of Austin vs Austin Water, Light & Power Commission et al The ordinance was read the first time and passed under suspension of the rules by the following vote Yeas Aldermen Armstrong Crooker Cuneo Haynes Moore Petri Powell Redd Shunnate Smith Vonrosenberg Wilhelm 12 Nays None On motion the Council adjourned J. D. Johnson City Clerk