It’s a ‘No’
Submitted by Casscounty2 on
Atlanta votes no, only 5% participate
By Robin Aaron
Managing Editor
With local option beer and wine sales on the ballot in both Atlanta and Queen city, as well as multiple races for city council and school board seats, you would think that voter booths would have been busy.
Less than 5 percent of voters turned up in Atlanta and only 8.8 percent in Queen City however, to the disbelief of those watching the polls.
Atlanta and Queen City voters both said no to beer and wine sales inside their city limits. Those measures failed by slim margins however.
Only 15 votes kept the local option from passing in Queen City and just 45 votes in Atlanta.
All voting results are unofficial pending their canvassing later this month.
Atlanta
Local option beer and wine sales did not pass. The vote spread was 289 votes against and 244 votes for the measure.
Atlanta had three single-member district places that expire this year. These are now held by Arlie Kyzer in place 2, James Roy O’Kelley, place 3 and Dean McDuff, place 4.
McDuff, the only contested incumbent was challenged by Chad Clements for the place 4 seat. McDuff beat out Clements 118 to 105 votes as the unofficial winner in that race.
Bloomburg
A bond election did pass in Bloomburg according to the yet unofficial results.
School officials were hoping the third time would be the charm and they got their wish.
In 2010 voters rejected a $4.4 million proposal sale. In 2009, they rejected a $5 million package. Stroman said their intention this year bring a proposal to voters that would cover their needs without committing the district to a larger debt.
On May 9 voters in the district’s boundaries cast their ballots and authorized up to $800,000 in schoolhouse bonds.
According to the district, funds raised through the selling of the bonds will be used for “construction, renovation, acquisition and equipment of school facilities in the district and the purchase of technology.”
More than half of the funds, or about $450,000, are earmarked for upgrading the district’s transportation fleet. District Superintendent
Brian Stroman said they would like to purchase four new buses for the fleet, as well as two Chevrolet Suburbans for student transportation.
Each new bus will run about $90,000. Stroman said before the May 9 election day that it makes more sense to use bonds to buy what is needed now, rather than take $90,000 out of instructional funds every year for the next four years.
The district also plans to purchase 50 HD security cameras to place around the campus. Other plans include upgrading the student computer labs and the district’s wireless network.
Stroman said they also have plans to build a multipurpose tennis court. In addition to providing a place where tennis can be played, the courts will also be equipped with four basketball goals for peewee or elementary-age student use. Currently the district does not have a tennis court, forcing team members to travel to Atlanta for practice. There is also money set aside for repaving the parking lot and remodeling the gymnasium.
According to an election order issued by the school district, the estimated total tax rate of the district is expected to be approximately $1.28 per $100 of taxable assessed value with the bond’s passing.
Linden
Ruth Halleck and Mike Berry have unofficially won the Linden City Council race. Both will serve a two-year term as alderman on the Linden City Council.
Berry will be returning to city council after a two-year absence. This will be Halleck’s first time to serve on city council after three attempts.
Voters had seven candidates to choose from. Those were Sammy J. Bailey, Josh Lane, James O. Milligan, Bob Swisher and Gary Hays.
Mayor Clarence Burn ran for a third term uncontested in his race.
Voter turnout was also low in Linden with just over 13 percent voter participation. There are 1,425 registered voters in Linden of those it appears lease than 200 elected to vote in this race.
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