Two months after it was originally scheduled to go before voters, Eldon R-1 School District residents overwhelmingly chose to pass the district's no-tax-increase ballot measure Tuesday.
In unofficial results, voters in Miller and Morgan counties passed the measure in a vote of 1,048 (80 percent) for the measure and 268 (20 percent) opposed.
The district's administration was optimistic coming into Tuesday, said Superintendent Matt Davis.
Administrators had prepared for the April election, but quickly changed its focus to keeping children and staff safe as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, he said. But, for the past couple of weeks, staff had geared up for another push to get the bond measure passed.
"We are just so excited for our kids and our community right now," Davis said. "We are really appreciative of the support. I believe we are all moving in the same direction, toward the right vision of just making a great place where people want to live, work and play."
The measure will allow the district to borrow $2.5 million to construct, equip and furnish additional classrooms at the middle school; replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; renovate the middle school band room; install new playground equipment; construct, equip and furnish an animal laboratory at the high school; complete other repairs and improvements to existing facilities; and issue bonds to pay for it all.
Passage of the bond measure is not expected to affect the district's adjusted debt-service levy.
Improvements allow the district to change the building populations to 500 students at South Elementary School, 425 at Upper Elementary School, 425 at Eldon Middle School and 560 at Eldon High School.
Driven possibly by the opening of the new Quaker Windows plant, the Eldon community seems to be growing more rapidly than it has for some time, Davis said.
"Historically, we've had less than five building permits (per year) for the city of Eldon," Davis said. "At this point, we've had 10. That's just inside the city limits. That's nice growth."
Eldon school board, mayor
Beside a school bond issue, voters also had to choose three board members for the Eldon R-1 School District.
Michael J. Holland led candidates with 944 (32 percent) votes. He was followed by Jerome (Jerry) W. Kaibel II, with 780 (26 percent), Victor Erik Krantz with 683 (23 percent), and Adam Toalson with 572 (19 percent) in unofficial results. There were six write-in votes cast.
Eldon had three candidates who vied to be mayor, replacing Larry Henderson.
Trevor Vernon, with 367 votes (53.3 percent), will serve a four-year term.
Bob Toalson with 232 votes (33.7 percent) came in second, followed by Gene Bauer at 87 votes (12.6 percent), in unofficial results. There were three write-in ballots cast.
Other Miller County results
Among Miller County races that didn't involve Eldon, five people sought three seats in the Miller County R-3 (Tuscumbia) School District. There were 413 votes cast in the district. The top vote-getters will serve three-year terms.
Steven W. Wilson received 104 votes (25.2 percent), Nathaniel Boggs received 98 votes (23.7 percent) and Darin Blankenship received 87 votes (21.1 percent). All results are unofficial.
Derek Burks received 74 votes (17.9 percent) and Jana Ash received 49 votes (11.9 percent). There was one write-in ballot.
Gerard J. Harms Jr., ran unopposed for a seat on the Miller County Ambulance District Board He received 184 votes (98.9 percent), and there were two write-in ballots.
Rodney Perry, with 176 votes (62.4 percent); Darryn Roberston, with 104 votes (36.9 percent); and and a write-in candidate will serve three-year positions on the Village of Tuscumbia Board. Two write-in ballots were cast; however, the write-in candidates' names were not listed on the list of Miller County's unofficial results.
Residents of Olean were asked if the village should forgo elections if the number of candidates were equal to the number of open positions. They voted unanimously (5-0) to do so.