Allen County voters overwhelmingly rejected Tuesday a proposed $9.95 million bond issue to renovate the Allen County Courthouse. Of 2,510 advance and election ballots counted, 1,897, or 76%, were against the measure.
Such huge margins represent a stinging defeat for the plan’s proponents, which included District Judge Dan Creitz and Allen County Sheriff Bryan Murphy, who attempted to convince voters the renovations were needed to improve security at the courthouse. Reached Wednesday morning, Creitz offered a sobering assessment.
“I respect the vote. I’m disappointed, of course. But the people spoke, and I respect that. We’ll regroup and maybe come up with another plan,” said Creitz. “In the meantime, we’ll continue to serve. The problems this bond issue attempted to fix won’t go away. But we’ll do the best we can with what we have. We always do.”
Tuesday’s election had a turnout rate of 29%, higher than Neosho County’s 22% and Anderson County’s 23%. Results are not yet official; 22 provisional ballots still need to be examined, and mail-in ballots postmarked on Election Day and received by Friday, Nov. 10 are valid. County commissioners will certify results at next week’s meeting.
THE OTHER bond issue on the ballot, a $5.95 million bond issue to improve facilities at Crest USD 479 passed comfortably. By a vote of 257-197, voters approved plans to renovate the school building, add new classrooms and an auxiliary gymnasium and reconfigure the school’s entrance.
“On behalf of the board, we’re excited to improve our facilities for students and the communities we serve,” Crest superintendent Shane Walter told the Register Wednesday. “We’re ready to move forward. The work begins, but the transparency will continue.”
Walter said the district plans to break ground on the project this summer. They estimate a year-round construction process, with plans to wrap things up by the summer of 2025.
IN THE race for three seats on Allen Community College’s board of trustees, Gena Clounch, Vicki Curry, and Corey Schinstock look to have emerged victorious. Curry received 1,925 votes, Clounch finished second with 1,781 votes, and Schinstock had 1,231. Humboldt’s Alana Cloutier got 986 votes, and write-in candidates had 226 votes. Former Allen instructor Roger Campbell ran a write-in campaign.
In Iola city council races, Jon Wells handily won a Ward 1 race where his opponent, Paul Porter, had endorsed him. Max Grundy was unopposed in Ward 2. In Ward 3, incumbent Kim Peterson edged out challenger Georgia Masterson by a 84-70 margin. And in Ward 4, incumbent Joelle Shallah beat out Darcus Kottwitz by 107 votes to 79.
Moran’s city council race remains too close to call. Five candidates ran for two seats. As of Wednesday morning, Jim Mueller leads with 52 votes, but just a single vote separates Darcy Burton and Lee Roberts, with 41 and 40 votes respectively. Rachel Blevins received 29 votes; 13 ballots were for Joe Stotler.
LaHarpe voters opted to keep their city council as is, reelecting incumbents Austin Lee and Danny Ware. Votes for mayor, however, struck a different tune. Incumbent Mae Crowell received 39 votes; write-in candidates had 37.
Iola and Humboldt’s mayors remain unchanged; Steve French and Nobby Davis ran unopposed.
In Humboldt’s crowded USD 258 Board of Education race, featuring 10 candidates vying for four seats, incumbents Josh Wrestler, Sandra Whitaker, and Drake Tilman retained their seats. Incumbent Tony Works will be replaced by newcomer Andrea Newman.
CHANUTE voters approved by a 2-to-1 margin to continue funding the Chanute Regional Planning Authority (CRDA) with a quarter-cent sales tax. Money from the tax is split between economic development and renovations to city-owned buildings. The sales tax generates approximately $500,000 annually.
“The CRDA and its board of directors are thrilled that the citizens of Chanute voted in such an overwhelming way for the renewal of the sales tax,” CRBA Board President Ken Lickteig told the Register.
