|
INSIDE
Write-ins
flame out in parks election
by
Meg Olson
In a curious
turn of events, the only race for a parks board position that
had two candidates on the ballot was also the only one that had
a single active candidate. Linda Hughes won with 161 votes while
Doug Ritchey, who dropped out of the race too late to get his
name off the ballot, received 76.
Irene Waters
and Bev Griffiths were unopposed on the ballot for their positions
but faced a vigorous campaign from write-in candidates Pam Oakley
and B.J. Kish. Both incumbents got strong voter support, Waters
beating Oakley 204 to 91 and Griffiths beating Kish 202 to 52.
The parks
department operating levy also got strong voter support, with
almost 70 percent of those casting ballots approving the $35,000
levy, which will cost property owners 14.5 cents per thousand
dollars of assessed valuation. In addition to keeping the community
center, ball field, summer and seniors programs running, this
levy includes funds to add another day of senior center activities,
in collaboration with county parks and the council on aging.
Waters said
the program would start as soon as a contract could be drafted
between the three agencies. “I don’t think it would be a problem
for it to start in January,” she said, despite the new tax dollars
not becoming available until April. She added the success of the
extra day would be evaluated at the end of 2004. “It’s up to the
seniors to get their people on board and make this happen,” she
said, citing a financial concern with people coming for lunch
and not paying to join the senior center, or even omitting to
make a donation for lunch.
The parks
department started looking at how to spend their money in 2004
at a meeting described as a “working session.” The November 20
budget meeting at Waters home was scheduled at the November 5
regular meeting of the board, but was not further announced to
the public, which under the state open meetings act means the
board can take no action at the meeting. The act defines “action”
as discussion, deliberation, review, or final vote.
BACK
TO TOP
|
