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R-6 bond issue passes; Self re-elected to city council
BENTON, Mo. — The Sikeston R-6 School District will soon upgrade its facilities.
In a total vote of 1,714 to 1,213, Sikeston R-6 voters approved the $18.6-million bond proposal to construct a new Lee Hunter Elementary and a new “C” Building on the senior high school campus. Scott County votes were 1,470 “yes” votes and 966 “no” votes, and New Madrid County votes were 244 “yes” votes and 247 “no” votes.
With the voters’ approval, the district’s debt service levy will increase 42 cents — from 21 cents to 63 cents per hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property, and the tax impact to R-6 residents would be an 11 percent increase in the overall school tax levy.
However, with Tuesday’s approval, taxpayers will not see an increase in their tax levies until 2021. The R-6 Board of Education and administration agreed last month to defer the debt levy increase until 2021 due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the community.
Several members of the Better Schools Better Communities bond committee as well as bond supporters turned out at the Scott County Courthouse in Benton after the polls closed Tuesday to hear the results in person.
“I want to thank the Sikeston R-6 voters and all the volunteers who assisted in getting the story out,” said Katie Merideth, co-chair of the Better Schools Better Communities committee. “The community is moving forward and sees the value of the R-6 District to the future of its children and community.
She continued: “Improved safety, security, enhanced technology and expanded learning spaces are on the way. Over the past months, it has been difficult for everyone and their families, but the voters saw this long-term opportunity.”
Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Dr. Tony Robinson was also at the courthouse to hear the results firsthand.
“I am so thankful for the community members that supported this,” Robinson said after learning the issue passed. “I’m so thankful for our bond committee chairs, Katie Merideth and Cooper McKelvey, and our consultant Felecia Blanton, all of our administrators and teachers who went out and supported this and showed how much we needed this for our kids and our community. We are just so thankful, appreciative — and excited about this new space.”
Also, in the Sikeston R-6 School District, there were three candidates on the ballot and three positions available for the Board of Education: Chad Bles, 1,745 votes; Aaron Boyce, 1,857 votes; and Benjamin R. Alcorn, 1,822 votes.
In the City of Sikeston’s only contested race, voters chose the incumbent Brian Self over challenger Mallory Whiffen to fill the councilman at-large position. Self received 1,322 Scott County votes and 197 New Madrid County votes while Whiffen had 615 Scott County votes and 91 New Madrid County votes.
In the City of Miner, voters chose Frank Tatum, 81 votes, to serve as the mayor over Bill James, 56 votes; Peggy Holman, 49, votes; Justin Cashmer, 32 votes; and Don Foster, 31 votes.
James Buckley, 138 votes, won his bid to return as the Miner marshall/chief of police over Robyn Merideth, who netted 107 votes. In the race for Miner aldermen, Phillip Winters, 73 votes, won over Jimmy D. Thomas Jr., 48 votes in Ward 1 and Kay Johnson, 72 votes, over Billy Williams, 38 votes, in Ward 2.
In other school elections, Scott County R-4 “Kelly” voters chose Jeremy Wade, 347 votes; David Brashear, 333 votes; and Kellie Bridges, 238 votes, to fill its three, three-year terms on its Board of Education. Also receiving votes were Jennifer Candy Ward, 174 votes; Darrin Blunt, 160 votes; and Shane Washburn, 100 votes.
Oran R-3 voters approved a no-tax increase bond issue to borrow $1.85 million for the betterment of school facilities with 274 “yes” votes and 102 “no” votes.
Voters also chose Clare Urhahn, 276 votes, Vance Todt, 260 votes, and Stephen Peterson, 215 votes, to fill the three positions on the school board. Also running was Melody Bradley, who garnered 173 votes. Daniel Hahn was unopposed in his bid for the two-year term on the school board.
Ambulance and fire protection districts also had several items for voters to decide on Tuesday.
In a vote of 247 to 225 votes, voters in the Scott County Rural Fire Protection District rejected a proposal to borrow $2.7 million for the purchase of providing funds for the acquisition of land, site development, construction, equipping and furnishing of a new firehouse and to complete other remodeling and repairs at existing facilities and two acquire new equipment
Voters in the Oran Fire Protection District gave authorization to levy an additional tax of 25 cents on $100 assessed valuation to provide funds for the district with a vote 195 to 113. Running unopposed in a bid as the Oran Fire Projection District Board of Director was Tracy Mitchell, 267 votes.
Voters in the North Scott County Ambulance District approved a property tax relief in a vote of 930 “yes” votes to 323 “no” votes. Running unopposed were Dale Tenkhoff, 211 votes, as District 3 director and Jay Cassout, 136 votes, as District 6 director.
In the City of Morley, voters chose Brent Powell, 80 votes and Sammy Slipis, 45 votes, to fill the two seats as alderman at-large. Also receiving votes were Margaret L. “Peggy” Belcher, 19 votes and Lance Milam, 33 votes. Running unopposed in his bid for mayor of Morley was Doug Sikes,who received 90 votes.
Blodgett voters approved the mayor serving a four-year term with a vote of 41 to 14. Running unopposed on the ballot were David D. Russell, mayor, 53 votes; Lisa Haynes, alderman Ward 1, 31 votes; and William W. Montgomery, alderman Ward 2, 18 votes.
Voters in the City of Benton rejected a sales tax of 1% with a vote of 58 to 56. Running unopposed in the City of Benton were: Geri Hennemann, Ward 1 alderman, 41 votes; and David Gelsheimer, Ward 2 alderman, 57 votes.
Kevin Burchard, 30 votes, and Robert Verble, 29 votes, won the two seats on the Village of Vanduser Board of Trustees. Also receiving 24 votes was Myra Hargrove Lancaster.
In the City of Oran’s only contested race, Kevin Lee Williams, 25 votes, defeated Laurie Romas, 24 votes, in their race for the alderman position in Ward 4. Running unopposed in Oran were: Gary Senciboy, mayor, 176 votes; Marcia Roslen, collector, 180 votes; Ronald L. Diebold Sr., 25 votes; Gil Roslen, Ward 2 alderman, 70 votes; and Karen Diebold, Ward 3 alderman, 47 votes.
In Chaffee’s only contested race, Darla D. Buckhannon, 22 votes, defeated Doyle Wilson, 15 votes, for the Ward 3 councilperson position. Running unopposed were: Ronald E. Davis, Ward 1 councilperson, 21 votes; Ryan Dooley, Ward 2 councilperson; and Ronald Eichhorn, Ward 4 councilperson, 34 votes.
Receiving votes In the Village of Haywood City for the three Board of Trustees positions were: Sally Porter, 25 votes; Henry Early Stevens, 24 votes; and Johnny Avance, 22 votes.
Running unopposed for the two spots on the Village of Kelso Board of Trustees were Larry McClain, 41 votes; and Michael Landewee, 38 votes.
In the only contested race in Scott City, voters chose Cody Page, 50 votes, over Robert Foulk, 18 votes, for the Ward 4 city councilman position. Running opposed were: Norman Brant, mayor, 205 votes; Mike Rhymer, Ward 1 councilman, 74 votes; Heather Ingvalson, Ward 2, 34 votes; and Jack Howard II, Ward 3 councilman, 47 votes
In a vote of 165 to 81, voters in Scott City also approved a sales tax of one-fourth of one percent for the purpose of funding capital improvements.
These results, which were provided by Scott County Clerk Rita Milam’s office are unofficial.