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Local News

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Voters topple McComb proposal

Hanco EMS
By JOY BROWN

Staff Writer

McCOMB — Voters again defeated McComb School District's bond issue that would have paid for renovations and additions to the McComb building in order to relocate Hoytville students there.

Unofficial results from Tuesday's primary showed 537 voting for the issue and 797 against.

In Hancock County, 507 (47 percent) voted for it and 551 (52 percent) against. In Wood County, only 28 (10 percent) voted for it while 246 (90 percent) voted against. Two Putnam County voters were in favor.

The proposal attracted more negative votes this time around. The overall margin of defeat was 687-534 last November, when Hancock County voters favored the bond issue, but not by enough to offset nay votes in Wood County.

The 5.7-mill bond issue would have raised $6.2 million over 28 years to pay for the improvements.

The project would have included the addition of 11 or 12 classrooms, a new science lab, middle school gymnasium, a bus and maintenance garage, and a new air-conditioned community room.

And it would have allowed enough room for the middle school, currently housed in the Hoytville school building in Wood County, to be moved to the expanded McComb building.

Classroom use of the Hoytville building eventually would have been phased out.

Superintendent Michael Lamb said Tuesday night he wasn't surprised at the outcome since the district faced organized opposition in Hoytville.

"Citizens for Better Financial Planning," led by Hoytville Mayor Joe Hagemyer, was well planned and well funded, with plenty of yard signs and a Web site in order to save the school building they love, Lamb said.

"I've got to compliment the opposition," Lamb said.

Lamb said Hagemyer and others ran an excellent campaign, "even if it meant cutting our expenses, our staff, our teachers and so on."

Relocating all students to the McComb building would have saved the district an estimated $200,000 a year in operating and transportation costs.

Lamb said that money must now be saved in other ways. While he's confident the school board will now abandon the bond issue idea, he's not willing to recommend that it go for an additional operating levy.

"I think that would be an even tougher sell because operation expenses go for things like salaries and programming, whereas a bond issue is a bricks and mortar project that people can see the results of," he said.

The district also won't be getting any money from the state soon to renovate or build.

The bond issue failure means cuts are now a certainty, beginning with next school year. Lamb said school board members will most likely look at administrative overhead and transportation costs first, then staffing, programming, supplies and other areas.

"The voters have said they want to keep the Hoytville building over there, so we'll keep it and continue on," Lamb said. "Attrition will be the first step, not replacing folks as they retire. That's a little less painful.

"We'll survive and we'll carry on. This'll just make it a bit more difficult," Lamb said.

Contact staff writer Joy Brown at:

(419) 427-8496

Send an e-mail to Joy Brown
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News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.