Sixth time’s a charm for bond issue

Independence voters finally came to a consensus to build a new junior/senior high school for the district by passing a $12.48 million 20-year bond issue Tuesday.

It was the district's sixth attempt in recent years to obtain the necessary funding, and the issue needed 60 percent approval to pass. It ended up passing 69 percent to 31 percent - 2,441 “yes” votes and 1,081 “no.”

The bonds will be repaid through property taxes. Homeowners will pay $120.42 toward the debt for every $100,000 of assessed value, while commercial owners will pay $405 per $150,000. Agricultural land will be taxed at $2.05 per acre.

The total cost of the new school is $27.5 million, with the rest of the funding coming from $9 million in local-option sales tax proceeds and $6 million in gifts, grants and donations

• Clear Creek Amana: With 56 percent and 47 percent of the vote respectively, Terry Davis and Bob Broghammer won the two open seats in Clear Creek Amana's sole contested at-large district.

Candidate Lisa Jiras was the only one left out, with 40 percent, while unopposed candidates Rick Hergert and Steve Swenka were re-elected.

Davis and Broghammer had said they would work on issues relating to the district's fast-growing enrollment rate - one of the highest in Iowa.

• Marion Independent: A similar situation occurred in the Marion Independent district, where William O'Brien was the only one of five candidates who did not gain a seat. Incumbents Dan Barkley and Dennis Trout each won re-election and will be joined by newcomers Shelly Pearson and David Law.

Most of the candidates had expressed concern for the timely completion of Vernon Middle School as well as the district's future facility concerns.