Absentee voting opens for April election
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Nodaway County Clerk Beth Walker displays packs of absentee ballots for the April 7 municipal election, which are now available at Walker’s office in the County Administration Center. The final day absentee ballots can be mailed to voters is Wednesday, April 1. The deadline for voting absentee in person at the clerk’s office is 5 p.m. Monday, April 6.
County Clerk Beth Walker has announced that ballots are now available for those wishing to vote absentee in the Tuesday, April 7, municipal election.
The clerk’s office is located on the first floor of the Nodaway County Administration Center at 403 N. Market Street.
Anyone wishing to vote absentee due to illness or absence from the polls on Election Day may do one of the following:
• Submit a written ballot request by mail or fax that includes name, address, mailing address if different, signature, date of birth, and the last four digits of the voter’s social security number. The mailing address is 403 N. Market St., Maryville, Mo., 64468. The fax number is 660.582.5282.
• Call the clerk’s office at 660.582.2251 and request an absentee ballot application.
• Vote in person in the clerk’s office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday Voters must present valid identification, such as a voter registration card, driver’s license or utility bill.
The final day absentee ballots can be mailed to voters is Wednesday, April 1. The deadline for voting absentee in person at the clerk’s office is 5 p.m. Monday, April 6.
Anyone with questions about absentee voting can call Walker at 660.582.2251.
This year’s municipal elections include numerous races for township, school board and municipal offices, including a four-way race for two open seats on the Maryville City Council.
Maryville council candidates include incumbent Jerry Riggs along with Michael Baumli, Jason McDowell and Elizabeth Hawkins.
Baumli is a network and security administrator at Kawasaki Motors who has been a Maryville homeowner since 2003. A graduate of West Nodaway R-1 High School in Burlington Junction, he holds an associate degree in computer programming from Vatterott College in St. Joseph and has served on the advisory board for Vatterott’s computer science and networking technology program for more than 10 years.
Hawkins moved to Maryville from Montana 13 years ago and subsequently earned a master’s degree in business administration from Northwest Missouri State University. A financial services professional, she is a former president of the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and served as the chamber’s representative on the Nodaway County Economic Development board.
Her other civic activities have included involvement in the Northwest Missouri Home & Better Living Show, Maryville Marathon & Chamber Country Classic, and Downtown Sounds summer concert series.
McDowell is a 20-year Maryville resident and Northwest alumnus who for the past decade has taught science at Maryville Middle School and also served as assistant director of the ACES Alternative School.
Of the four candidates, Riggs is the only lifelong city resident. He is a partner in the local accounting firm of Marsh, Espey, & Riggs and prior to his appointment last year to complete the unexpired term of Glenn Jonagan served two elective terms on the council in the 1990s, which included two one-year stints as mayor.
Also on the ballot for Maryville voters is a proposed increase of the parks and recreation levy to 40-cents per $100 of assessed valuation, which would raise the existing levy by 10 cents. Revenue is to be used for acquiring, improving, operating and maintaining public parks and recreational facilities.
Voters countywide, excluding Maryville, will vote on whether or not to create a countywide library district, which would be funded with a 15-cent per $100 of assessed valuation levy earmarked for expanding library services and facilities.
In addition, three area school districts are seeking voter approval of bond issues.
Northeast Nodaway R-V is proposing to borrow $416,000 to be used for construction of a library expansion, classroom addition, meeting room and weight room. If approved, the district’s debt-service levy would remain unchanged at $0.7707 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
In West Nodaway R-I, voters are being asked to OK $1.2 million in bonds that would be used for a number of facility upgrades, including new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. If approved, the district’s debt-service levy would remain at 50 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Finally, Jefferson C-123 patrons are again being asked to vote on a proposed $1.5 million bond issue to be used for construction of a new gymnasium. If the measure passes, the district’s debt-service levy would increase from zero to 75 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
