Jefferson bond passes on seventh try
By JIM FALL Executive Editor
Jefferson C-123 School District Superintendent Tim Jermain got to go home Tuesday evening with good news for those in favor of Proposition A. After seven times on the ballot, the $1.5 million general obligation bond that will finance the construction of a new gymnasium passed by five votes, with 216 for and 153 against the issue.
After nervously counting the votes on the Proposition A, Jefferson C-123 School District Superintendent Tim Jermain finally got the “yes” he was looking for about 8 p.m. Tuesday.
The $1.5 million general obligation bond to finance a new gymnasium was on the ballot for the seventh time.
With this year’s voter turnout of 369, the issue needed 211 votes for the necessary 4/7 super majority. It passed by five votes, 216 for, 153 against.
Historically, this wasn’t even close to the highest number of votes, but there were enough “yes” votes to earn more than the required 57.1 percent.
Jefferson Township had 178 votes for the bond issue and 128 opposed to it.
In the Washington Township precinct, seven votes were cast in favor of the bond issue, and five against. Grant Township precinct had four votes for and five against.
The absentee ballots had 27 votes in favor, 15, opposed.
“I had no way to know how it would turn out,” Jermain said.
Three years ago was the next closest election, when there were 401 votes. The issue lost by two.
“We had lots of help this time,” said Jermain. “It was a group effort of a lot of people who were passionate about the issue.”
Jermain said he wasn’t sure what finally got the votes this year, but he said the informational meeting that took place at the school in mid-March might have helped.
“It was one of the best community meetings we’ve had in the last three or four times this issue has been on the ballot,” he said.
The meeting, according to Jermain, gave opponents the opportunity to share their opinions and concerns about building a new gym. This year’s meeting was the first time those against the bond had attended.
In addition, Jermain said having young people move into the community within the past couple of years also could have influenced the turnout.
“Now we’ll be in the planning stage,” he said.
Moving forward, Jermain said, will give him practice planning and overseeing his first major building project as a superintendent.
Although the projected construction time for the gymnasium is approximately 10 months, Jermain said he doesn’t anticipate opening the doors to the facility any earlier than the end of the 2016-2017 academic year.
