Voters give go-ahead
By JANE NORDBERG, DMG WriterHOUGHTON — In addition to school board elections, voters decided some key proposals in local districts and municipalities in Tuesday’s elections.
A Hancock Public Schools proposal for $8,820,000 to include the addition of a middle school building onto the existing high school building passed by a vote of 702 to 456.
District superintendent John Vaara said he was pleased with Tuesday’s outcome on two counts.
“Obviously, we’re very happy with the amount of voters we had and we’re glad it passed,” he said in an interview Tuesday night. “In addition, we also wanted a good voter turnout so we would get a good indication of what the people in our district were feeling.”
Franklin Township residents also passed a bonding proposal for a new sanitary sewer system, borrowing the sum not to exceed $995,000 payable 40 years from date of issue, by a vote of 184 to 92. Township Supervisor Glenn Ekdahl said the passage of the proposal allows the township to move forward on the system, mandated by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
“We could have jeopardized our grant if that hadn’t passed, so it’s a relief,” he said. “We’ll be talking to our engineers and will start working on our checklist for the project.”
Bonding proposals for the Lake Linden-Hubbell Schools and the Ewen Trout Creek Area Schools also passed, while a bond proposal for the Ontonagon Area Schools failed (see below for details).
Following are the school board election results for Houghton, Baraga and Ontonagon counties. Votes in favor of the candidate are given in parentheses following the candidate’s name. Write-in votes are indicated but are preliminary at press time due to pending review by each county’s board of canvassers later this week.
Voter turnout in Houghton County was 12.59 percent, in Baraga County was 5.57 percent; Ontonagon county did not report voter turnout.
HOUGHTON COUNTY
• Adams Township
Two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012 will be filled by Gina Goudge (28) and Darren J. Niemi (25); they were the only candidates.
• Public Schools of Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw
Phyllis M. Locatelli (338) and Larry C. Kristapovich (316) won the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012. Brian Taivalkoski received 196 votes, Scott Clayton received 148 votes. An operating millage proposal allowing the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills passed by a vote of 300 to 225. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect is about $73,936.
• Chassell Township Schools
Four write-in candidates were vying for two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012. Based on preliminary counts, Douglas J. Hamar (139) and Kenneth D. Kytta (113) receive those seats, and Carl E. Olson (56) and Jane Rautiola (48) are defeated.
• Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Area Schools
Donna Engman defeated Brandon Lockhart-Witting by a vote of 93 to 36 for the one four-year position ending June 30, 2012. An operating millage proposal allowing the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills passed by a vote of 79 to 52. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect is about $28,199.
• Elm River Township School
Susan Mallow, uncontested, received 31 votes for the one four-year position ending June 30, 2012. Denise Saari, also uncontested, received 37 votes for the one partial-term position ending June 30, 2010. An operating millage proposal allowing the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills passed by a vote of 34 to 7. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect is about $224,759.
• Hancock Public Schools
Dean Woodbeck (842) and Dale J. Kero (785) ran uncontested for the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012. Timothy E. Seaton (722) received the one partial-term position ending June 30, 2010 over candidates Richard Barrette (199) and Laverne Chapin (116). Also a bonding proposal not to exceed $8,820,000 for the purpose of erecting, furnishing and equipping additions to the high school building, re-equipping school buildings and other improvements passed by a vote of 702 to 456.
• Franklin Township
A bonding proposal for a new sanitary sewer system, borrowing the sum not to exceed $995,000 payable 40 years from date of issue passed by a vote of 184 to 92.
• Houghton-Portage Township School District
Brad Baltensperger (256) and Nels Sy Christopherson (254) ran uncontested for the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012. An operating millage proposal allowing the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills passed by a vote of 186 to 132. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect is about $19,365.
• Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools
Jeffrey Steven Dennis (508) and write-in candidate Lori Jean Ambuehl received the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012. Ambuehl’s totals were preliminary Tuesday; she received at least 117 votes. A bonding proposal not to exceed $3.5 million for the purpose of equipping and re-equipping the high school and the elementary school passed by a vote of 313 to 251. An operating millage proposal allowing the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills passed by a vote of 350 to 231. The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect is about $39,000.
• Stanton Township Public Schools
Jill Efraimson (29) ran uncontested for the four-year position ending June 30, 2012.
KEWEENAW COUNTY
There were no separate ballot issues. Some voters are included in the totals for Houghton County school districts.
BARAGA COUNTY
No separate ballot issues in townships.
• Arvon Township Schools
Uncontested candidate Nancy A. Soli (31) won the one partial-term position ending June 30, 2010.
• Baraga Area Schools
William Jondreau (55) and Anni Gregor (54) ran uncontested for the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012.
• L’Anse Area Schools
Anne T. Koski (231) and Jason A. Ayres (195) ran uncontested for the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012.
ONTONAGON COUNTY
• Ewen-Trout Creek Schools
John A. Pinkerton (373) beat out Pat Kitzman (224) for the one four-year position ending June 30, 2012. Lisa Nordine (512) ran uncontested for the one partial-term position ending June 30, 2010.
A bonding proposal not to exceed $425,000 for the purpose of purchasing school buses and repairing sidewalks passed by a vote of 346 to 245. An operating millage proposal allowing the school district to levy the statutory rate of 18 mills passed by a vote of 354 to 230.
The estimate of the revenue the school district will collect is about $118,206.
• Ontonagon Area Schools
Write-in candidates Jane Rubich (590) and Bruce Johanson (542), provided they are verified, will take the two four-year positions ending June 30, 2012. Candidate Frank Wardynski received 515 votes, and write-in candidates Teresa Way and Larry Ford received 234 votes and 221 votes, respectively.
A bonding proposal not to exceed $4,390,010 for the purpose of equipping and furnishing the middle and high school building, among various improvement projects, failed by a vote of 1,027 to 175.
Jane Nordberg can be reached at jnordberg@mininggazette.com
