Bond issue resolved
Voters say "yes" to improving schools
By Calla Mounkes and Erika Massek
April 04, 2007
Sixty two percent of voters approved the $7.9 million bond issue yesterday to make changes to the elementary and high school. The bond issue passed with 573 "yes" votes and 349 "no" votes.
Superintendent Dr. Steve Pegram said he felt relief when he heard the bond issue passed.
"I watched it all night so I knew where it was going. I was pretty excited when it was finally over," he said.
The bond will add 10 classrooms and one workroom to the elementary school for the kindergarten and preschool students, as well as students receiving special services; build a new, more centrally located library in the high school and convert the current library to hold four classrooms; construct a new gym in the elementary school with a regulation-size basketball court for expanded elementary physical education and practice space for secondary students; add to the vo-ag building and connect it to the high school; and add office space at the elementary and high school.
The state will pick up 41 percent of the cost of the new bond issue, but the issue will still add an estimated 5.59 mills to the taxation rate, costing the owner of a house valued at $100,000 an additional $64 in annual property taxes. The improvements are expected to be completed in 2009. Bonds will be paid over 20 years.
Residents also voted on the SL board of education members. There were four at large open seats. Two of the members elected were incumbents: Cindy Hill, a construction company project manager, received 447 votes, and Susan Runyan, a registered nurse, received 521 votes. Randy Matzke, vice president of product compliance for the insurance company Aviva, received the most votes with 542. Ron Yoder, owner of a Farmers Insurance Agency received 434 votes. They will be joining Sam Grant, Cindy Hawkins, and Clint Wichman on the board of education next year.
Yoder stated the issue in the bond that is a priority to him involves the elementary school.
"My main concern is the kindergarten grade school issue. Once the kindergarten is moved over to the grade school, they won't have to cross the street every day," he said.
Mack Smith was re-elected for mayor with 405 votes.
Mike Geer and Michael Kruger were voted on to the Silver Lake Council, with 244 votes and 242 votes, respectively.
Runyan stated that she was ecstatic to be re-elected to the board.
"I was glad to think that the voters felt that I was doing a good enough job to be re-elected for another four years," she said.
Bond issue resolved
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