SB3 passes in county, Washburn police tax fails with tie vote

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

A total of 2,701 ballots were cast among 23,810 registered voters in Barry County in the April 7 Municipal Election, which saw mixed results among county and municipal issues.

The countywide turnout came in at 11.34%, and only one issue was available to all voters — SB3. The property tax freeze measure, which is still being challenged in the court system, passed with 1,641 votes in favor and 1,027 against.

In city issues, the city of Washburn 1% police sales tax failed by the narrowest of margins, a tie vote at 35 in favor and 35 against.

The city of Seligman passed its $10 million water project bond issue, receiving 41 votes in favor and 22 against. The city of Butterfield, seeking a $5 million bond issue for water projects, saw its measure fail, with 21 votes against and 18 in favor.

The last city issue was in Washburn, a 1% public safety sales tax, which passed with 93 votes in favor and 24 votes against.

Only one bond issue was floated at local school districts, a $2 million proposal at the Wheaton school district for primarily HVAC, roofing, asbestos removal, debt refinancing. That measure passed with 212 votes in favor and 65 against.

Wheaton also had a contested school board race, with county lines determining one winner. Elizabeth Goetz received the most votes with 170, and Lewis Royer took the next-highest amount at 140. In Barry County, Josh Kinnaman edged Tony Ball by a vote count of 137-135, but in McDonald County, Ball received 4 votes to Kinnaman’s 1, giving Ball the third and final seat by a vote of 139-138.

Also running were Nikki Allen and Rodney Allen, who received 114 and 96 votes, respectively.

For the Purdy school district, David Wormington and Nathan Lamp each received 157 votes, and Kaley Thigpen took the third seat with 146 votes. David Young was left on the outside with 62 votes.

Finally, for the Monett School Board, Ryan Nestleroad reeled in 621 votes to finish atop a five-person race with an additional write-in campaign. Jennifer Lewis took second with 536 votes, and Jared Wormington was third with 383 votes. On the ballot in fourth and fifth were Ashley Bailey with 345 votes and Annie Smith with 316 votes.

Sean Kelley launched a write-in campaign, garnering 201 votes in Barry County and 127 in Lawrence County for a total of 328, still 56 votes from upending Wormington for the third seat.

In other results, Jamey Smith defeated Kenny Tucker for Flat Creek Special Road District Commissioner by a vote of 199-192. Michael Blackburn defeated Neal Stanley for Sugar Creek Road District Commissioner, 53-42. 

The Washburn Special Road District question, retaining its current levy, passed, 95-42; and an additional levy for the White River Road District Special Road and Bridge Levy Request failed, 76-75.

For the city of Wheaton, Jon Brattin defeated Kurt Hoemann for the West Ward Alderman position, 40-19. And, in the Village of Emerald Beach, Bob Langreder received 51 votes and Bruce Vonbusch 36 to be elected as trustees. Left on the outside was Shelley Neel with 23 votes.

For the Verona school board, Abe Sherwood, with 142 votes; Tina Jennings, with 138 votes; and Louis Carrasquillo, with 124 votes, were elected. Kevin Hilton and Beth Hilton received 83 and 79 votes, respectively.

Verona also passed its Proposition K.I.D.S. measure, receiving 162 votes in favor and 66 against.