Two bond issues, law enforcement tax on ballots

By Kyle Troutman [email protected]

Two schools boards and one city will see contested elections on April 7, and three more entities have bond or tax issues going to voters.

There will be no election in the Cassville, Exeter and Southwest school districts, as the number of individuals who filed match the number of open seats.

In Cassville, three incumbents, Chad Yarnall, Chad Johnson and Jon Horner, will each remain on the board. The same applies for Exeter incumbents Stacy Hall, Lance Eaton and Kelly Lee.

At Southwest, incumbents Terry Meek and Doug Henry will remain on the board, and newcomer. Valerie Pippin will take a seat vacated by longtime board member Ruth Henderson, who declined to refile.

In Purdy, two of the three incumbents refiled in Nathan Lamp and David Young, while Levi Roden declined to refile. Two challengers, Kaley Thigpen and David Wormington, will vie for the three available seats along with Lamp and Young.

Wheaton has six individuals who filed for three open seats. Incumbents Josh Kinnaman, Tony Ball and Lewis Royer all refiled, challenged by Elizabeth Goetz, Nikki Allen and Rodney Allen.

Regarding city council positions, Wheaton is the only city with an election, as incumbent Kurt Hoemann in the West Ward refiled, challenged by Jon Brattin. East Ward Alderman Brandon Shockley refiled with no challengers.

In Cassville, North Ward Alderwoman Taylor Weaver and South Ward Alderman Justin Gates both refiled with no challengers. In Exeter, Incumbent Teresa Alverson refiled, and incumbent Tara Justice did not. Justice’s seat will go to newcomer Karrie Lewis, the only other person to file.

In Washburn, at-large incumbents Antony Bland and Connie Deans refiled with no challengers. Seligman East Ward incumbent Richard Carter and West Ward incumbent Kenneth Greene also refiled with no challengers.

The same occurred in Purdy, with East Ward Alderman Heath Postlewait and West Ward Alderwoman Heather Vannote retaining their seats with no challengers.

Two cities and one school district also have bond or tax issues on the ballot.

In Seligman, the city is seeking approval of a $10 million bond “for the purpose of extending and improving the City’s combined waterworks and sewerage system, including acquiring land and rights of way, the cost of operation and maintenance of said combined waterworks and sewerage system and the principal of and interest on said revenue bonds to be payable solely from the revenues derived by the City of Seligman, Missouri from the operation of its combined waterworks and sewerage system, including all future improvements and extensions thereto.”

The city of Butterfield is also seeking a sewer bond, asking voters to approve $5 million.

The Wheaton school district is proposing a bond issue, to the tune of $2 million, “for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, renovating, furnishing and equipping school sites, buildings and related facilities, including infrastructure and safety improvements; and refunding outstanding lease obligations, and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof. If this proposition is approved, the debt service levy of the school district is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.8300 per $100 of assessed valuation.”

Per state statute, both bond proposals require a four-sevenths (57.1%) majority to pass.

The city of Wheaton and the city of Washburn are each floating a 1% sales tax, with all revenue funding the Wheaton Police Department. To pass, it requires a simple majority.

The General Municipal Election will be held on April 7, and the last day to register to vote is March 11. Absentee voting begins on Feb. 24 at the Barry County Clerk’s Office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two-week in-person, no-excuse absentee voting begins March 24. Polls on Election Day will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.