Nov 5, 2020
Voters passed every levy, bond, and issue on the ballot Tuesday, according to preliminary vote totals.
There were 31 issues on Tuesday’s ballot. No county-wide issues were on the ballot this election.
Fire and EMS
Emergency services in a number of areas around the county got a boost from voters.
Saybrook Township sought a new 3.5-mill levy, which voters approved, 2,454 votes to 872, according to preliminary results. Saybrook Township Fire Department Captain David Whitaker, chair of the levy committee, thanked voters for their support of the levy.
The department got a grant from FEMA, to cover the cost of three full-time firefighters for three years. After the grant runs out, levy funds will be used to pay for the additional staffing.
“I’m excited for the direction our department is going,” Whitaker said. “Very thankful to the people of our township for supporting us in the manner they did, nearly a 3-to-1 ratio.”
The first priority for the levy funds is staffing, followed by replacing old equipment and solidifying the department’s Station Two, Whitaker said.
“Many thanks to [the voters] for believing in us and supporting us,” Whitaker said. “I know we get thanks from them when we’re on medical calls and stuff like that, but we’re very appreciative of their support.”
Voters in the South Central Ambulance District passed a replacement and increase of a levy, bringing it up to 2 mills. Replacement levies bring the amount collected by a levy up to current property values.
“I just want to thank [voters] for their support, and we will continue to provide the top notch care that we’ve always dedicated ourselves to,” said SCAD Chief Shaun Buehner. The county showed up strong for safety forces in the county, Buehner said. The levy is planned to be used to replace aging equipment.
Voters in Geneva-on-the-Lake voted narrowly in favor of a bond issue for a new ambulance, 226 votes to 205, according to preliminary results.
Schools
There were only two school levies on Tuesday’s ballot, one for Jefferson and one for Ashtabula.
Voters in the Jefferson Area Local School District passed a 6-mill levy for operating expenses for a continuing period of time. The levy was the largest on the ballot on Tuesday, and it passed by more than 1,000 votes, 3,394 votes to 2,265, according to preliminary vote totals.
Voters also passed an Ashtabula Area City Schools 1.25-mill levy for textbooks, technology and equipment.
Roads and bridges
Nine of Tuesday’s issues were for roads, at least to an extent.
Two levies were replacements, and the rest were renewals.
Plymouth voters approved replacement of a 3-mill roads and bridges levy, according to preliminary totals.
Colebrook Township voters also passed a 1.25-mill replacement levy for roads and bridges.
See the full story from The Star Beacon here >>
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