Seal Rock Voters Authorize Water Bond

(Updated 11-9 to show 99.9% of the vote counted by the Lincoln County Clerk’s office) Voters in the Seal Rock Water District have approved a general obligation bond. Funds will pay for upcoming improvements in the district, as well as to help pay for future improvements in the Toledo Water District, which supplies Seal Rock with its water. 667 voted in favor, 522 were opposed.

Other local options also passed. Voters in the Central Coast Fire District (Waldport) okayed a tax renewal for their local fire and rescue service by a 723-277 margin. Yachats voters were overwhelmingly in favor of their fire and rescue option tax, 662-146. The vote was a bit closer in the North Lincoln Fire and Rescue District, with 1,520 yes votes and 1,387 no votes. The Kernville-Gleneden Beach-Lincoln Beach Water District has proposed a five-year local option tax for capital projects. That was approved 494-346.

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School Board Approves Election Results, Opens Bond Sales

The Lincoln County School Board of Directors approved a resolution June 2 during a special meeting acknowledging the results of the May 17 bond measure election results. The Board also approved a resolution allowing the sale of $63 million in general obligation bonds to finance capital projects. The bonds will be sold in two series: Series 2011A is $48 million in tax-exempt bonds and Series 2011B is $15 million in Qualified School Construction Bonds. The bonds will be priced to market levels the day of the offering, which is currently anticipated to be June 22. The minimum denomination for purchase is $5,000. The Lincoln County Clerk’s office reports 11,833 voters returned ballots in the election, with 59.5 percent voting yes on the school bond measure, and 40.5 percent voting against the measure. Information on the bonds is available from the underwriter, Seattle-Northwest Securities Corp., at 1-800-452-9911.

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Letter to the Editor: KIDS Committee

Dear Editor:

THANK YOU TO SUPPORTIVE VOTERS! Our K.I.D.S. Committee of Lincoln County wishes to thank all voters who marked their ballots YES in support of the school improvement bond measure. We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the large majority of voters who saw the necessity and rightness of the proposal to improve our schools. During our campaign for passage of the bond measure, our core group was supported by numerous citizens, to whom we are deeply indebted. Our heartfelt thanks go to the many generous individuals and businesses that contributed financially, and to everyone who displayed signs, helped with mailings, talked to neighbors, wrote letters, spoke on the radio, handed out fliers, made phone calls, walked door to door, and so much more. Your positive influence was essential to the passage of the bond measure!

Over the coming months, watch for exciting changes in your neighborhood schools. Some schools will show remarkable transformation, when decrepit portables are hauled away and permanent classrooms are constructed. Some changes will be less obvious but undoubtedly will improve students’ learning environment: new or repaired roofing, plumbing, windows, and heating systems. The most striking change, of course, will be the relocation of Waldport High School to a higher elevation, out of harm’s way from potential tsunami devastation and flooding. Again, our K.I.D.S. Committee is grateful to those in our community who recognized the need to protect and improve our school buildings. Thank you for your support!

(Signed) Herman Welch, Campaign Manager, K.I.D.S. Committee of Lincoln County

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Letter to the Editor: Lincoln Co. School Board

Dear Editor:

What a gamut of emotions we experienced on election night! We are overwhelmed with gratitude and awe at the strong show of support for our bond proposal. We are excited about the potential jobs that will be brought into our county. Most of all, we are buoyed with optimism for the future of our schools and the students.

We believe there are key reasons why the bond won voter approval: primarily, the importance of improving the safety and operations of our school buildings as well as the opportunity to participate in a federal stimulus bond program this year. As a Board, we appreciate the thoroughness of research and planning by the staff, the efforts of community members throughout the process, and the openness of the school district’s communication.

We intend to continue that transparent practice as work is accomplished over the next 30 months on the many remodeling and construction projects at schools throughout the district. We will work closely with the citizen oversight committee, provide regular updates to the public, and welcome input on our progress.

Thank you, each and every one, for helping to ensure that our kids will have a safe environment in which to learn and grow!

Signed,

Lincoln County School District Board of Directors: Ron Beck, Chairman, Newport; Jean Turner, Vice Chairman, Waldport; Karen Bondley, Lincoln City; Brenda Brown, Toledo; Liz Martin, Newport

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School Bond Passes Handily, Martin Re-elected

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