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April 7, 2009

Waukomis, Covington voters OK sales tax; Cimarron bond issue passes easily

Staff reports

Residents in Waukomis overwhelmingly approved Tuesday a one cent sales tax dedicated to helping fund emergency services.

The vote was 155-53, or 74.5 percent, in favor of the tax, which will remain on the books unless residents vote to repeal it sometime in the future.

Money generated by the tax will be used to pay for equipment, maintenance and training, said Waukomis Police Chief Phillip Ott.

“This tax will be for uniforms, investigative equipment, vests, patrol cars, fire trucks and hoses, bunker gear and storm sirens on the emergency management side,” he said previously.

Waukomis Fire Department is funded through a county fire sales tax. The department will not receive any of the town tax money until the county fire tax goes off the books, possibly in five years.

In Covington, voters gave resounding approval to a one cent sales tax to pay for police protection.

The vote was 58-3 for the tax, which will be effective from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2014.

Cimarron Public Schools patrons voted in favor of a $1.16 million bond issue, 227-53, or 81.1 percent in favor.

The bulk of the money will be used to build a junior high wing. The structure also would serve as a storm shelter for the school and the Lahoma community.

Other projects for the bond money are a concession stand for the softball field, new windows to increase energy efficiency, a new security system, an intercom system, computer upgrades, library renovations, a new phone system, playground equipment and an agriculture farm.

In other races:

• Jack Rich and Lee Zander were elected to seats on the North Enid town board. They were the top two vote-getters among five candidates seeking the two open seats.

Rich had 76 votes, and Zander had 73. Others were Linda Waters, 40; Brenda Jo Huddleston, 30; and Dean Nickel, 23.

• Gary Naugle Jr. and Jennifer Poage were elected to seats on the Lahoma town board. Six people filed for the two open seats.

Naugle had 46 votes, to Poage’s 45. Others were Debra Crane, 40; Jessica Huggins, 36; Charles David Boyd, 14; and Roland Best II, 13.

Theresa Sharp will fill an unexpired term on the Lahoma town board. She had 49 votes, to 22 each for Milton David and Timothy Moore and 11 for Melvin Lee Bacher.

• George Milacek won the Office 4 town board of trustees seat in Waukomis, beating John R. Heasley 139-67.

• Mark K. Coats won the Pond Creek-Hunter Public Schools school board seat over Jeff Scott, 142-124.

• Chad Cink won the Medford city council member at-large seat, defeating Jim Kilian 88-31.

• Gerald Carson won a seat on the Garber town board, defeating Mary Knight 51-11.

• Garen Martens won re-election as Fairview’s at-large city councilman. He defeated Mike Aylward, 168-119.

• Eric Littrell and Jerry Morrison Jr. won spots on the Cleo Springs town board. They polled 42 and 40 votes, respectively. Glen Wampler had eight votes.

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