CLOSE BOND VOTE

The three Meadow Heights Board of Education members who voted against accepting results of a ballot recount that favorably changed the outcome of the district's bond proposal did little more than keep alive the chaos that has overrun the school district at Patton.

Only one of the board members who voted not to accept results of the recount gave a reason. Mike Welker said the one vote that changed the election results made it too close to accept. Welker said he would have liked to see more support drummed up for the bond proposal over the summer so that the measure could be resubmitted to voters in August and possibly gain wider acceptance.

The other two board members who voted against acceptance were Harold Miinch and Mike Reagan, neither of whom gave a reason.

The final, revised ballot count from the April 2 election was 488 to 366. Initially it failed by just 1 percent. Bond issues require more than a simple majority. The recount showed four additional votes in favor of the measure, which brought about the required 57 percent margin for passage.

The school district rightfully consulted with the secretary of state' office about the procedure for a recount before it was conducted, and it was conducted in compliance with state law. The Bollinger County clerk's office was satisfied with the result: Clerk Diane Holzum, who oversaw it, accepted it without question.

The $750,000 bond proposal, which doesn't involve a tax increase, will provide money for repairs and renovations to school district buildings. Included are repairs of leaky roofs, installation of air conditioning, new energy-efficient windows and lights and construction of handicap accessible ramps.

If Meadow Heights school buildings are in such disrepair, why would any board member vote against accepting results of an election that will provide for the repairs? A 57 percent majority of those who voted were willing to extend a 50-cent levy passed in 1983 to see to it that the repairs are made. Yet three board members, for whatever reasons, aren't satisfied that the measure has passed.

Meadow Heights voters deserve to know why the other two board members voted against accepting the recount. Short of an explanation, Miinch's and Reagan's votes can only be viewed as votes against needed school district improvements that taxpayers are willing to pay for.