ORAN GIVES BOND ISSUE GO-AHEAD

ORAN -- Voters in Oran on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a 20-year, $110,000 bond issue that will fund improvements in the town's water and sewer systems.

Just over 86 percent of voters approved the bond issue. Turnout for Tuesday's election was about 32 percent, said Scott County Clerk Bob Kielhofner.

In all, 326 residents voted for the measure and 49 cast ballots against it. The totals include three absentee votes, Kielhofner said, all cast in favor of the bond issue.

City officials contend that passage of the bond issue will give the town a better chance of receiving state grants to help fund construction of a new well and replacement of many water lines throughout the town.

State grants will begin to be applied for in January, to supplement the funds generated by the bond issue, officials said.

Improvements in the town's water system will upgrade the quality of the water by increasing circulation and removing deposits. The city has two wells, a main one that is about 10 years old and a back-up well.

The city has tried unsuccessfully for about three years to obtain state grants for water system improvements. They said a substantial local contribution was needed to secure the grants.