SALES TAX, BOND PASS

MARBLE HILL -- Voters Tuesday approved a $400,000 bond issue and extended a half-cent sales tax to fund street, sewer and water improvements.

The bond issue passed by a vote of 217 to 119. The sales tax measure passed by a single vote, 175 to 174.

"It was a simple majority, and that is exactly what we got," said City Administrator Rick Jones. "We are happy about that."

The sales tax was an extension of an existing tax. But Jones said some voters apparently thought it was a new tax. "There was some confusion on that," he said.

The sales tax generates about $85,000 a year. In extending the tax, voters expanded the use of the tax money to include street improvements. The tax previously could be used only for water and sewer improvements.

The bond issue will fund sewer and water improvements, including a new water tower and extension of sewer service to the neighboring town of Glen Allen.

Bollinger County voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition B, the statewide concealed-weapons measure. It passed by a vote of 2,202 to 582.

Voters rejected Proposition A, the statewide measure that would establish a fee to help fund an improved 911 system for cellular customers. The vote was 999 for to 1,644 against.

Election officials said 2,834 people or 33 percent of Bollinger County's registered voters went to the polls.

In uncontested races, Marble Hill voters re-elected Ward 1 Alderman Wilma Moody and elected Wayne Whitener as Ward 2 alderman. In Sedgewickville, Tammy Whaley and Lynn James were elected to the village board.