Voters overwhelmingly pass Mineral Area College bond issue

Voters showed strong support for renovation plans at Mineral Area College, overwhelmingly approving an $8 million no-tax-increase bond issue Tuesday.

Voters in St. Francois County, Madison, Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties combined approved the measure with 76 percent of ballots.

Mineral Area College president Steven Kurtz said the margin of approval is a reflection of the community's support for the college's improvement plans.

Additional funds generated from the bond issue will pay for expansions and renovations at the Park Hills campus library, student services facilities and science labs. It will also fund renovations and expansions at the Fredericktown center.

"We spent a lot of time educating the public about what the plan entailed," Kurtz said. "We had a lot of community support throughout the campaign."

"A few folks mentioned times are tough, they were tightening their belts, but they still supported us tonight,"

A total of 4,945 ballots were cast in support of the bond issue with 1,558 ballots cast against it.

College trustees will certify the election results at its April 14 meeting, Kurtz said.

Perry County contested races

Perry County voters also elected John W. Gahan and Tracey J. Hagan to the Perry County Health Department Board. Hagan received 43.4 percent of the vote, followed by Gahan with 36.8 of the vote and Tom Ritter, who received 19.5 percent.

In Perryville, Tom Guth was elected to represent Ward 1 on the board of aldermen with 71.8 percent of the vote. His opponent, Sandra Stuart, received 27.9 percent of the votes cast. Randy J. Leible was also re-elected to the board in Ward 2. He received 52.8 percent of the vote. His challenger Douglas K. Martin received 47.2 percent of the votes cast.

In Altenburg, Harold France was elected mayor with 56.5 percent of the votes cast, unseating incumbent Michael Hughey, who polled 43.4 percent of the vote.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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