Water district voters turn down $1.5 million bond issue

Voters in Cape Girardeau County's Public Water Supply District No. 2 on Tuesday defeated a $1.5 million revenue bond that would have extended and improved the waterworks system.

The measure lost 190-107.

The district supplies water to about 700 customers from west of Burfordville to Oak Ridge, including the Millersville area, and that number is increasing.

According to Robert Smith, president of the board of directors for the district, a new well will eventually need to be dug in the Hidden Valley region.

The current minimum for having an active meter in the district is $22 for 2,000 gallons of water per month, and $3.20 for each additional 1,000 gallons.

If voters had approved the bond issue, each household's minimum water costs could have increased as much as $15 per month. The price may still increase a maximum of $15 per household a month on the minimum cost, according to Wilda Peterman, the board clerk.

District No. 2 voters elected Gale Crites of Lyndon Road to the board of directors for subdistrict 5 to replace Michael Thompson, who died last year. The term is for three years.