Voters support improvements to parks trails, waterways

The tax is 1/8-cent in addition to a renewal of half of the ¼-cent tax passed in 2001 that funded a number of parks projects, including Lost Hill and Rutledge-Wilson parks.

Springfield-Greene County Parks Director Jodie Adams said finished projects from the previous tax gave a glimpse of what could come and helped garner support for yesterday’s ballot issue.

“They’re all getting to play at these places, and they’re getting together again with their families at some of the lake areas,” she said. “To see this type of phenomenal support – people truly want to have places together and definitely want a healthy lifestyle and quality of life.”

Voters Tuesday approved the parks tax 58.2 percent to 41.8 percent, according to unofficial results from the Greene County clerk’s office.

Election day saw a 16.84 percent voter turnout, with 30,327 of 180,071 registered voters heading to the polls.

Missouri will continue a 1/10-cent sales tax until 2016 to generate about $82 million for soil and water conservation efforts and the operation of the state’s park system. The ballot issue passed with 68.1 percent of the vote.

About 80 percent of voters were in favor of a $5.25 million bond issue for Rogersville to acquire, construct, extend and improve the city’s water works and sewerage system.

Voters also authorized the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District Board of Directors to levy a tax of up to 12 cents on every $100 of assessed property valuation to fund additional fire personnel. That proposal passed with 65.3 percent.

A $2.4 million bond issue for the Marion C. Early R-V School District in Polk County was approved by 53.5 percent of voters, allowing the district to build a classroom addition and cafeteria to the school.

Seats in state and national legislatures, as well as Greene County offices, were narrowed to Democratic and Republican candidates. The following candidates will compete in the November election:

• Greene County commissioner: Dave Coonrod (D) and Brad Roark (R);

• County Circuit Court clerk: Derek White (D) and Michael Carr (R);

• County clerk: Richard Struckhoff;

• County prosecuting attorney: Andrew Brown (D) and Darrell Moore (R);

• County collector of revenue: Matthew Patterson (D) and Scott Payne (R);

• County auditor: Jack Hembree (D) and Cindy Stein (R);

• Missouri House of Representatives 134th District: Christopher Brown (D) and Jim Viebrock (R);

• Missouri House 135th: Nancy Hagan (D) and Charlie Denison (R);

• Missouri House 136th: James Owen (D) and B.J. Marsh (R);

• Missouri House 137th: Charlie Norr (D) and Dan Scott (R);

• Missouri House 138th: Sara Lampe (D) and Steve Helms (R);

• Missouri House 139th: Jamie Daniel Schoolcraft (D) and Shane Schoeller (R);

• U.S. Senate: Claire McCaskill (D) and Jim Talent (R);

• Missouri Senate 7th District: Jack Truman (D) and Roy Blunt (R);

• Missouri Senate 20th: Barbie Kreider-Adams (D) and Dan Clemens (R);

• Missouri Senate 30th: Doug Harpool (D) and Norma Champion (R); and

• Missouri auditor: Susan Montee (D) and Sandra Thomas (R).[[In-content Ad]]