BRANCH COUNTY, MI (WTVB) – Voters in the Coldwater Community School district said no to a pair of bonding proposals on Tuesday that would have led to an expansion of Coldwater High School as well as renovation projects to the building and a 950 seat auditorium.
The $50 million bonding proposal that would have expanded the nearly 65 year old building and make improvements that district officials said were much needed went down to defeat 1,929 to 1,686. It failed to pass in 10 of the 12 precincts that are a part of the Coldwater Community School District. It was only approved in the City of Coldwater’s first and third wards.
The proposal was passed in the City of Coldwater 800-710 but all of the townships that feed into the school district said no. Ovid Township sent it down to a 328-218 defeat. There was also a large amount of opposition in Girard and Kinderhook Township. Girard Township voters said no 205-146 while Kinderhook Township voters said no by a margin of 175-88.
The second proposal for a $17 million bond and a increase of point-39 mills was soundly defeated 2,194 to 1,412 as it lost in all 12 precincts. It’s the second time in six years that voters in the district have turned thumbs down to a ballot proposal to build an auditorium at the high school.
Meanwhile, the Tekonsha Community Schools Operating Millage Renewal Proposal passed in Branch County 30-15. It carried in Calhoun County 176-61 so the proposal was approved by a district wide vote of 206 to 76.
The Bethel Township Renewal Millage Proposal for Fire Protection and Equipment passed 88-26.
Five incumbents ran unopposed in the City of Coldwater. Mayor Tom Kramer won another two year term. Also re-elected to four year City Council terms were Travis Machan in the First Ward, Jim Knaack in the Second Ward, Michael Beckwith in the Third Ward and Randall Hazelbaker in the Fourth Ward.
Of the 18,884 registered voters in Branch County who were eligible to vote on Tuesday, a total of 3,784 cast ballots for a turnout of just over 20 percent.
The vote tallies posted on line by the Branch County Clerk’s Office will not be official until they are certified by the Branch County Board of Canvassers.
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