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The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.
Published April 10, 2024
Camden County Ballot
CAMDEN COUNTY – Higher taxes were addressed by voters in last week’s elections and all the proposals to raise taxes were soundly defeated.
The City of Osage Beach was asking voters to implement a use tax. Even though the city said the tax would be used for parks voters said no. The question on the ballot was:
“PROPOSITION NO. U: For the purpose of funding the construction, maintenance, repair of, and improvements to the City's Parks and Recreation System, and with any additional funds being applied to other General Fund needs of the City, shall the City of Osage Beach impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, currently Two percent
(2.0%), provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?”
Voters in the Miller County section of Osage Beach voted 16 for and 16 against. But Camden County voters told a different story: 159 voted no and 85 voted yes so the use tax is dead – for now.
Cities have the tendency to revisit use tax questions so this may be on a future ballot.
The Village of Four Seasons also wanted a use tax and voters there said no. The question on the ballot for those voters was:
“Shall the Village of Four Seasons impose a local use tax at the same rate as the total local sales tax rate, provided that if the local sales tax rate is reduced or raised by voter approval, the local use tax rate shall also be reduced or raised by the same action?”
That idea also went down in flames with 186 for and 238 against.
Speaking of flames, a question by the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District was approved in both counties. The two questions would implement a sales tax and gradually phase out the property tax that currently supports the Fire District and the Ambulance District.
Combing both votes from Miller and Camden Counties, voters cast 680 yes votes and 470 no for the Fire District and 714 yes and 436 no for the Ambulance District.
It’s not known how long it will take but eventually this should eliminate the property tax people in the district pay for the ambulance and fire service which will be replaced by the additional sales tax on anything that is bought in the district.
That means that visitors to the area will also be paying for the service and it will not fall solely on the shoulders of those living in the district.
School Districts
Camdenton R-III School District
Two directors for the Board of Education, three-year terms were needed from three names on the ballot. Voters in Camden County cast 988 votes for Michael Brandon Gulledge, 956 for Brian Butts and 940 for Gail Griswold.
Though all three names were on the Morgan County ballot for those living in the school district, none of the three received any votes.
The Macks Creek R-V School District also needed two members for the board with four names on the ballot.
Byron Willis brought in 202 votes and 116 for Cody Stoner.
School of the Osage
Three names were on the ballot for two positions on the Board of Education. Combing the numbers for Camden, Morgan and Miller Counties, voters cast 872 for Barbara J. (B.J.) Page, 893 for C. Michael Williams and 748 for Joyce Bush.
Richland R-IV School District
Two directors for the Board of Education were needed with three names on the ballot. Elizabeth Duncan received 64 votes, Warren Powell 40 and Tim Sherrer 36.
These names were also on the Laclede County ballot but none of the three received any votes. Election results for Pulaski County were not available.
Lake Ozark Fire Protection District
The district was seeking to fill one position of Director with two names on the ballot. Combing the results from Miller and Camden Counties, Michael Bayless brought in 783 votes and Edward D. Dobson 237.
Northwest Fire Protection District
Two members were needed for the Board of Directors with four names on the ballot. Combining the totals from Camden and Benton Counties, Caleb Cline brought in 89, William (Bill) Walker 74, Twyla Craven 55 and Robin Ray-Harris 34.
Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District
Two names were also needed for the Board of Directors with four names on the ballot. Combining the totals from Camden and Morgan County, Troy Meyer received 233 votes, Rick Butler 177, Timothy Dempsey 176 and Bob Hemen 67.
Cities
Camdenton
Three positions on the Board of Aldermen were to be filled with Daniel Ousley (Ward One) and Sandy Gentry (Ward Two) the only names in the ballot for those seats.
Ward Three had two people fighting it out for the position with Steve Eden receiving 18 and Don Neuharth 19.
City of Lake Ozark
Camden County voters joined Miller County voters in choosing an alderman for Ward Three with David Ridgely and Dawn Hentz seeking the position. Ridgely had 41 votes and Hentz 16.
Residents in the Miller County section of Lake Ozark also had to fill the position for Ward One and Ward Two both two-year terms.
Ward One had two names: Patricia Ann (Pat) Thompson and William Gregory Dees. Thompson brought in 107 votes and Dees 56.
Ward Two also had two names: Ex Lake Ozark Mayor Johnnie Franzeskos and Randy Gardner. Franzeskos is finally, after many years of trying, back on the board of Aldermen having received 61 votes to Gardner’s 58.
City of Linn Creek
Voters filled the position of Mayor with only one name on the ballot, incumbent Jeff Davis.
Filling the two-year term of “Alderperson at Large” was Hilary Kirschke and Heather Pfahl, the only names on the ballot.
Four votes came in eliminating the need to vote under a certain condition. The question facing city voters was:
“FORGO UNCONTESTED ANNUAL MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: (SHALL THE CITY OF LINN CREEK, OF LINN CREEK, MISSOURI, BE AUTHORIZED TO FORGO ANNUAL ELECTIONS IF THE NUMBER OF CANDIDATES WHO HAVE FILED FOR A PARTICULAR OFFICE IS EQUAL TO THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS IN THE OFFICE TO BE FILLED BY THE ELECTION?)”
City of Osage Beach
Voters filled the office of Mayor, Collector and three Alderman positions with only one name filing for each office.
Voters were also asked to eliminate the elected position of Collector and they said no.
“PROPOSITION NO. A: Shall the Board of Aldermen of the City of Osage Beach, Missouri, provide by ordinance for the appointment of a Collector as provided for by the Statutes of the State of Missouri?”
Combing Camden and Miller County votes, voters cast 127 for and 146 against. This means that the city collector is still an elected position.
City of Richland
One position for Alderman Ward One was addressed by Camden County voters with two names on the ballot: Jason Williams, who brought in 6 votes and Jason Goldsmith 2. They received no votes from Laclede County and Pulaski County results were not available.
Richland is part of three counties, Camden Laclede and Pulaski. The Camden County ballot only dealt with the above position.
City of Stoutland
Two names are needed for two-year terms as Councilman with four names on the ballot: LaVera Milligan, Wendy Zeigenbein, Kasin M. Thomas and Jared Morrow.
Combining votes from Laclede and Camden Counties, Morrow received 25 votes, Thomas 24, Zeigenbein 18 and Milligan 16.
Sunrise Beach
The city needed two names for Board of Trustee, two-year terms. Four people were seeking the positions. Combining Morgan and Camden County results, the following votes were tallied:
One person was needed for a One-Year term as a Trustee on the Board with only one name, Michael George, on the ballot.
Village of Four Seasons
Three Trustees were needed for two-year terms with three names on the ballot: Luanne Ruck, Ranita Jones and Ron Weihs.
Those in the Horseshoe Bend Special Road District were asked to keep the current tax levy with this question:
“Shall the Horseshoe Bend Special Road District #1 retain the present 35 cent extra levy on the one hundred dollar assessed valuation for a four year period?”
Voters voted no with 186 for and 238 against.
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