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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
Miller County Ballot results
MILLER COUNTY – Voters in Miller County overwhelmingly supported saving the Brumley Swinging Bridge.
All county voters were asked to vote yes or no to the following question:
“Shall the county sales tax order for certain park purposes, described as follows, be approved? Order imposing a county sales tax for the purpose of acquiring land for and creating the Grand Auglaize Bridge Park (Brumley Swinging Bridge) in the County, including maintaining a nationally historic bridge within said park, at a rate of one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%) on the receipts from all retail sales of property or services within the County which are subject to taxation by the State of Missouri under the provisions of Sections 144.010 to 144.525, RSMo, such sales tax to be imposed for a period not to exceed four (4) years after its effective date.”
Last week voters cast 1,570 for and 996 against.
The historic bridge was closed in January 2021 due to a Missouri Department of Transportation inspection that determined the bridge is not safe for vehicle or foot traffic. Since then the bridge has been permanently closed.
School Districts
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.
Miller County R-III School District
This district was looking for two directors for the school board from four names on the ballot: Josh McGowin, Wendy Rains, Heather Miller and Brody Ash.
McGowin received 140 votes, Rains 130, Ash 88 and Miller 17.
St. Elizabeth R-IV School District
Two directors were needed for the Board of Education and only two names were on the ballot: Hannah Libbert and Alysha Oneil.
The district also wanted permission from voters to increase the tax levy by almost one cent.
“SPECIAL SCHOOL LEVY ELECTION PROPOSITION ST. ELIZABETH SCHOOL SHELTER
”Shall the Board of Education of the St. Elizabeth R-IV School District, Missouri, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy by $0.9900 to $4.9840 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation through Tax Year 2043 in order to provide funds to combine with resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the site development, construction, equipping and furnishing of a full-size regulation gymnasium that will also serve as a storm shelter; to the extent funds are available, complete other repairs and improvements to the existing facilities of the District; and to meet the additional operating needs of the District?
“(If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating levy of the District is estimated to increase by $0.9900 from $3.9940, currently, to $4.9840 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the 2024 Tax Year and can be applied to the assessed valuation for each year thereafter through Tax Year 2043.)”
Like many of the other efforts to get more money from taxpayers, this one also went down up in smoke with 269 against and 134 for the tax increase among Miller County voters.
Iberia R-V School District
Two Directors were needed for the Board of Education from five names on the ballot: Dusty Russell, Sandra K Geerling, Ralf M Trusty, Abbie Rae Williams and Stacy Whittle.
Williams received 254 votes, Russell 213, Trusty 196, Whittle 197 and Geerling 114
Cole County R-V School District
Residents of Miller County who are served by the Cole County School District had three issues to vote on with one being a tax increase.
The district needed two Directors for the school board with only two names on the ballot: Larry Kemna and Ryan Carrender.
One question claims to support teachers and the other supports students. The two questions were:
“PROPOSITION SUPPORTING TEACHERS
“Shall the Board of Education of the Cole County R-V School District, Missouri, be authorized to increase the operating tax levy by $0.6800 from $3.4288 to $4.1088 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the purposes of retaining and attracting quality teachers and support staff as well as meeting additional operating expenses?
“(If this proposition is approved, the adjusted operating tax levy of the District is estimated to increase by $0.6800 from $3.4288, currently, to $4.1088 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation for the 2024 Tax Year and will be applied to the assessed valuation for each year thereafter.)”
The second question was:
“PROPOSITION SUPPORTING STUDENTS
“Shall the Board of Education of the Cole County R-V School District, Missouri, borrow money in the amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) for the purpose of providing funds to construct a new security entrance into the High School; to renovate the existing Elementary School playground to expand ADA compliance and accessibility; to the extent funds are available, complete upgrades and improvements to classrooms and agriculture facilities as well as other existing facilities of the District; and issue general obligation bonds for the payment thereof resulting in an estimated increase to the debt service property tax levy of $0.1417 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation?
“(If this proposition is approved, the adjusted debt service levy of the School District is estimated to increase from $0.2383 to $0.3800 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property.)”
Combing votes in Miller and Cole Counties, voters said no to supporting students (323 against and 314 for) but yes to supporting teachers (333 yes and 306 no).
Other entities in the ballot:
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.
Two questions by the Lake Ozark Fire Protection District was approved in Camden and Miller 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.
Bagnell Special Road District
The district needs one commissioner from two names on the ballot with the results being Vernon Jaycox (124 votes) and Darrell Bunch (227 votes).
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.
Voters from Camden and Miller Counties voted down the idea of implementing a use tax.
City of Eldon
Trevor Vernon was running unopposed for Mayor as is Sarah Walker for First Ward Alderman and Terri Benjamin for Second Ward Alderman.
Third Ward had two names fighting it out for the position, Brian Phillips and Byron Hull. The vote was tied with both received 43 votes.
The City also wanted permission to issue $15,000,000 in bonds and raise taxes.
“PROPOSITION A
“Shall the City of Eldon, Missouri, issue its waterworks system revenue bonds in the amount of $15,000,000.00 (fifteen million dollars) for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, extending and improving the City’s waterworks system, the cost of operation and maintenance of said system and the principal of and interest on said revenue bonds to be payable solely from the revenues derived by the City from the operation of its waterworks system, including all future extensions and improvements thereto?”
“PROPOSITION B
“Shall the City of Eldon, Missouri impose a sales tax of one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for the purpose of providing revenues for the operation of the City fire department?”
Voters approved both issues.
City of Bagnell
Two alderman positions were open with two running unopposed for each: Julia Gampher (Ward 1) and Mandi A. Erickson (Ward 2).
City of Iberia
J.L. Parks Jr. and Stacie Howk were in the battle for Ward 1 with Howk bringing in 17 votes and Parks, 10. Nathan Duncan ran unopposed for Ward 2.
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 will also have 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.
Village of Tuscumbia
Two people are needed for the Board of Aldermen but no one filed so write-ins were needed and 15 names were written in for the two positions.
Receiving the most votes were Rodney Sullins (13 votes) and Rhonda Chevalier (11 votes).
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