The Free Press, Mankato, MN - $33.5 million proposal passes by 400 votes

Sun, Nov 08 2009

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School officials, including Supt. Ed Waltman (at computer), cheered as the final precincts reported Tuesday night. Only two precincts voted down the Mankato Area School District’s $33.5 million bond referendum that includes the construction of a new elementary school on Mankato’s east side.
Pat Christman / The Free Press

During Tuesday’s vote on the Mankato Area School District’s $33.5 million bond referendum, 5,824 people cast their ballots. The referendum passed with a 53 percent majority.
John Cross / The Free Press

Published April 29, 2008 11:39 pm - With all precincts reporting, the vote is:
POLLING PLACE YES NO
East High School 557 509
Franklin Elementary 407 480
Taylor Center 330 196
Intergovernmental Center 255 186
West High School 352 308
Eagle Lake Elementary 150 121
Madison Lake Community Center 73 132
Monroe Elementary 234 233
Hoover Elementary 327 284
Dakota Meadows Middle School 427 263

Total 3,112 2,712

$33.5 million proposal passes by 400 votes
Elementary construction to begin in 2009

By Tanner Kent
The Free Press

MANKATO —

Precinct by precinct, the votes on the Mankato Area School District’s $33.5 million bond referendum trickled in Tuesday night.

The Franklin Elementary precinct — which was among the first to report — voted against the measure 480-401. Vote tallies at the Taylor Center and the Intergovernmental Center were supportive, but close.

School Board chairperson Ann Hendricks joked about needing Advil or Rolaids, depending on the outcome. Supt. Ed Waltman noted that voter turnouts mirrored those of the November operating referendum.

No one, however, dared predict the outcome.

But as more precincts reported, the end result became clear. Only two turned down the referendum — the Madison Lake precinct was the other — as the measure passed 3,112 to 2,712.

“There probably couldn’t have been a more difficult time for our citizens to say yes,” Waltman said. “We are so appreciative of the support they’ve given consistently over the years.”

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