The voters of Hickory County arrived at the polls Tuesday, April 7 for this year’s municipal election. In doing so, they agreed to a tax credit for seniors, while once again rejecting the idea of a county usage tax for online sales. What had been considered the most hotly contested race was whether or not Hickory County should form a taxable fire protection district and that effort was soundly defeated. Other items on the ballot concerned electing city council and school board members in the various precincts.
Out of the 7,024 registered voters in Hickory County, only 1,291 showed up to cast their ballots. This resulted in an 18.3% turnout rate.
FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT DENIED
To start was the question if voters in four precincts would approve the formation of the Hickory County Community Fire Protection District. The idea had been proposed as a way to offer more effective fire service to a large slate of the county, particularity in Preston, Cross Timbers and portions of Hermitage, Urbana and Pittsburg, including enhanced training, better equipment and possibly even firefighter salaries. To do this, it was believed, called for establishing a tax basis that could provide revenue for essential services.
The voters rejected this measure overwhelmingly, at a rate of 84.3%-15.7%. Out of 420 votes tallied in the four precincts, 354 people said No and 66 said Yes.
SENIOR TAX RELIEF APPROVED
The Hickory County Commission had placed two items on the election ballot, with both being simple yes or no questions. The first of these was whether or not to approve a senior citizen tax credit, which local voters did by a margin of 69%-31%.
The Missouri Property Tax Credit Claim gives back a portion of the rent or real estate tax paid for that year by persons 65 and older, or persons 18-64 that receive SSI, SSD, or veterans disability. The Missouri State Legislature voted years ago to allow counties to offer this same tax credit relief to their older residents, but only if passed by a vote of the people. Out of eight Hickory County precincts, 1,262 votes were tallied and of these 870 people said Yes and 392 said No.
USAGE TAX DENIED
The second question from the Hickory County Commission was whether or not to start collecting usage taxes from online sales. It was rejected. This measure had been put before the local voters before and was rejected then as well.
The reason this was brought up was because Hickory County is not allowed to make use of tax revenue generated from online sales. As it stands now, and how it will continue to be for the foreseeable future, is that anytime a purchase is made through an online retailer taxes are still collected, but are turned back over to the retailer. State law says that Hickory County may make use of that money for essential services, such as roads and bridges, but only if agreed upon by local citizens. Without that approval, the money is taken from Hickory County citizens, but does not benefit Hickory County.
Out of 1,266 votes cast in eight precincts, 830 people said No and 436 said Yes for a rate of 65.5%-34.4%.
LOCAL CANDIDATES
A number of citizens were seeking seats on area city councils and school boards this year, the heart and soul of municipal elections.
HERMITAGE
Out of two precincts, 47 votes were cast to re-elect Richard Reeves as Mayor. He was running unopposed. Christina Thoele was re-elected as Alderwoman At Large with 43 votes. She was also running unopposed.
WHEATLAND
Three citizens were running for the two open two year seats on the Wheatland City Council as Alderpersons At Large. With 70 total votes cast in two precincts, Wileta Kellison and Deanna Henderson were elected. Kellison received 25 votes or 35.7% and Henderson received 23 votes or 32.8%. Randy Besser picked up 22 votes or 31.4%.
There was also a race for a one-year seat on the Wheatland City Council. Pastor David Stewart was elected over Martha Igo. Out of 41 votes cast, Stewart received 27 or 65.8% and Igo earned 14 or 34.1%.
The Wheatland R-2 School District had five people vying for three seats on the Wheatland School Board. Sara Box, TJ Sawyer and Darrell Rife were all elected to fill the open three year seats. Out of 819 votes in six precincts, Box received 224 or 27.3% and Sawyer picked up 213 or 26%. Rife earned 194 votes or 23.6%. Other candidates were Coy Crouch (101 or 12.3%) and Brett Manczuk (87 or 10.6%).
WEAUBLEAU
Weaubleau had one race on the ballot, that of a three year seat on the Weaubleau R-3 School Board. Six people were vying for the three open seats, with the voters choosing Linda Peppers, Joel Stokes and Brian Hackelman over Jason Daggett, Ashley Hunt and Jonathan E Murray.
Out of 382 votes cast in three precincts, Peppers received 76 or 19.9% and Stokes picked up 75 or 19.6%. Hackelman had 68 votes or 17.8%. Daggett earned 56 votes or 14.6%. Murray had 55 votes or 14.4%. Hunt had 52 votes or 13.6%.
CROSS TIMBERS
There was one race for Cross Timbers City Council, a two year seat for Alderman At Large. Coli Creach was running unopposed and picked up all 23 votes. No one filed for the one year alderman seat and thus no election was held.
OTHER RACES
There were several races for school board and fire protection district members in areas of the county that are barely within the borders, such as with the Bolivar and Climax Springs School Districts and Northwest Fire Protection District.
Six Hickory County citizens voted for three out of four people running for open seats on the Bolivar School Board. Daniel Goodman and Mike Ryan received two votes each or 33%. Dale Anderson and Ronald Owens each earned a vote or 16.6%.
Fifteen Hickory County citizens voted for three out of five people running for the open seats on the Climax Springs School Board. Shannon Hodges and Marilyn Emery each earned four votes or 26.6%. Ryan Williams and Maryellen Noland each picked up three votes or 20%. Cody Noel had one vote.
One vote was cast for a six year term as a member of the Northwest Fire Board. It went to Michael Cundiff over Melissa Missy Walker. One vote was cast for a four year term as a member of the Northwest Fire Board. It went to Twyla Craven over William Sharp and Tammy Gilbert.
