Bond issue votes draw mixed results

Voters in two northeast Iowa counties have rejected multi-million dollar bond issues.Winneshiek County voters turned down a 20-million dollar bond measure to help build an ethanol plant. The measure needed 60-percent approval, but got only 46-percent. The proposed 57-million dollar plant would’ve been built between Ossian and Calmar, and would’ve employed 30 workers. In nearby Allamakee County, an eight-and-a-half million dollar school bond issue was turned down by voters in the Allamakee School District. The vote only got 49-percent approval, it needed 60 percent. A one-cent local option sales tax for all three Allamakee County school districts did pass.It was a bittersweet night for the East Union School District last night. Voters in Union County approved an extra cent sales tax, but East Union voters failed to approved a two-point-seven million dollar bond issue. East Union Superintendent Rich Turner says it’s time for the district to do some research.Turner says they need to talk with residents to see what they want for the district.Creston voters approved three issues last night; an extra penny sales tax, a 14-million dollar bond issue and a tax levy for school improvements. Creston Superintendent Tim Hood credited those who worked to pass the issues.Hood says they can now move forward with plans to improve the district’s facilities.The closest margin was the 63-percent approval of the tax levy, all three needed 60-percent approval.