— by Lin McNulty —
The votes are all in, they are tallied, and the results from the Feb. 14 election in San Juan County are certified.
A turnout of 2,215 voters (51.98 percent of registered voters) clinched the ballot decisions in favor of increasing the number of Fire Commissioners from three to five members (70.17 percent of ballots cast), and dealt defeat to the Orcas School District levy (59.86 percent of ballots cast). In order to succeed the School District levy required an approval rate of 60 percent.
| Number of Precincts | 6 |
| Number of Registered Voters | 4,261 |
| Total Ballots Counted | 2,215 |
| Estimated Ballots Left to Count | |
| Next Ballot Count On | FINAL |
| Last Tabulated | 02/24/2017 8:37 AM |
| Voter Turnout | 51.98% |
| Certification Date | 02/24/2017 |
| Export Results | CSV · XML | Precincts CSV |
School
|
Orcas Island School Dist #137 Proposition No. 1 Bonds to Construct, Renovate and Improve School Facilities – $8,000,000
|
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| Measure | Vote | Vote % |
|---|---|---|
|
Approved
|
1,323 | 59.86% |
|
Rejected
|
887 | 40.14% |
| Total Votes (not including write-ins) | 2,210 | |
Fire
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SJC Fire Protection District #2 Proposition No. 1 Increase in the Number of Commissioners
|
||
| Measure | Vote | Vote % |
|---|---|---|
|
Approved
|
1,470 | 70.17% |
|
Rejected
|
625 | 29.83% |
| Total Votes (not including write-ins) | 2,095 | |
The results here truly show that every vote counts. If only five more people had voted, the bond would have passed, OR if three voters had been FOR rather than against the measure, it would have passed.
Now what ?? Presumably the School District still needs the bond funds for projects that need to be addressed. The challenge to the School Board is to understand WHY the bond just failed and take a different approach to reaching its objective. Though I had misgivings about some aspects of the recent proposal, I voted in favor of its passage. As a minimum, the District needs to do a better job of selling its need for approval of the Bond.
Ed, selling my not be the answer, but listening and understanding why enough voted against this itinitive for it not to pass. While by a very slight margin, I thing it could be more supported by larger mass. At least that would be my hope..
Folks will step up and help make this happen for an immediate turn around.
Clyde
Could it be the track?
The track is needed and would be great asset for both the school and the community. Lopez Island School District, with an enrollment of less than half that of Orcas, has had a great track for decades (and has produced a few state champions). They did it with the help of Lopez community donors and local construction companies.
The bigger problem here is that Orcas has a very poor record in supporting their school in the elections. Lopez, on the other hand, passes every single school election!
Dick Evans
evans@orcasonline.com
It could have been worse, as my wife and I
had our ballots filled in with a no vote on the school issue and she had to haul me off to a Seattle hospital.
I will write an letter to the editor as to why our local parks and the School district could not join together. When I see the fancy dog park I would suspect a track not cost could much more and jointly equipt it. Dick
Dick,
As a Park and Rec Commissioner, I welcome your letter. We always appreciate input from the public.
With regards to the track on Park and Rec land, the Buck Park property is simply not suited to having a track located there (for many geographical and logistical reasons).
With regard to the new off-leash area, that is a Public/Private partnership between OOLA (the 501c3 representing the offleash area), the Land Bank and Orcas Park and Rec. OOLA is the primary funding entity for that job and has raised much of their money from private donations and grants.
Having lived on Orcas for 42 years, it is useful to remember the differences between Lopez and Orcas with regard to sports teams. In those years past, when my sons were in high school, Lopez did not have sufficient students to field a football team or baseball/softball teams. So … track became an alternative.
As an aside, the oldtimers will remember the basketball games in that quonset hut building where the sidelines of the basketball court were about two feet wide. In our rural communities, we work with what we have and can afford.
Thanks Ed, perspective is important. As well as historical information from our past young parents. The opportunity to do all that is needed and even wanted is here. Let’s all step up and make this so.
The school has serious needs, and they have an incredible opportunity to have something special.
Justin put out on facebook a discussion page. Look it up and participate in a resolve that gets this to the voters ASAP.
Good point about Lopez Ed! Lopez still has no baseball or football program. Track is a great alternative for them. Orcas is already facing life without a football team due to lack of athletes. Do we want baseball to go away as well?
By the way –as a note of correction–I played in that quanset hut on Lopez in teh 70’s.– there was no sideline in the corners and if there were a three point line back then you would have been out of bounds shooting one!
;=)