MOUNT GILEAD — Of the 25,317 registered voters in Morrow County, 51.95 percent, or 13,152 voters, cast ballots Tuesday. Poll workers returning with ballots from Congress Township and other precincts called the turnout “huge.”
Morrow County Commissioner Warren Davis said, “I’m elated to have 911 pass. Thank you to everyone who supported it. The service is vital to the community.”
The 911 issue that increased the annual tax on an improved land parcel by $25, passed by 142 votes, with 6,479 yes to 6,337 no votes.
Davis also expressed surprise and disappointment at the defeat of the Morrow County OSU Extension levy for renewal by just 82 votes. It was lost by 6,465 votes against with 6,383 yes votes.
A group of Extension levy supporters watched the numbers show a possible passage all through the evening and saw it go down in defeat when the last couple precincts came in. Both Eddie Lou Meimer and OSU Extension Educator Becky Barker said it is most likely that they will have the levy on the ballot again next fall.
The Mount Gilead Schools Income Tax Levy lost by just 27 votes with 1,599 no votes and 1,572 votes for the levy.
Mount Gilead Schools Superintendent Jeff Thompson thanked the levy committee for their hard work and for running a good campaign.
“I believe the committee did all they could,” Thompson said. “We will wait for a final count and go to the board to consider our next steps.”
A gathering of about 30 residents stopped in at the Morrow County Board of Elections to watch the results. The unofficial count for the county was completed at about 9:20 p.m. Votes need to be certified before being official.
In other local levies, all nine fire levies passed. The Cardington Village 2.1 mill levy passed while the Cardington Village 3.9 mill levy failed with 289 against and 267 votes for the levy. The Cardington Township 1 mill levy also passed with 665 for and 345 against the levy.
The Gilead Township Roads 1 mill passed with 1,319 yes votes and 896 no votes. The Washington Township Cemetery 0.5 mill levy passed and the Perry Township 0.5 mill levy failed by 314 to 177.
Another issue that was closely watched by Morrow County Sheriff John Hinton and Common Pleas Court Judge Robert Hickson was State Issue I concerning the Constitutional Amendment to change penalties for drug offenders.
Hickson was relieved to see that State Issue 1 was failing statewide. “It (Issue 1) would have undermined programs already in place in the state and in our county,” Hickson said.
Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky, received more than 72 percent of the vote in Morrow County and will retain his seat in the 87th district, Ohio House of Representatives.
Morrow County Court of Common Pleas Judge Robert Hickson received 9,078 complimentary votes. Morrow County Treasurer Michael Goff got 10,272.
Tom Whiston received 9,974 votes to retain his unopposed seat on the Morrow County Board of Commissioners.
Board of Elections Deputy Director Julie Logan said the board of election will be checking over 100 provisional ballots to see if the voters were registered in our county or in the state. The board will then check to make sure they didn’t vote in another county before they are counted here.
Votes postmarked Nov. 5 that come in the next few days will also be counted. After provisional ballots are verified, the final count will be completed by Nov. 27 to become official.
Full local results of all 33 precincts; all unofficial until certified:
• Cardington Village, Renewal, 2.1 mills, 5 years, current expenses. FOR 293; AGAINST 269.
• Cardington Village, Renewal, 3.9 mills, 5 years, current expenses. FOR 267; AGAINST 289.
• Mount Gilead Village, Renewal, 1.5 mills, 5 years, fire protection. FOR 707; AGAINST 401.
• Cardington Township,Renewal, 1 mill, 5 years,general construction, repair of streets, roads & bridges. FOR 665; AGAINST 345.
• Franklin Township, Renewal, 2.5 mills, 3 years, general construction, repair of streets, roads & bridges. FOR 439; AGAINST 192.
• Franklin Township, Renewal, 1.5 mills, 5 years, fire protection. FOR 429; AGAINST 205.
• Gilead Township, Renewal, 1 mill, 5 years, general construction, repair of streets, roads & bridges. FOR 1,319; AGAINST 896.
• Gilead Township, Renewal, 2.5 mills, 5 years, fire protection (excludes Edison Village) FOR 1,209; AGAINST 855.
• Harmony Township, Renewal, 1 mill, 5 years, fire protection. FOR 616; AGAINST 343.
• Lincoln Township,Renewal, 1.5 mills, 5 years,fire protection. FOR 455; AGAINST 208.
• North Bloomfield Township,Renewal, 1 mill, 5 years, fire protection. FOR 488; AGAINST 234.
• Perry Township, Additional, 0.5 mill, 5 years, operating cemeteries. FOR 177; AGAINST 314.
• Perry-Congress Joint Fire District, Renewal, 1 mill, 3 years, fire protection. FOR 1,010; AGAINST 726.
• Perry-Congress Joint Fire District, Renewal., 0.5 mills. FOR 1,095; AGAINST 649.
• Troy Township, Renewal, 2.3 mills, 5 years, fire protection. FOR 291; AGAINST 181.
• Washington Township, Renewal, 0.5 mill, 5 years,operating cemeteries. FOR 337; AGAINST 126.
