Print
E-mail
Comment
Copperfield trail proposal shot down by voters, residents call for more transparency
 |
| Some voters were unaware that voting for the Copperfield Trail Bond was being held at the community center next to Labay Middle School. Despite this factor, more than 900 people showed up to vote, with more than 500 voting against the proposal. |
By VAL CLIFTON
Water Control Improvement District 145’s $9.5 million bond proposal to construct a 15.5-mile trail system in Copperfield was turned down by the majority of voters who made their way to the neighborhood’s community center Nov. 4.
Of the 902 who cast their ballot, 512 voted against the proposal which would have more than doubled yearly WCID taxes for residents.
Board member Richard Rue said he was disappointed with the outcome of the election, but said the district will meet again to discuss future plans for the bond proposal.
“There are people that are putting out incorrect information about the bond election,” Rue said.“The board will meet again and discuss any future plans we have for the bond proposal.”
Easton Commons resident Mark Kishbaugh, who sits on the Board of Directors for Municipal Utility District 179, said the proposal was a nice idea, but not enough information was given to voters in the district.
“It’s something that would be very wonderful to have in the community, but I think a lot of people rebelled against the way it was presented,” Kishbaugh said. “They really felt like they had been slighted… It’s not so much the idea, it’s the underhanded way it’s being done.”
He said one of the lessons that can be taken away from the election is the need for improved communication from government entities.
“I think the constituents demand more transparent government and better quality communications,” Kishbaugh said. “Not everyone is going to be equally as motivated to participate in their government, but that does not relieve the government of its responsibility to its people.”
Donna Morris was one of those residents who felt the populace had been ill-informed. To shorten the learning curve for her neighbors, she helped organize a grassroots effort to inform her fellow residents of the bond election.
Morris handed out fliers, sent mass e-mails and communicated to residents via the Middlegate blog site.
“I actually went to the polling location where they were holding the election and stood there with the proposition,” Morris said. “I talked to every voter that came through that I possibly could.”
During her informational campaign, she said she met Rue and two other board members who informed her that another election for the proposal would be coming up.
“They’re going to have another election in May and they said they would have elections until this thing is passed,” Morris said.
The most upsetting aspect, she said, was that homeowners association board members didn’t take on the responsibility of notifying their residents.
Morris said if WCID 145 wants the proposal to pass, they need to get the community more involved in the process.
“Lay it all out on the table, notify them of what’s going on, get their comments and find out what they want,” she said. “Because if it’s not good for the community and the people who are paying for it, then it brings nothing to the table for us.”
Of the 902 who cast their ballot, 512 voted against the proposal which would have more than doubled yearly WCID taxes for residents.
Board member Richard Rue said he was disappointed with the outcome of the election, but said the district will meet again to discuss future plans for the bond proposal.
“There are people that are putting out incorrect information about the bond election,” Rue said.“The board will meet again and discuss any future plans we have for the bond proposal.”
Easton Commons resident Mark Kishbaugh, who sits on the Board of Directors for Municipal Utility District 179, said the proposal was a nice idea, but not enough information was given to voters in the district.
“It’s something that would be very wonderful to have in the community, but I think a lot of people rebelled against the way it was presented,” Kishbaugh said. “They really felt like they had been slighted… It’s not so much the idea, it’s the underhanded way it’s being done.”
He said one of the lessons that can be taken away from the election is the need for improved communication from government entities.
“I think the constituents demand more transparent government and better quality communications,” Kishbaugh said. “Not everyone is going to be equally as motivated to participate in their government, but that does not relieve the government of its responsibility to its people.”
Donna Morris was one of those residents who felt the populace had been ill-informed. To shorten the learning curve for her neighbors, she helped organize a grassroots effort to inform her fellow residents of the bond election.
Morris handed out fliers, sent mass e-mails and communicated to residents via the Middlegate blog site.
“I actually went to the polling location where they were holding the election and stood there with the proposition,” Morris said. “I talked to every voter that came through that I possibly could.”
During her informational campaign, she said she met Rue and two other board members who informed her that another election for the proposal would be coming up.
“They’re going to have another election in May and they said they would have elections until this thing is passed,” Morris said.
The most upsetting aspect, she said, was that homeowners association board members didn’t take on the responsibility of notifying their residents.
Morris said if WCID 145 wants the proposal to pass, they need to get the community more involved in the process.
“Lay it all out on the table, notify them of what’s going on, get their comments and find out what they want,” she said. “Because if it’s not good for the community and the people who are paying for it, then it brings nothing to the table for us.”
Submit a Comment
|
You must be logged in to post a comment.
|
Not yet a registered member?
Click here to become one. Comments to stories and articles on the Web site are not edited or pre-approved before appearing online. Readers posting comments are solely responsible for those comments. Comments must be germane to the story to which they apply. Online comments that are libelous, profane or personally attack another site participant can be reported as abuse using the link provided on each comment. Comments reported as abusive will be reviewed and may be removed from view, as will off-topic comments. BE CIVIL. Individuals continually posting abusive comments to the site may have their registrations revoked. |
Gueters2 wrote on Nov 11, 2008 4:17 PM:
because most residents were unaware of the Bond Election.
That's why I started a community message board in order to notify
community residents.
http://members4.boardhost.com/Gueters3/ "