WEM Building Request Resoundingly Defeated

More than six in 10 people voting in the Waterville-Elysian-Morristown ISD 2143 building bond special election said no to the district's $28.66 million proposal.

Voting Tuesday took place in the school buildings in Elysian, Morristown and Waterville and the turnout was exceptional, with 920 votes cast in Waterville, 621 in Morristown and 479 in Elysian.

The final tally was 1,366 no votes (65.3 percent) and 727 yes. Here is the breakdown by community: Waterville, 527 no (57.3 percent) and 393 yes, Elysian, 333 no (69.5 percent) and 146 yes; Morristown, 460 no (74.1 percent) and 161 yes. Absentee votes were 46 no and 27 yes.

During an AM Minnesota program last week in Waterville, Superintendent Joel Whitehurst told listeners if the request were defeated they would have to head back to the drawing board and find out why people voted it down. He emphasized the need to maintain the buildings' infrastructure, meet code requirements and bring the facilities up to current educational standards would still exist.

The proposal called for refurbishment of buildings in Waterville and Morristown. School district officials say the last time major renovations were completed on the Waterville building was 73 years ago and 36 years ago on the Morristown building.