Photo (from left): Carroll Public Library Launch Committee members, Jonathon Pogge-Weaver, Janet Auge and Sondra Rierson, celebrate the unofficial results that got the $3.8 million library referendum vote over the needed 60 percent, plus one vote, to pass
The community of Carroll has spoken, with an unofficial tally of 1,792 votes in favor and 1,101 votes against for the renovation of the current Carroll city offices into a new library space. This provided them with a 62 percent margin for the referendum vote that required 60 percent plus one for approval. There were several members of the library launch committee at the courthouse Tuesday night, anxiously awaiting results of the long-awaited, long-debated Carroll Public Library bond referendum vote. Janet Auge was one of those members and she says coming into Election Day, they felt like the community response was high, that there was a lot of community involvement and a lot of people that were positive on wanting a new Carroll. Even with that type of support beforehand, Sondra Rierson says it was a tense day.
Rierson says that the support is an affirmation that this is what is right for Carroll. She and fellow committee member, Jonathon Pogge-Weaver, say the super majority win is a sign that going forward this community is taking a step in the right direction to make Carroll a better place.
Although the election is not over until made official by the receipt and counting of the 80 absentee ballots that have not yet come in and by a formal canvassing of the vote by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors Monday morning, Janet Auge says the committee will take some time to celebrate, but continue on with their original mission of moving Carroll forward.
The committee members present wanted to thank the City Council and the Mayor, the donors who gave to the foundation, the Moehn and Milligan families for the donation of the Commercial Savings Bank building that really kick-started this whole project as well as the yes voters and everyone who put their opinion out there, sharing it with friends, families and even strangers. Jacob Fiscus says he wants to give a special thanks to the launch group that worked so hard on the campaign for the new library.
The other item on the ballot for Tuesday’s election was that for the at-large Carroll City Council seat. LaVern Dirkx received 1440 votes, Ron “Woody” Beyer received 326 votes and Matthew Hodges finished the night with 725 votes. We will bring you more on this part of the election in an upcoming broadcast.
