Highway district, Cambridge elections May 21

By: 
Steve Lyon

Elections are on tap for voters in the Cambridge School District, the city of Cambridge and the Weiser Valley Highway District on Tuesday, May 21.
 Voters in Cambridge will decide the fate of a couple of funding measures on the ballot for the city and school district.
 Voting will take place at the exhibit hall at the Washington County Fairgrounds from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early or absentee voting at the county courthouse will take place until 5 p.m. on Friday.
 The city of Cambridge is seeking voter approval to raise up to $1.75 million in special revenue bonds to pay for water system improvements, including arsenic treatment.
 If approved, city water customers will pay off the debt over a period of time not to exceed 40 years. Approval of the ballot measure requires a simple majority of votes in favor of it.
 The city currently has only one source for drinking water that has been approved by the DEQ. The city has been told it needs a backup well in the event the main water source is inoperable for an extended period of time.
 The city plans to use the old No. 1 well in Tower Park as the backup water supply, but that source contains naturally occurring arsenic above federal levels. The well can only be used in an emergency for up to 60 days because of the arsenic level.
 The city council approved putting a special revenue bond on the May 21 ballot to upgrade the No. 1 well with some form of arsenic treatment.
 The city secured a grant to study what it would cost to bring the No. 1 well back online. The grant paid for the planning and design, but revenue from the bond is needed to install arsenic treatment on the well.
 Cambridge is applying for a a couple of grants. If the city is successful, that would reduce the debt the city would take on for the water system. It’s unlikely any water system improvements would start before 2020.
 Cambridge School District trustees are seeking approval by voters of a funding request to repair and update school buildings.
 The proposed plant and facilities levy would raise $100,000 annually in property tax dollars for five years for a total of $500,000.
 The levy requires a simple majority to pass. If approved, the proposed plant and facilities levy would cost homeowners $49.78 per $100,000 of assessed value, according to school district officials.
 Residents living in the city of Cambridge will vote on both the city and school district ballot measures. School district residents living outside of the city limits will only vote on the school district levy. The district takes in portions of both Washington and Adams counties.
 Voters in the Weiser Valley Highway District will elect a highway commissioner on the district’s governing board. Incumbent Bruce Winegar filed to retain his seat representing subdistrict 3. He has been challenged by Tim Smedley.
 Voting in the highway district election on May 21 will take place at the Weiser School District office (armory building) on Pioneer Road from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 Voters in the district can also cast their ballot early at the Washington County Courthouse through Friday at 5 p.m.
 In addition to the May 21 special election, there will be a general election in November for other offices. In odd-numbered years in Idaho, county voters will elect officials to serve on cemetery, fire protection, recreation and school board trustees in November.
 The county clerk’s office also will run city elections in Weiser, Midvale and Cambridge on Nov. 5. Only residents of those respective incorporated cities can run for office and only residents can vote in city elections.
 The filing period for city offices begins Aug. 26 and ends Sept. 6.

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