Five proposals across three counties were vying for voter approval on Tuesday.
They included two ballot proposals for the Leland Township Fire and Rescue Department, a Kalkaska Public Transit Authority millage proposal, a Kalkaska County Commission on Aging millage renewal and restoration, and an Elk Rapids District Library bond proposal.
KALKASKA COUNTY
Kalkaska County voters approved proposals for public transit and the commission on aging by wide margins.
With all 12 precincts reporting, unofficial results showed more than 75 percent of voters approved the commission on aging’s six-year millage renewal, which will continue the 0.5-mill rate ($0.50 per $1,000 in taxable value) on all properties to provide funding for operations, expenses and improvements.
The commission helps residents of the county aged 60 and older maintain their independence. Millage funds will be used to expand the Meals on Wheels program, address senior housing, replace three furnaces over the next five years and expand a parking lot.
The Kalkaska Public Transit Authority five-year 0.4-mill levy to fund operation and maintenance costs passed with just less than 68 percent of the vote.
In addition to general operations and maintenance costs, the transit authority will use millage funds to expand non-emergency medical transportation services and countywide door-to-door services. Some of the funds would be invested in a computerized dispatch software system to optimize passenger bookings and ensure compliance with required state and federal reporting standards.
LEELANAU COUNTY
Two proposals for the Leland Township Fire and Rescue Department passed on Tuesday.
Voters overwhelmingly approved the renewal of the expired millage to fund equipment and training for the department. More than 83 percent voted to approve the levy of 0.5 mills ($0.50 per $1,000 of taxable value) on all taxable property in Leland Township for three years.
The millage will help cover the costs of recruiting, retaining and training employees, and equipment costs, like new vehicles, repairs, personal protective equipment, tools and office furniture.
Over 75 percent of voters approved renewing the expired operating millage and increasing it from 2.1 mills to 2.9 mills ($2.90 per $1,000 of taxable value) for three years to fund operational costs of the department.
It will cover the day-to-day expenses including payroll, insurance and other benefits. The increase could allow the Leland Fire Station to hire an additional full-time staff member. This would allow staffing of two firefighters/medical providers in Lake Leelanau and two firefighter/medical providers in Leland.
“The entire county has seen an upward trend in the number of calls for service we are called to, the additional construction projects, and service demands from the community,” Fire Chief Dan Besson said prior to the election.
ANTRIM COUNTY
The Elk Rapids District Library $3.54-million bond proposal passed with just over 65 percent of voters supporting the measure.
The 12-year bond will levy 0.36 mills ($36 for every $100,000 in taxable value) on all taxable property in the Village of Elk Rapids, Milton Township and Elk Rapids Township.
The funds will pay for the construction and renovation costs to move the library to 8980 Cairn Highway in the Village of Elk Rapids.
The new library is expected to improve disability access, provide more space for workshops, community events and study areas, and expand outreach and community partnerships.
The library hopes to cover the rest of the $7 million project with fundraising and has already raised over $2.5 million of the $3.5 million goal.
The project is expected to break ground in 2026 with a move-in date in 2027.
ELECTION DAY
Clerks in Antrim, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties reported light voter turnout at polling places Tuesday.
“We haven’t had any more than two people in at a time today,” Kristie Swikoski, Kalkaska Township clerk, said.
Despite the lower in-person voting, she said the township was expected to have a “normal” number of voters, around 500 to 700.
This could be due to the permanent absentee ballot roll doubling in size since last year. “We have way more people doing that instead of coming in person,” Swikoski said.
In Leelanau County, 29 percent of registered voters submitted ballots in Tuesday’s election.
Lyn Drzewiecki, deputy county clerk for Leelanau, said that over half the absentee ballots (482 out of 717) had been returned prior to Election Day.
The day seemed to go smoothly, according to the county clerks who reported no issues or disturbances at 3:30 p.m. Swikoski described voters as “jovial.”
Unofficial results are posted on the county clerk’s website and “most of the time when they canvass, they don’t find any differences,” Annette Marcus, chief deputy clerk for Antrim County, said.
Results will remain unofficial until the canvassers certify the results. For Antrim County, the canvassers will arrive at 9 a.m. on Thursday to begin their work, Marcus said.