Jan 29 2022
The Sch
Board's Excess Levy Election was held on Saturday, Jan 29th.
The Levy failed 278 to 348 votes against. Every precinct but
two voted against continuing the outlandish tax grab while the
Pentagon sets on millions and million of COVID dollars. The
Levy would have pulled in $2.25 million additional dollars.
Election nights normally fill the Courthouse as Clayonians stop by and watch the counting and rub bellies with politicians.
With polling places closing at 7:30, all votes were tallied and read out loud by 9:20pm
We noticed.. the election organization at the Courthouse went smooth. Every seal was in place and the public could watch every step of the process
Poor ole Sch Bd Chair Dave Mullins sat over in the corner and never moved, never smiled. He was a chewing gun chomping bump on a pickle as soon as the first precinct results were read. Superintendent Paxton came a bit late and once he looked at the results, he too never moved from his perch and never smiled. There was no joy in Mudville.
Before the last precinct was in, talk was already in progress on when they could try the Levy again. Some thought they had to wait 90 days before floating it again. One guy spoke, let's try it in the Fall.
One lady said why not try during the Primary Election in May. Big frowny lines could be seen, The greedy ones sure didn't want to try again when a larger electorate would be at the polls.
There's another problem with waiting to retry the effort. Three Boardsters, Dave Mullins, Morgy Triplett, and Cheryl White are up for re-election May 4th. If voters turn them out to pasture, the next leaders may poo poo the whole EXCESS Levy election.
Before another election is held, the Sch Bd has to vote in public to do so. Our guess, any of the three that votes to retry the Excess Levy, those folks will fail May 4th. Just a guess of course but seems to make sense. For instance, it has happened in the past, the Pentagon lost two sitting Boardsters with another (JD Morris off their group as he moved to the State Sch Bd) after voting to retry an Excess Levy .
Election nights normally fill the Courthouse as Clayonians stop by and watch the counting and rub bellies with politicians.
With polling places closing at 7:30, all votes were tallied and read out loud by 9:20pm
We noticed.. the election organization at the Courthouse went smooth. Every seal was in place and the public could watch every step of the process
Poor ole Sch Bd Chair Dave Mullins sat over in the corner and never moved, never smiled. He was a chewing gun chomping bump on a pickle as soon as the first precinct results were read. Superintendent Paxton came a bit late and once he looked at the results, he too never moved from his perch and never smiled. There was no joy in Mudville.
Before the last precinct was in, talk was already in progress on when they could try the Levy again. Some thought they had to wait 90 days before floating it again. One guy spoke, let's try it in the Fall.
One lady said why not try during the Primary Election in May. Big frowny lines could be seen, The greedy ones sure didn't want to try again when a larger electorate would be at the polls.
There's another problem with waiting to retry the effort. Three Boardsters, Dave Mullins, Morgy Triplett, and Cheryl White are up for re-election May 4th. If voters turn them out to pasture, the next leaders may poo poo the whole EXCESS Levy election.
Before another election is held, the Sch Bd has to vote in public to do so. Our guess, any of the three that votes to retry the Excess Levy, those folks will fail May 4th. Just a guess of course but seems to make sense. For instance, it has happened in the past, the Pentagon lost two sitting Boardsters with another (JD Morris off their group as he moved to the State Sch Bd) after voting to retry an Excess Levy .
Courthouse workers handling the School EXCESS Levy Election on Saturday Jan 29th
After many successful election cycles, what happened this time
around? Some thoughts...
To get an extra dig at your pocketbook to be successful, election day must be on a snowy, cold, sleety day. This Jan 29th, they got all they wanted weather wise. Total voters amounted to just 626. School leaders feel, if they get just their employees and family members, to vote, they will be successful. Didn't work this time around. The 348 no votes is nearly the number of employees in the system when you consider wives, husbands etc.
In nearly every precinct , the majority said no to continuing the extra drag. That means it wasn't just a pocket of resistance like up at Ivydale where Pentagon closed the community grade school there. It was like that years ago when leadership closed Brown Grade School. In that voting precinct even today, those folks are still peed.
Just before election day, word spread that 3600 landowners in the county have just received property tax increases of OVER 10%. 10%! Even if that equates to just a few more $$$ taken, that makes taxpayers mader.
Just five days before the election, Board Chair Dave Mullins managed to show his arss while putting his size 10 in his mouth. During the Jan 24th Board meeting , one guy asked how many kids were actually participating in the non traditional, virtual class work. Instead of saying I don't know, Mullins said the public could ask questions all they want but they (administration) would NEVER provide an answer to parents, sponsors, supporters, contributors or even the media.
Between the new assessment on property taxes, and Mullins showing his true colors, we think the public put their feets down and said Nope, not with our tax money.
But wait there's more! When's a good time to retry the Levy?
IF they try cramming the thang down our throats before the May 4th Primary election, those three incumbent Boardsters, they are toast. IF they try another attempt before the next regular election May 4th, that means they have peed away thousands upon thousands of school dollars putting on the second attempt election. But,... without snow and ice to slow voters down, that may be doomed for the Pentagon.
IF they wait until after the May 4th primary election, that's dangerous too. If any new School Boardsters come on board on May 4th, the vote to hold another Excess Levy Election, that's not a sure thing, it could be in jeopardy.
So. What else could they do to get their unneeded $2.25million?
They could talk up closing H E White Elem and or Lizemore Elem. Remember, according to the Call for the Levy, if either of those schools vote down the Levy, they can be closed. Here comes the Hmmmmmmmm... H E White voters approved the Excess in their precinct, see below. Lizemores did not. They shot it down 2 to 1.
The Pentagon has already closed down H E White in the past. While being taken to Court, the Pentagon went ahead and pulled out the schools' wiring, DSL cables, and furniture Jusge Charles King ordered the school reopened post haste.
The reckless Pentagon could attempt it again even if they support the Levy.
Dirty tricks happen all the time readers.
To get an extra dig at your pocketbook to be successful, election day must be on a snowy, cold, sleety day. This Jan 29th, they got all they wanted weather wise. Total voters amounted to just 626. School leaders feel, if they get just their employees and family members, to vote, they will be successful. Didn't work this time around. The 348 no votes is nearly the number of employees in the system when you consider wives, husbands etc.
In nearly every precinct , the majority said no to continuing the extra drag. That means it wasn't just a pocket of resistance like up at Ivydale where Pentagon closed the community grade school there. It was like that years ago when leadership closed Brown Grade School. In that voting precinct even today, those folks are still peed.
Just before election day, word spread that 3600 landowners in the county have just received property tax increases of OVER 10%. 10%! Even if that equates to just a few more $$$ taken, that makes taxpayers mader.
Just five days before the election, Board Chair Dave Mullins managed to show his arss while putting his size 10 in his mouth. During the Jan 24th Board meeting , one guy asked how many kids were actually participating in the non traditional, virtual class work. Instead of saying I don't know, Mullins said the public could ask questions all they want but they (administration) would NEVER provide an answer to parents, sponsors, supporters, contributors or even the media.
Between the new assessment on property taxes, and Mullins showing his true colors, we think the public put their feets down and said Nope, not with our tax money.
But wait there's more! When's a good time to retry the Levy?
IF they try cramming the thang down our throats before the May 4th Primary election, those three incumbent Boardsters, they are toast. IF they try another attempt before the next regular election May 4th, that means they have peed away thousands upon thousands of school dollars putting on the second attempt election. But,... without snow and ice to slow voters down, that may be doomed for the Pentagon.
IF they wait until after the May 4th primary election, that's dangerous too. If any new School Boardsters come on board on May 4th, the vote to hold another Excess Levy Election, that's not a sure thing, it could be in jeopardy.
So. What else could they do to get their unneeded $2.25million?
They could talk up closing H E White Elem and or Lizemore Elem. Remember, according to the Call for the Levy, if either of those schools vote down the Levy, they can be closed. Here comes the Hmmmmmmmm... H E White voters approved the Excess in their precinct, see below. Lizemores did not. They shot it down 2 to 1.
The Pentagon has already closed down H E White in the past. While being taken to Court, the Pentagon went ahead and pulled out the schools' wiring, DSL cables, and furniture Jusge Charles King ordered the school reopened post haste.
The reckless Pentagon could attempt it again even if they support the Levy.
Dirty tricks happen all the time readers.
Comin' up just a wittle short. The big "L" goes on those foreheads
Superintendent Joe Paxton (L), Sch Boardster Dave Mullins (R)
Here's the numbers
Precinct
1a Harrison
18 for, 19 against
Precinct 15-a Valley Fork / Hively 49 for, 46 against
Precinct 24a Nebo 12 for, 21 against
Precinct 25a Ivydale 12 for, 56 against
Precinct 4b Widen/Dille 3 for, 1 against
Precinct 12b Clay 14 for, 16 against
Precinct 17b Dundon/ 2Run 47 for, 57 against
Precinct 33b Hartland, Bickmore 28 for, 38 against
Precinct 29c Lizemore 24 for, 55 against
Precinct 36c Bomont 54 for, 24 against
Precinct 37c Dulls Creek 17 for, 15 against
Total For: 278; Against: 348
Total 626 ballots cast
Precinct 15-a Valley Fork / Hively 49 for, 46 against
Precinct 24a Nebo 12 for, 21 against
Precinct 25a Ivydale 12 for, 56 against
Precinct 4b Widen/Dille 3 for, 1 against
Precinct 12b Clay 14 for, 16 against
Precinct 17b Dundon/ 2Run 47 for, 57 against
Precinct 33b Hartland, Bickmore 28 for, 38 against
Precinct 29c Lizemore 24 for, 55 against
Precinct 36c Bomont 54 for, 24 against
Precinct 37c Dulls Creek 17 for, 15 against
Total For: 278; Against: 348
Total 626 ballots cast
AW