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$29.5M Iowa Central vote is today

Where and when to cast ballots on bond issue

-Messenger graphic This image represents the tax percentage breakdown for a typical residential property in Fort Dodge.

Voters in nine counties will today decide the fate of a $29.5 million bond issue for improvements at Iowa Central Community College.

The money would pay for, among other things, a new student services building at the college’s main campus in Fort Dodge and two more career academies for high school students in outlying communities.

It would also pay for safety and security improvements, according to college President Dan Kinney.

The bond would be paid with property tax revenue. College officials have estimated that paying off the bond debt would raise the property tax bill for the owner of a house valued at $100,000 by $1.04 a month.

The bond must receive the support of at least 60 percent of those who vote.

The bond vote is taking place in Buena Vista, Calhoun, Greene, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Sac, Webster and Wright counties.

The bond would finance eight major initiatives. Here is a summary of them.

• Student services center — $9 million

This would be a new building on the Fort Dodge campus to house all the various offices that help students who are struggling with their college work or need help figuring out their career path. Those offices are now in multiple places around the campus.

The new 44,000-square-foot building would be on the west side of the pond on the campus.

• Career academies — $5 million

Career academies allow the college to partner with local high schools and communities to offer technical and general education courses.

The college already has one career academy in Eagle Grove. College leaders plan to use the $5 million to establish two more academies.

The exact locations for the proposed new academies haven’t been determined, but Albert City, Laurens and Lohrville have all been mentioned as possible sites.

• General updates — $5 million

This $5 million would be spent on various building upgrades at the Fort Dodge, Webster City, Storm Lake and Eagle Grove campuses.

• Decker Auditorium — $4 million

Decker Auditorium, built in 1978, would be remodeled.

“We’re starting to run into electrical problems and sound problems,” college President Dan Kinney said. “It is one of the larger venues in the region and hosts over 100 events each year.”

• Safety and security upgrades — $3 million

The money would be used to upgrade camera systems, lights and door locks. Outdated electrical systems would also be replaced.

“We have a very safe campus, but we can’t rest on that,” Kinney said.

• More classroom space — $1.5 million

The money would enable the college to create 10 new classrooms.

• Reserve fund — $1.5 million

This money would be set aside to fully implement the college’s capital investment plan in the future.

• Elevator — $500,000

A new elevator would be installed at the college’s Webster City center.

Click here for a list of polling places and hours.

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