‘Unbelievable’
Voters back aquatic center by slim marginBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Article Photos
Fort Dodge voters decided Tuesday that they want an aquatic center.
With a 60 percent majority needed to approve the bond issue and launch the project, 61.15 percent of those voting came out in favor of the project.
''This is huge,'' said Neven Mulholland, a spokesman for the committee pushing for the project. ''No body has any idea how important this is.''
But it didn't always look like a success for the aquatic center supporters. After the polls closed, the first set of vote totals released by the Webster County auditor's office showed the proposal being defeated by a slim margin.
Within an hour of releasing those results, the auditor's office produced the new version. Auditor Carol Messerly said the first batch of numbers didn't include the absentee ballots. Adding the absentee ballots pushed the total number of "yes" votes over the needed 60 percent margin.
The corrected set of unofficial returns showed the aquatic center bond issue passed by a margin of 61.15 percent to 38.85 percent.
Mulholland, who happily returned to the Webster County Courthouse late Tuesday night to get the corrected vote returns, called his group's reversal of fortune ''unbelievable.''
''You talk about Lazarus coming back from the dead,'' he said. ''I've never seen anything like it.''
Two vocal opponents of the plan, Jim Koll and Richard Higgins, celebrated the initial election results, but were more somber when they picked up the corrected numbers.
''I congratulate them,'' Koll said. ''It was a good fight on both sides. They did a good job.''
''I don't question their motives at all,'' Koll added.
According to figures released by the auditor's office, 6,479 of the city's 16,173 voters participated. Messerly called that ''one of the better turnouts'' for a city special election.
She noted that about 5,500 city voters turned out for the March 23, 2004, referendum that legalized casino gambling in Webster County.
Tuesday's vote allows the city government to borrow up to $8.95 million to pay for the center, demolishing Expo Pool and creating a new park next to the center.
That debt would be paid off with property tax revenue. Retiring that debt is estimated to cost the owner of an average Fort Dodge home valued at $70,000 about $43 annually.
The center will be built on about 23 acres of land donated by Tom and Norma Schmoker, of Fort Dodge, near the intersection of 32nd Street and 10th Avenue North.
Mayor Terry Lutz described Tuesday's vote as a ''really bright day for the community.''
''It sends a signal that the community does want better quality-of-life opportunities and is willing to step up to get them,'' he said.
Lutz said getting final plans for the center is the next step. He said construction could begin next spring.
The center will include a lap pool, a shallow pool for children, a splashdown pool with slides and a channel called a lazy river.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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mambajahamba
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08-30-08 11:37 PM
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I would think that McCain would have had any picture with Richie destroyed as good campaigns have historically been tanked by less damning pictures than one with Mr. "I'm not gonna pay to entertain kids... (can I have my SS check please?)". Again I say... idiot.
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mambajahamba
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08-30-08 11:32 PM
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How exactly did Richhigg move his lawn... idiot.
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welcome
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08-30-08 7:50 PM
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Where is Dodger? He must be checking his bank account to see if he can really afford the money for his AC. Richhigg is using the money he won at the casino to paint-reroof his home and today he was moving the lawn. Hey richhigg don't forget to check your basement for water the weather man says rain. You know what you could do is find some yes signs and put on your roof since they are a winner. Have a great holiday everyone and don't forget to vote for McCain. You must be feeling good higg since you had your picture taken with McCain.
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mambajahamba
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08-30-08 6:34 PM
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wackjob.
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welcome
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08-30-08 12:39 PM
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mambox.You lied to the people who post here. Gee I saw where the AC did not win. I'm sorry for everyone who voted Yes. It's a great saving for me. I can now put my $10.50 each month into the bank and after 15 years I could have alot of money to buy a new aquirrel gun and maybe just maybe a new roof for my church which is underground.
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mambajahamba
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08-30-08 12:12 AM
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By the way, you never did answer how it felt to have the win taken away so quickly. That must have really hurt after all of your idiotic victory posts, huh? I know, you live outside of town and have your own crackpot church so you don't care, but you just can't leave it alone, so you must care a little. Move to Idaho, squirrel killer.
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mambajahamba
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08-30-08 12:08 AM
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In 2006, the national voter turnout for eligible voters was 37% you moron. The only time you are going over 40% is a presidential election. Regardless, as I stated, if the turnout was greater you just would have lost worse. You really have to move on WELCOME. Why don't you round up some squirrels to sacrifice in that church of yours.
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welcome
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08-29-08 9:11 PM
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Your right, I heard all three of you are liers, Dodger, Mambox Padino. 40% is not a big turnout it means people in your town don't care and that is why Fd is a run down ghost town and will be nothing but a rest stop into the future for your young childred who will leave when 18 plus. YOur town has nothing to afford anyone young people.
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mambajahamba
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08-29-08 1:45 PM
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"You've been a good apprentice, Obi-Wan; and you're a much wiser man than I am. I foresee you will become a great Jedi Knight." ?Qui-Gon Jinn to Obi-Wan
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Dodger
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08-29-08 1:11 AM
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I actually think I'm on like negative Step 3.
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mambajahamba
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08-29-08 12:42 AM
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Well, it looks like it is back to step one for both of us Dodger. Good night and God Speed.
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Dodger
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08-28-08 11:34 PM
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Maybe Marge will come too -- she can wear the "C.A.V.E." shirt she obviously washes and presses for every public appearance. I wonder what her grandkids thought of the "Vote No" sign in her yard.
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Dodger
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08-28-08 11:32 PM
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I think we should all chip in and buy Higgy bear a season pass for Year 1, considering how many votes he swayed and how much passion he created on the "yes" side with his comments and posturing.
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Dodger
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08-28-08 11:17 PM
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I'll never forget Higgins' line from that now-infamous night downtown about "hearing" that lazy rivers were being shut down all over Iowa due to drowning issues/concerns.
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mambajahamba
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08-28-08 11:13 PM
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"I heard the mayor's company will do the bidding on the AC." WELCOME - I heard that they still have JFK's brain alive in a jar somewhere in Idaho.
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mambajahamba
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08-28-08 11:09 PM
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I saw that as well, but I puked. Welcome, I have tried so hard to be a gracious winner, but you are an idiot. 40% turnout is tremendous and I guarantee you that if the turnout was any higher, the margin of victory for the yes vote would have been bigger. In hindsight though, if that was the case the election would never have been called wrong and you wouldn't have made as big of fool of yourself posting "NO VOTE WINS" all over the place. Since that was hugely entertaining, I suppose in a way I am glad the vote was so close. Tell Kaleidoscope that she is an idiot too.
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Dodger
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08-28-08 10:47 PM
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And I have to ask: are Jim Koll's "pockets empty"? How about the Flannery's -- I drove by their house the other day and they have the "pockets empty" sign up in their yard. I had to laugh to keep from puking.
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Dodger
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08-28-08 10:46 PM
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WELCOME: You go by rumors and start more sentences with "I heard...." than Richard Higgins himself.
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Dodger
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08-28-08 10:44 PM
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It's weird that you keep bringing that up, WELCOME, considering how great a 40% turnout is -- especially for a special election. Check typical voting numbers for your average bond issue, or even this November's general election. I agree that, in a perfect world, 40% would be pathetic. All things considered, though, 6,400 out of 16,000 is a BIG number.
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welcome
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08-28-08 9:03 PM
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I was viewing the photo of higgins and koll. What is sad is 60% of the people stay home and did not vote. That is sad. When are people going to learn if you want any thing in life you work and vote for it. Higgins and Koll worked hard for their point of view just like the others who worked and voted yes. When the final vote was in I would have to say everyone came out a winner. Don't knock someone just because he doesn't met your views. We need both sides and the people who stay home are the people who didn't care and this is what makes Fd what it is today. Don't feel bad Koll and Higgins you did a good job and there will be another issue and another day. Just keep working hard for everyone.
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welcome
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08-28-08 8:36 PM
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klm you said Fd is not run down. Maybe you should walk downtown and view the beautiful building with nice great shopping you moron.
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welcome
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08-28-08 6:57 PM
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I heard the mayor's company will do the bidding on the AC.
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welcome
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08-28-08 6:56 PM
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Thendrickson: Your so right, the cost is not done until the final bid and could be higher. Gee... Dodger wouldn't never crossed my mind. A good invester never sign anything until he see the final cost and in writing. I hope the cost is way over 8.9 million so you all can pay more. By the way I heard many of the voters were from young kids over 18 who are in college and living at home and in about two years be gone to a new town and really don't care and you people are left holding the bag. Thanks Kids your parents must love you so much. It's called rebuilding FD so other business can come here. The first of each month I will think of all the YES voters. Happy sunny days and hope for alot of rain.
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welcome
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08-28-08 6:42 PM
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You asked where is richhigg, I heard the next day he want to Des Monies to pay his taxes on some gambling. He came back a winner.
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hybernation
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08-28-08 5:25 PM
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hopefully the city will keep their business locally as in having the construction of this project done by local construction companies. i thought it was awful that the majority, if not all of the verasun construction was done by out of state companies.
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