By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The renewal of the 1 mill Building and Sinking Fund tax levy for the Niles Community Schools passed on Tuesday with a total vote of 1,045 for and 568 against. The millage passed in all but one of the 11 precincts.
Security and safety would be one of the district's top priorities and will include the installing of a keyless entry system in all of the district's buildings and getting rid of the lock and key system. Cameras will be installed in all of the buildings and the millage would also pay for a traffic flow study,Superintendent Doug Law had said before the vote.
In the past, this mill has provided roof work to different buildings in the district, more than 75 replacements of exterior doors and renovations of restrooms.
Voting totals are still unofficial as of Wednesday morning, said Niles Clerk Ruth Harte. She and Niles Township Clerk Marge Durm-Hiatt were taking their totals to the county building this morning. The Board of Canvassers will meet on Thursday to determine to certify totals.
In nearly every precinct someone questioned why the presidential candidates names weren't on the ballot, Harte said. "But the state line still hasn't moved," she said, adding the primary election was in Indiana Tuesday, not Michigan.
Two four year terms on the Niles school board were also on the ballot.
Top vote getters were incumbent Michael Dreher, who received 968 and Kathy Zeider with 862. The third candidate, Tracy Ezell, received 841.
Brandywine Community Schools did not have any proposals on the ballot, but three individuals ran for two four-year term school board seats.
Janis Exner received the highest total of 172, followed by Robb DeJonge with 147. Incumbent Doris Schoenleber received 136.
Broken down into precincts, totals were Bertrand, 2.8 percent of registers voters: Exner, 7; DeJonge, 6 and Schoenleber, 7. Niles Precinct No. 3, 5.12 percent: Exner, 84; DeJonge, 70 and Schoenleber, 77. Niles No. 4, 4.6 percent: Exner, 81; DeJonge, 71 and Schoenleber, 52.