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SUNNY Temp: 53 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 18, 2002 Shady Cove voters approve water district By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Shady Cove voters approved the city’s first water district while a Jackson County sheriff’s levy failed because less than 50 percent of White City residents cast their ballots, preliminary results showed Tuesday night. As of 11 p.m., election department officials were reporting an unofficial 38.88 percent turnout county-wide. "I’m just really very pleased," Shady Cove resident Arthur Smith said late Tuesday night. "To me, it always seemed like a very logical step." The measure to form a water district in Shady Cove that would use treated water from the Rogue River was passing 491 votes (62.07 percent) to 289 votes (36.54 percent) Tuesday. Unlike the White City levy, the measure did not require a 50 percent turnout. The measure also created a board of directors including Smith, Leslie Keene, Mike Curtis, Phillip Tallman and Paula Trudeau. The water district includes property within city limits except five mobile home parks that have their own water supply. By approving the water district, voters paved the way to vote on a future bond measure to pay for the system in November 2003. City officials estimate it would take an additional 24 months after a bond measure was approved to get the water running. Early results show that White City voters did approve a five-year, serial levy that would have generated $2.7 million at a cost of 98 cent per assessed $1,000 to property owners. The measure was passing 411 votes (52.3 percent) to 364 votes (46.37 percent) Tuesday evening. However, a turnout of 50 percent or more was required and only 32.4 percent of registered voters within the White City district cast their ballots, according to unofficial reports. Tuesday night, Sheriff Bob Kennedy said if possible he will try to place the levy before voters in November but fears the deadline has already passed. Kennedy said sheriff’s department officials may attempt to place the same levy on the ballot sometime in 2003, but added that he won’t be involved because of he will retire in December. "I won’t be sheriff anymore. It’s really hard for me to say what’s going to happen," he added. White City formed a law enforcement district in 1995, and voters agreed to pay $2.02 per assessed $1,000 annually to fund it. But assessed values in the area have been frozen by an urban renewal district the county also operates there. The revenue won’t increase until the urban renewal district is dissolved, a process that will take several years. If passed, the levy would have paid for 24-7 police coverage over the next five years. Police protection will most likely be reduced in 2003 because of funding. The results won’t disrupt or reduce White City patrols, Kennedy said. Around the clock coverage will continue until the fiscal year ends in July. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S