Document text
Ashland measures pass Photo by Bob Pennell Amy Blossom, an Ashland reference librarian and volunteer for the library bond measure campaign, takes a ballot from a motorist outside the Ashland Library ballot drop site Tuesday. As the 8 p.m. deadline to vote approached, a traffic jam developed at the library, and volunteers carried ballots from cars to the drop site. Nonvoters doom county's proposal for juvenile center By PETER WONG and DANI DODGE A massive get-out-the-vote effort pushed two Ashland city bond measures for library and fire station expansion over the top Tuesday, but it was not enough to save Jackson County's bond issue for a new juvenile center. Ashland voters overwhelmingly favored a $5.96 million bond issue to rebuild and expand the historic Carnegie library, and a $3.14 million bond issue to expand the downtown fire station. Mayor Cathy Shaw, who co-chaired the library campaign with Barbara Ryberg, said she's pleased that Ashland citizens are willing to pony up the bucks. "I think there's an understanding in Ashland that it's important to have city structures that reflect who we are," she said. "While not top-of-the-line, these are expensive structures, quality civic structures, that in turn reflect community pride." Even though a majority of votes cast favored a $16.5-million bond issue for a new county juvenile center in downtown Medford, turnout among county voters failed to reach 50 percent. "I can understand why people did not vote, feeling that a nonvote is a `no' vote," Commissioner Ric Holt said. "But I am tremendously disappointed that people have given up their right to cast a ballot." While a majority of voters cast ballots in Shady Cove, most of those who did vote turned down a $7.5 million bond issue for a city water system. Since Oregon voters approved the double-majority requirement for tax increases in November 1996, Jackson County voters have approved only six measures in three years. Four of them were in Ashland, counting the two approved Tuesday. Ryberg, president of the Friends of the Ashland Library, popped open a bottle of Spanish champagne when the first results came in Tuesday night. "I'm absolutely jubilant," she said. "I have goosebumps." Ashland firefighters joined in the celebration with library supporters at the mayor's house Tuesday night. The firefighters have been making do in a former gas station that is permeated with diesel fumes every time an engine fires up. "It's nice to know that the citizens are concerned about the fire station and the conditions we work in," said Capt. Walt Anders. "It lets you know they appreciate the job you do." Capt. Wes Eaton, a 30-year veteran of the force, sighed with relief when he heard about the passage while on duty. "Thirty years in this dump is enough," he said. Eleven other local measures during the past three years won majorities of votes cast but failed to attract 50 percent participation, so they lost. The most telling example in Tuesday's mail-in election was Measure 15-2, the county bond issue, which led by thousands of votes but failed to attract a 50 percent return rate among the county's more than 100,000 registered voters. Alan Young, county juvenile services director, said he was gratified by the support, given that last year's bond issue failed by 500 votes of more than 50,000 cast. "We were just tickled with the support we got from the community and the contributions we got from individuals and organizations for the campaign," he said. "But it wasn't quite enough -- and I am disappointed with the turnout. "We will analyze the returns to confirm if our message was reaching the people we hoped to reach. We have no plans right now, but in the next few weeks, we will get together and start discussing what the next step will be." The losers in Ashland also expressed disappointment. Ben Cochran -- a tree trimmer who posted anonymous fliers urging people to vote against the measure -- said he thinks it would be cheaper for the city to expand the library into the vacant museum building at East Main Street and Walker Avenue. He worried about the effects of the passage on housing and rental prices in Ashland. "It just doesn't make sense not to go in the museum," he said. David Frye, the owner of the Blue Mountain Cafe, which will have to be moved to accommodate the fire station expansion, was crestfallen. He leases the building behind the fire station. "I just hope the city and the landlord do the right thing and help me get Blue Mountain established somewhere else," he said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA