BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

Voters will take to the polls on April 8 throughout Barry County to vote on numerous city and school board positions, as well as some tax issues and bonds.

Countywide, the Barry County Commission has placed two questions on the ballot. The first asks voters to continue the 1/2-cent sales tax, for capital improvement to county roads and bridges, for another five years. The second asks voters to decide if the county shall exempt senior citizens 62-and-older from increases in property tax liability on their primary residences.

Cities

Voters will take to the polls on April 8 throughout Barry County to vote on numerous city and school board positions, as well as some tax issues and bonds.

Countywide, the Barry County Commission has placed two questions on the ballot. The first asks voters to continue the 1/2-cent sales tax, for capital improvement to county roads and bridges, for another five years. The second asks voters to decide if the county shall exempt senior citizens 62-and-older from increases in property tax liability on their primary residences.

Cities

The city of Cassville has no challengers for its three open positions of mayor, north world alderman and south ward alderman, however, there will be a change.

Current Mayor Bill Shiveley did not refile, and current North Ward Alderman Jon Horner is running for the post unopposed. Likely taking his seat on the council unopposed is Mike Phillips, served one term before being ousted by Zane LeCompte last year. Incumbent Taylor Weaver is running unopposed for the south ward position.

Cassville also has a sales tax issue on the ballot, asking voters to decide if it should levy a 3% sales tax on the retail sale of adult use non-medical marijuana. The city recently annexed the Cassville Dispensary into city limits, allowing it to float the levy.

In Seligman, all filers are unopposed, including Michael Avers for mayor, Brandon Tanis for east ward alderman and Brenda McKinney for west ward. While positions seem settled, voters in the city will have the opportunity to decide on a 1-cent sales tax to support the Seligman Police Department, which will be used to increase staffing and coverage hours.

In Exeter, Lindsay Reed and Rhonda Scott have filed for the two open two-year city council seats, and Tara Justice and Teresa Alverson have filed for the two open one-year city council terms. The mayor position is open, with no one having filed. 

Current Mayor Jeff Scott hopes to continue in the position as a write-in. His name not included on the ballot due to a misunderstanding on term length that was not resolved until after filing had closed.

In Washburn, incumbent Mayor John Tiedeman is being challenged by Kristy Brinkman, and three have filed for the two-year alderman-at-large seats, Jeremy Johnson, Mary Roller and Brandi Hayworth.

City of Wheaton Mayor David Shockley is also seeing a challenge from Luke Stuckey, who will appear first on the ballot. Both open city council positions are also contested, with Ryan Henderson and Casey Prewitt running in the east ward and David Harris and Jon Brattin running in the west.

The Village of Emerald Beach has three open trustee seats and two who have filed, Charles McNemee and John Schmeltz; and in the Village of Chain-O-Lakes, Donald Patterson, Barbara Wolfe, Brad Ozbun and Dianna Digiandomenico are vying for three open trustee seats.

Elections will not be held in Purdy, with Brian Bowers returning as mayor, Heath Postlewait and Kathy Davis as east ward council members and William Hughes returning for the west ward. Charles Frear, James Robinson and Jackie Sadler also retain Village of Arrow Point trustee seats with no election necessary.

School Districts

Three Barry County school districts have challengers in races for board seats, while four districts will see no elections.

At Southwest, John Mulkey, Amber Paulsen and Scotty Flippo are vying for two open three-year terms.

At Purdy, David Wormington, Ken Terry and Mason Roller are also seeking two open three-year terms.

Exeter will have an election for two three-year terms, but only two candidates have filed in Bryce Stephens and Eric O’Neill. Furthermore, Exeter is asking voters to decide on a $2.5 million bond issue for constructing an ag shop/classroom, bathrooms, locker rooms, a weight room and an additional classroom; acquiring property currently leased by the district; and, to the extent funds are available, installing HVAC at the gymnasium and renovating and improving middle school classrooms.

In Cassville, Jeremy Marple and Jill LeCompte retained their seats with no election, as did Matthew Batson and Michael Whannel in Monett; Sandra Cupps and Kyle Moore at Shell Knob No. 78; and Chris Park and Joel Stansbury in Wheaton.

Some Barry County residents may also vote in contested school board elections in Reeds Spring, Verona, Crane and Aurora, while elections are not being held in Galena or Pierce City.

Other issues

An issue with a large voter base in the north half of the county is being floated by the Barry-Lawrence County Ambulance District. It asks voters to decide on if it shall levy an additional 1/2-cent sales tax to bring the total collection to 1 cent, which will be used for operations. In conjunction, the total property tax levy for the district will be reduced annually by an amount equal to 50% of the previous year’s sales tax revenue.

Three road districts also have levy-related measures on the ballot.

The Exeter Special Road District is asking to retain the $0.1347 per $100 assessed valuation for a period of four years.

The Wwhite River Special Road District has proposed an additional tax rate of $0.35 per $100 assessed valuation for a period of four years.

Finally, the Capps Creek Special Road District is asking to retain the $0.19 per $100 assessed valuation for four years.

Voting

Polls open at 6 a.m. on April 8 and close at 7 p.m. A full example ballot and polling locations will be listed in the March 26 and April 2 editions of the Cassville Democrat.

Current Mayor Bill Shiveley did not refile, and current North Ward Alderman Jon Horner is running for the post unopposed. Likely taking his seat on the council unopposed is Mike Phillips, served one term before being ousted by Zane LeCompte last year. Incumbent Taylor Weaver is running unopposed for the south ward position.

Cassville also has a sales tax issue on the ballot, asking voters to decide if it should levy a 3% sales tax on the retail sale of adult use non-medical marijuana. The city recently annexed the Cassville Dispensary into city limits, allowing it to float the levy.

In Seligman, all filers are unopposed, including Michael Avers for mayor, Brandon Tanis for east ward alderman