Results from the 2018 Joint Election on May 5

Results from the 2018 Joint Election on May 5

Rockwall voters approve bond proposal to repair city streets

(ROCKWALL, TX – May 7, 2018) During the 2018 Joint Election on May 5, a majority of Rockwall voters cast their ballots in favor of the 2018 Bond Election proposal for street rehabilitation and reconstruction of aging roads in the city.

The $85 million bond proposition will involve the reconstruction and rehabilitation of mostly residential neighborhood streets in poor condition, including utility relocation and any necessary improvements to street drainage systems. Roads selected for the project are based on Pavement Condition Index (PCI) scores from a comprehensive assessment performed on all city streets by a consultant for the City of Rockwall. The study showed that nearly 80 percent of concrete roads in the city are in satisfactory condition, with 14 percent in very poor condition. Many of the streets recommended for reconstruction in the bond proposal are 29 to 54 years old and are in neighborhoods built between 1964 and 1989.

Projects under the bond election will take place over a 10-year period, with the new debt being issued as existing debt is paid off. The schedule for paying off existing debt will determine when new debt is issued for the road projects. A financial analysis conducted by the City determined that the City should be able to take in the $85 million in new debt without a tax increase to citizens, due to the anticipated level of growth in the tax base coupled with the $60 million of debt scheduled for payoff over the 10-year period.

According to election results from www.rockwallvotes.com, 1,189 constituents (69 percent) voted in favor of the proposal, with 533 votes (31 percent) against.

In the races for Rockwall city council places 4 and 6, Trace Johannesen won the majority vote over Enid Reyes for Place 4, and Patrick Trowbridge claimed victory over opponent Andrew Greenberg for Place 6. Incumbent John Hohenshelt ran unopposed for Place 2 on the council.

In Heath, Kelson Elam won the race for Mayor over opponent Joe Chamberlain with 69 percent of the vote, while Donna Rolater won Place 3 on the Heath city council against opponents Phillip Hatfield and Dee Dee Capper. John Beaman ran unopposed for Place 5.

For Place 1 on the Fate city council, Tamara Fisher took the majority vote over John Hamilton and Rick Donaldson. Incumbent David Billings won the race for Place 5 on the council against Eddie Bond and Larry Sellers.

McLendon-Chisholm voters elected a new mayor in Keith Short, who gained 57 percent of the vote over Robert Steinhagen. Herman C. Larkin defeated incumbent Wayne Orchard for Place 2 on the city council, and Jim Bloom was voted in to Place 4 over Melody Osorio.

Nearly 80 percent of voters in the Royse City ISD community voted in favor of a $60 million bond proposal designed to meet the rapid student enrollment growth within the school district. The bond proposition includes:

  • A new 1,000-student middle school across from Fate City Hall
  • A band hall expansion at Royse City High School
  • Renovations and upgrades to Royse City Middle School and Ruth Cherry Intermediate
  • Capital improvements and renovations to Davis Elementary School and Anita Scott Elementary School

Funding for the $60 million bond will come through property value growth within the school district and will not cause tax increases for property owners. Royse City ISD already owns the land for the new middle school in Fate.

The new middle school is scheduled to open in August 2020 to serve students in grades six through eight. At that time, the district’s grade configuration will shift to a Pre-K to fifth grade elementary model, sixth through eighth grade middle school model and remain with one ninth through 12th grade high school. The transition will allow the district’s two current intermediate campuses (Herndon and Cherry) to become elementary schools in 2020.

In the race for Place 4 on the Royse City ISD School Board, Eric Fort won his bid for re-election against Cheyenne Mosley with 66 percent of the vote. Incumbents Mike Anderson and Scott Muckensturm ran unopposed in their respective races for places 3 and 5 on the school board.

For full election results visit rockwallvotes.com.

By Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News.

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