Joshua residents voted to approve all three propositions in Tuesday’s election, totaling about $6.15 million in approved bonds.
Voters passed proposition 1, which will allow the city to issue $2.7 million in general obligation bonds for a new fire station in Joshua, with a 156-109 vote.
Fire Chief Wayne Baker said a new fire station would help ease the department’s transition to a paid staff over the next few years with offices and other amenities, but the main issue is still space.
“That’s our biggest concern because really we have no space for our fire trucks and apparatus or room for adequate training,” he said.
The current fire station, located at 200 Santa Fe St., is constructed of metal and has little more than 4,000 square feet with too few equipment bays, leaving fire fighters forced to expose equipment to the outside elements, theft or vandalism. The location also lacks sleeping areas and enough offices for its nine officer positions.
“It’s really all about space, and what we’re proposing with the new fire station if the bonds pass, it would be an approximately 12,000 square foot building that includes five drive through apparatus equipment bays that would accommodate all of our equipment,” said Joshua City Manager Paulette Hartman. “It would also provide some office space for the officers and some sleeping quarters so we can accommodate overnight shifts, and none of that exists in the current station.”
Voters also passed Proposition 2 in a 161-105 vote. That measure asked voters to approve the bond to reconstruct seven city streets at a cost of about $850,000.
“They’re streets that need to be completely reconstructed. Maintenance and things like that aren’t going to help with their condition,” she said.
Five streets — Edgehill Road, Pear Court, Hilltop Place, Ridgeway and Rosewood Place — are listed with a “fair” condition rating. Apple and Plum streets are labeled as in “poor” condition.
Proposition 3 passed 160-107, approving a $2.6 million bond for drainage and storm water improvements to help relieve flooding in the Coffield, Joshua Meadows and the Mountain Valley/Village Creek area.
The Federal 2010 Interior Appropriations bill includes $1 million for Joshua to add to the drainage reconstruction money, Hartman said.
“We have identified probably close to $8 million dollars in drainage improvements that need to be made in the city,” she said. “In some areas, flooding problems have developed over the years or maybe the drainage wasn’t installed to what it needed to be, so it’s intended to relieve some of those problems.”
Election 2009
November 3, 2009
Joshua bond propositions pass
Voters approve money for fire station, road and drainage projects
- Election 2009
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Edwards files for re-election
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards filed for re-election in November’s election to his District 17 seat on Thursday.
- Filing for November elections underway In addition to national and state elections next year, Johnson County residents will weigh in on numerous local elections next November. The filing period to compete in the March 2 primaries continues through Jan. 4.
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Rio Vista school bond passes
Kevin Sellers’ last hurrah as Keene superintendent resulted in celebration Tuesday night. So did Tim Wright’s first hurrah as Rio Vista superintendent.
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Schram wins contested Keene City Council election
A three-way contest for the Ward II, Place I seat on the Keene City Council resulted in the election of Cheryl Schram Tuesday night. Schram garnered 119 votes. Former Councilman Dale Janes received 48 votes, and David McCormick received 54.
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Rio Vista local option election passes
Tuesday’s Rio Vista local option election calling for the legal sale of liquor within city limits for off-premise consumption passed by a 47-vote margin, the largest yet of any such election held in the city.
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Joshua bond propositions pass
Joshua residents voted to approve all three propositions in Tuesday’s election, totaling about $6.15 million in approved bonds.
- Election day voting locations
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Amendments, local issues on Tuesday ballot
Tuesday brings several elections, one of which affects all county residents and others that affect residents in Joshua, Keene and Rio Vista.
- RV option election results challenged The May 9 option election approved the sale of alcohol in Rio Vista for off-premise consumption. Maybe.
- Unofficial Final results for Cleburne and Johnson County Cleburne City Council, Cleburne ISD and Cleburne and Rio Vista Alcohol elections
- More Election 2009 Headlines
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Edwards files for re-election
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards filed for re-election in November’s election to his District 17 seat on Thursday.
