Published: October 23, 2007 06:41 am            

Elections set in Arnett, Mooreland

Mooreland citizens and those living in the Arnett school district will each have the opportunity to exercise the right to vote Nov. 13 in a special Mooreland municipal election and a special Arnett school election.

The Arnett ballot will contain two bond issues upon which the voters my decided.

According the Arnett Schools Superintendent Tim Puett the bond issues include $200,000 for transportation and $80,000 for the construction of new buildings.

Puett said the transportation purchased would be new buses and agriculture education pick-ups.

The buildings built would be restrooms and a concessions building between the baseball and softball fields.

Puett said he is confident the voters will see the needs of the school and pass the bond issue.

The Mooreland municipal election will concern a $1 million purchase and installation of an ionic exchange system to lower the nitrate count in Mooreland’s city water.

According to Mooreland Public Works Director Karl Roundtree the federal government recently lowered the legal amount of nitrate content in public water from 20 parts per million (ppm) to 10 ppm.

A recent reading of Mooreland’s wells showed an 11.9 ppm nitrate content in the water.

“That’s not very much,” said Roundtree. “Our water is good.”

Roundtree explained that the nitrate content of any water system will fluctuate due to many natural causes including excess rain or extreme heat. Roundtree also said the same water tested next month could only have 9 ppm nitrate content.

However, in order to be in compliance with federal law the city of Mooreland must keep its nitrate levels below 10 ppm which will be accomplished by the purchase of the ionic exchange system.

In order to purchase the system Mooreland must obtain a loan. According to Mooreland Town Administrator Eileen Hensley a vote must be cast if the town wishes to borrow more than $200,000.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 13.

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Woodward County voters who wish to vote via absentee ballot in either of the elections should apply for their ballots immediately.

According to Woodward County Election Board Secretary Carol Carrell two mail transactions must be made in the process of absentee voting.

“The County Election Board must mail the ballots to the voter and the voter must return the voted ballots by mail,” said Carrell.

Ballots will not be counted if they are not in the possession of the election board by 7 p.m. on election day.

Those individuals who qualify for voting absentee include voters who are incapacitated, voters who care for incapacitated persons who cannot be left unattended, voters who are confined to nursing homes and military personnel and spouses living overseas.

For further information on absentee voting contact the Woodward County Election Board at (580) 256-3609.

        

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