School District Officials Disappointed By PPEL Vote

Glenwood Community School District officials say they are disappointed, but not necessarily surprised voters rejected a 10-year tax levy to fund the nearly $6 million overhaul of Ram Memorial Field and the high school athletic complex in a special election last Tuesday, April 4.

“No” votes outnumbered “Yes” votes by a decisive margin of 1,232-783 (61-39 percent) for the approval of a 10-year, $1.34 (per $1,000 assessed value) Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). Less than 27 percent of the school district’s 7,614 voters participated in the election.

“I feel we have a very supportive community and I think our patrons are very supportive of the school district,” Glenwood Community School District Superintendent Devin Embray said. “I just think it was very unfortunate timing, how everything came to play. I hope moving forward we can do a better job knowing what the left and right hand are doing so our taxpayers aren’t feeling like they’re getting swallowed up with an additional burden of taxes all at one time. I think it was unfortunate that happened all at one time.”

With the county and city announcing tax hikes this spring, the city implementing utility franchise fees, property assessment statements being mailed out in the week before the election and the district without a signed contract with the Glenwood teachers’ union, the PPEL vote came with the prospect of higher taxes and financial uncertainty on the minds of voters.

“We were up against a wall with everything,” Embray said. “It was like a perfect bad storm.”

Glenwood Community High School Activities Director Jeff Bissen echoed Embray’s thoughts.

“I, as well as the Youth Action Committee (YAC), were hopeful it would pass, but am not surprised with the results,” Bissen said. “I think the timing of the city of Glenwood to announce they were raising the property tax levy, with the implementation of utility franchise fees, was the deciding factor for many voters. I think many agree there is a need to make some changes at the complex, but getting hit with multiple tax increases at the same time is tough on all of us.

“The tough part for the YAC is that we have been studying this project for close to three years and couldn’t have ran into worse timing to make our activities complex a reality for the community and the school district.”

Last week’s vote doesn’t mean the school district will scrap plans to make improvements and renovations to the athletic complex. The improvements will now be done one at a time over a multi-year process, likely beginning with replacement of the running track around Ram Memorial Field.

The proposed facelift of the complex outlined before the election included new seating for up to 2,700 fans, installation of artificial turf, a new track surface, multi-tiered grandstand, expanded press box, locker, meeting and training rooms, new entrances and concession area, expanded parking and a dedicated bus and passenger vehicle unloading zone. The upgrades would make the facility compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

“Our next step will be to make sure our complex continues to be safe and functional,” Bissen said. “The track is in need of repair and will be fixed as soon as possible. As for what happens after the track replacement, will depend on funds available. The nice thing about the PPEL, if it would have passed, is that we would have been able to get this whole complex done at one time, while saving money over time. Now, we will fix and replace as funds are available, which could take awhile as we will still need to maintain the school district’s current facilities that we have in place, while trying to update those in need of repair.”

Prior to the election, Glenwood Board of Education members said they would likely not put the PPEL matter to a second vote but Embray said he couldn’t speak for the board and could not rule anything out in the future.

When asked if he felt the board would re-consider the PPEL if approached by community members, Embray said, “If the constituents of the community really felt like the board should re-consider it, the board is always open to listening to constituents and making informed decisions.”

Embray has been in contact with the district’s architects to develop a viable timeline for the athletic complex based on priorities and costs. He said the timeline will be developed along a 24-month, 36-month, 48-month, 52-month and 60-month schedule, which will include projected costs to the district.

Bissen said he expects the district to continue to look for the right financial options to complete the project.

“I am sure we will continue to explore all options to raise money so we can get this complex updated as soon as possible because our kids, school district and community are deserving of that,” Bissen said.