And we begin tonight with the election
results, which are in here in West Michigan.
We start in Wyoming. The big issue on
the ballot tonight, there was a proposed
mileage to increase funding for public
safety, specifically to
add more firefighters.
13 On Your Side's Andrea Flores
joins us with the results. Andra
Juliet The mileage passed tonigt
with 100% of precincts reportin.
Voters approved the mileage by a
nearly two to one margin, with 64% of
voters voting yes and 36% votin.
Now the City is looking to reduce response
times as the Public Safety Department
is understaffed and two of Wyoming's 4
fire departments are currently closed.
Now the city will open those two
departments and hire 27 police
officers and firefighters.
The mileage raises about $4
million annually for five years,
and it raises property taxes costing $150.00
for every $1000 in taxable home value.
City officials say it's importat
for the department to grow as
the city's population increases.
Ultimately in public service,
it's about the will of the vote.
So as long as we get a clear
result and in a clean election,
which it looks like we are in
a really good position to do,
you know, we're going to feel g,
we're going to move forward.
And earlier today we spoke to to
voters who said they supported
the mileage. I just think
it's important that we have pole
and that they have the resources
they need, they work for us.
We had to support them.
That's what I think.
This yes vote comes after a simr
proposal didn't get passed last year.
Property owners will see an ince
of 1.5 mils on their tax bills
starting this summer. Juliet,
Andrea, Thank you.
Voters in Algoma Township overwhelmingly
decided to remain part of the
Kent District Library system wih
all of the precincts reporting.
Voters said no to the proposal o
leave the KDL by a three to 1 margin,
as you can see.
The group to save the KDL in
Algoma Township formed because f
misinformation and unanswered questions,
decided to make sure that our neighbors
knew the risks if we decided to leave,
and we are excited that 77% of r
residents that voted today agreed with us.
That's a pretty risky decision d
staying with KDL is the right choice.
And the SU do many voters to the
polls with a 33% voter turnout today,
which is 4 times Kent
County's turnout in Holland.
The effort to bring a cruise ship dock,
Marina and hotel to the city's waterfront
is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The voters in Holland approved a
land sale for the city 63 to 37.
In order for the proposal to pa.
According to the city charter,
it needed at least 60% of voter approval.
And it got it.
13 On Your Side's Micah Cho has details
on the plans voters approved tonight.
Around
63% of voters approved the
land sale to move forward.
Speaking with the City of Holland's Mayor,
he says now approved there's a
lot of work to be done to get
the project off the ground.
The proposal allows
the City of Holland to do a land swap,
essentially acquiring the property that
is now owned by the Verplank dot company.
Verplank would then get the gren
space currently owned by the
city along with the old James de
Young coal-fired electric site.
The property sit on the banks
of the Lake of Makkatawa.
While the proposal may have pas,
Brooke Anderson voted no on the land sale.
She believes the property wasn't
necessarily a good spot for
the city's waterfront proposal.
I don't think the land swap was
quite even and that we could maa
few better decisions for the ar,
especially along the water,
more accessible for the communiy
and more options. The sale
is part of an effort to bring
a cruise ship dock, a hotel,
Marina and other amenities,
building on the city's plan
for a more vibrant waterfront.
Mayor Nathan Box says he's
been working on this project
since his first day in office.
He says he's excited for the different
opportunities this will bring Holland.
We've got great green
spaces in Collin Park,
we've got Windmill Island,
we've got kayaking,
we have bird watching.
This is 1 type of access that
simply isn't available in Holla,
and it would be in an area that doesn't have.
Waterfront access at this point.
It's currently an industrial si.
As of right now, there isn't
a groundbreaking date set
for the project in Holland.
Micah Cho, 13 on your side.