With the help of election workers Sue Buskohl (left) and Dianne Barker (obscured), voters prepare to cast their ballots on the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) increase for the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District at the Reinbeck Memorial Building on Tuesday, March 4. The measure passed with 61 percent support after failed bond referendums in 2022 and 2024. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

More than 61% of Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District voters said ‘yes’ on Tuesday to a doubling of the district’s current voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).

The vote – which required a simple majority of 50%+1 to pass – sailed through with 1,033 ballots cast in favor and 657 against.

Similar to the 2022 PPEL renewal, voters in the district’s two primary communities were seemingly on opposite ends of the public measure with Reinbeck voters approving the levy increase by a vote of 813-56 – a nearly 94% approval – while voters at the Gladbrook precinct were almost entirely opposed to the increase with 443 voting against and 48 voting in favor.

Those voting at the Gladbrook Memorial Building on Tuesday included City of Gladbrook residents as well as those residing in Crystal and Spring Creek townships and Marshall County.

In Lincoln, the vote share was more evenly split with 125 voting ‘yes’ and 94 voting ‘no.’

A Gladbrook precinct voter, left, prepares to cast his ballot on Tuesday, March 4, at the Memorial Building with the assistance of election workers. Gladbrook’s turnout on Tuesday for the special school election was more than quadruple turnout in 2022; in nearby Reinbeck, turnout was up fivefold. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Black Hawk County voters also passed the ballot measure in a vote of 31-11.

One key difference between the 2022 voted PPEL renewal and Tuesday’s special election was voter turnout which was up dramatically with 1,339 more voters turning out this time around.

In Reinbeck, the increase was especially pronounced, going from 159 total voters in 2022 to 869 – a more than fivefold increase. So many voters turned out at the Reinbeck Memorial Building on Tuesday, the number of regular ballots printed was not nearly enough and poll workers began around noon utilizing three ExpressVote accessible voting machines with all voters. Such machines use an integrated printer to produce a paper record for tabulation.

“We’ve had a wonderful turnout,” Reinbeck precinct chair Mary Lou Moser told the newspaper just after 2 p.m. as voters continued to line up at the door. “It’s been a steady line. We’ve had a lot of first-time voters. One of our young football players was just in and he’s a first-time voter. We’ve had older people, too, that are first-time voters.”

In Gladbrook, voter turnout more than quadrupled from 2022.

Voters wait in line at the Reinbeck Memorial Building on Tuesday. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

When reached on Tuesday evening during a special G-R school board work session, president Donovan Devore released the following statement regarding the election results.

“It is GReat that we were able to have the support to provide the items [and] to fix the items our students and staff deserve. It really shows we can come together when in need. We have more work to do to continue to come together which is where we are best. We as a district will continue to be diligent about what our priorities are and how the increase to PPEL will be used as clearly and transparently as possible. The future at G-R is bright and we will continue to shine! Go Rebels!”

Last summer, a community task force finalized a three-phase, 10-year facility plan with the school board to implement needed improvements district-wide at the buildings in Reinbeck.

Phase I involves using SAVE (sales tax) funds totaling roughly $8.5 million to update and expand the elementary school which is already underway, while Phase II – which has yet to be implemented – involves building a new middle/high school addition to replace the existing 1921 secondary building. A bond referendum to fund Phase II failed last fall; a similar bond failed in 2022.

As part of Phase III, the 1921 building would be razed.

A voter fills out her ballot on Tuesday, March 4, at the Gladbrook Memorial Building during the G-R special school election. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

Despite asking – and now receiving – an increase to the voted PPEL, district representatives have made it clear a bond referendum is still necessary to address deteriorating conditions at the secondary building. According to handouts released by the district ahead of Tuesday’s vote, funds generated by the voted PPEL are “specifically designed for infrastructure needs.”

“Due to the failure of the [general obligation] Bond Referendum in November, the district must address pressing infrastructure needs now to maintain safe and functional facilities while we plan for long-term solutions,” the handout further stated.

Projects listed on the handout that could be addressed by voted PPEL funds include “critical repairs” at the secondary building, boiler system repairs and updates, roof repairs needed to maintain compliance with insurance requirements, athletic facility upgrades including ceiling work, damaged concrete replacement, peeling paint mitigation, door/entryway security upgrades, lighting improvements, technology updates, vehicle/bus purchases, furniture replacement, playground replacement or remodel, and further long-term facility planning.

Once enacted, the $1.34 voted PPEL will be in effect for nine years and will be calculated using a mix of property tax and income surtax as set by the school board.

An official canvass of the special school election is scheduled to be completed on Monday, March 10 (first tier), and Monday, March 17 (second tier), at 8 a.m. during the Tama County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Unofficial Special School Election Results: Public Measure UA

Gladbrook:

Yes – 48

No – 443

Lincoln:

Yes – 125

No – 94

Tama County Absentee:

Yes – 16

N – 53

Reinbeck:

Yes – 813

No – 56

Black Hawk County

Yes – 31

No – 11

Total:

Yes – 1,033 (61.1%)

No – 657 (38.9%)