Trenton ‘Bed Tax’ Gets Approval (Updated)

Just over 10 percent of Grundy County voters made it to the polls on Tuesday as Trenton residents approved a 5 percent “bed tax” as well as voters deciding other school and municipal issues.
A total of 528 county voters cast ballots in the election, which had been moved from April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Several precincts were also combined for this election due to the low number of issues on the ballot.
Trenton voters gave nearly 70 percent approval of the “bed tax,” which will be assessed to those individuals who stay in hotels and motels located within the city limits. There were 247 votes in favor of the measure while 107 were opposed.
According to the state statute, which allows for the “bed tax,” the city will collect the tax revenue to be placed in a separate fund and used for the promotion of the community as a tourism destination. A board that determines dispersal of the tax money would be appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council.
Also on the ballot in Grundy County:
Municipal
Voters in Laredo re-elected Carol Holloway as mayor. Ms. Holloway received 30 votes to defeat challenger Cassidy Russell, who received 15 votes. Bruce McFie and Helen Golden were re-elected to a two-year term on the city’s board of aldermen with 35 and 32 votes, respectively.
There were no contested races for Trenton City Council, which had its candidates on the ballot in addition to the bed tax. Elected for a two-year term and their vote totals were Kevin Klinginsmith, first ward, 67; Marvin Humphreys, second ward, 52; David Mlika, third ward, 102; and Duane Urich, fourth ward, 115. Mlika is an incumbent while Urich is serving an unexpired term.
School
Elected to the Trenton R-9 Board of Education for a three-year term were Andy Burress, 373; Brandon Gibler, 361; and Corey Leeper, 340. Doug Franklin was also on the ballot, however, had announced he was withdrawing from the race after ballots were printed. He received 145 votes. Gibler and Leeper are incumbents.
Chelsea White and Charles Holtzclaw were elected to the Spickard R-2 Board of Education with 33 and 30 votes, respectively. A third candidate, Roger Bonnett, received 17 votes. The totals include votes in both Grundy and Mercer counties.
There were no votes cast by Grundy County residents for the Meadville R-4 Board of Education election. The Meadville School District includes a portion of Wilson Township.
Township
Washington Township voters approved an additional 35-cent levy by a vote of 7-6. The levy increase would be assessed for a four-year period.
Area election results include:
Princeton – Kurt Meighen was re-elected mayor over Dillion Atkinson, 127-20. Karee Cunningham defeated Jane Schroeder for alderman, 30-14, while Tony Johnson was re-elected with no opposition. Residents also gave 96-44 approval to allow the city to forgo an election if the exact number of candidaes file for positions that are open.
Jamesport – Brandon Robb defeated Freda Garner for alderman, 17-10. Rob Murphy was re-elected as alderman with no opposition.
Chillicothe – A 68-cent levy increase for the Chillicothe R-2 School District was defeated by voters, 790-994. Elected to the Chillicothe School Board were Brice Owen Walker, Kathy Gilliland and Lauren Anne Horsman. A one-quarter percent sales tax for police department operations was approved 716-471.