It’s been a long time coming, but the Wayland Union Schools’ drive to build a new swimming pool and perform a number of repairs and renovations at all district buildings has won the voters’ blessings.

A $49.7 million bond proposal to do just that was approved Tuesday, after failing badly in 2017 as one of two proposals and again last August in a single $48.6 million bond issue.

The victory at the polls seemed to be a fitting swan song for retiring assistant Superintendent for Finances and Operations Patricia Velie, who plans to step down at the end of June. Velie and a citizens’ bond committee rolled up their sleeves, mounting an aggressive and visual promotional campaign.

The finally tally was 2,189 yes to 1,565 no, which translated into a 58.3 percent vote in the affirmative. The bond proposal experienced its greatest approval in the City of Wayland, where it was passed 228 to 85 in Precinct No. 1 and 388 to 136 in Precinct #2.

The proposal was approved even in Leighton Township, where it failed badly in August 2022, as it was in Dorr, Yankee Springs and Hopkins townships. In the final overall tally nine months ago it went down by a total count of 2,703 to 2,478, or roughly 52 to 48 percent, falling short by 225 votes. City of Wayland and Wayland Township passed it, suggesting a geographical divide.

But Leighton passed it 350 to 340 Tuesday in its three reporting precincts. Dorr Township also showed a slight edge for the “yes” voters, 311 to 306 in Precinct No. 2 and 242 to 209 in Precinct #3.

Yankee Springs also came through by a 204 to 186 margin.

Though the new pool is the most visible part of the bond proposal, the project will set in motion other programs, such as choir and band, industrial arts, wrestling practice room and repairs to the middle school roof and a variety of improvements at Pine Street Elementary. Dorr Elementary, Steeby Elementary and Baker Elementary.

Velie has promised that there will be no increase in the annual 8.4-mill tax levy, but the length of the bond obligation will be increased by more than 10 years to pay for the extensive project.

12 Comments

Dan
May 2, 2023
Bravo! The passage of this bond proposal makes me extremely happy and I'm proud of our community for coming through #forourcommunity
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uncle cookie
May 3, 2023
conveniently wayland townships vote tabulator stopped working at 5:30 pm
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Melissa Jane Washburn
May 3, 2023
And a new tabulator was inserted and ALL BALLOTS WERE COUNTED
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A Reader
May 3, 2023
Rudy G. and Sydney Powell couldn't have said it any better. Cheers, my opinion, just saying, or whatever passive aggressive response fits
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Just an old farmboy
May 3, 2023
Hmmm. Strange that this tabulator issue wasn't mentioned in the "Victory" article. Is it not news? Why is it with all the great technology we have today that we continue to have these issues that throw a shadow of doubt over these events. I'm thinking those in charge need to look for other employment. Congratulations to Mrs. Velie. You finally succeeded in getting your way before your retirement. Of course in the name of what's "best" for the district. And it only took three attempts, even after ignoring the prior votes which showed the wishes of the districts voters. Quite a feather in your cap! OK Jake, Dennis and the others. It's your turn to let me have it, like I'm sure you will. Just saying.
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Fake Farmer.
May 4, 2023
Old farmboy, you don’t need Jake or Dennis to let you have it, you sound foolish enough yourself. Had you been a real farmboy you would understand the concept of investment into your ground and crop just like the investment into our community and future citizens. Thank you for your contributions for the upcoming years, please continue to pay your taxes on time. In the meantime you may want to go get a soil sample because I think your ground soiled from your lack of bring a good farmboy! Happy Retirement Mrs Velie, job well done!
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Mike
May 4, 2023
Hi Fake Farmer! Great point! You missed one thing though, you can invest all you want into something but if the ground isn't good to begin with it may never bear fruit, or perhaps at best it may at a loss. Return on investment is a much better way of looking at this. Only time will tell if the ROI of this very expensive pool will be worth it. I don't think it will. Seems like half of the school district thinks the same way as old farm boy and half do not. All part life. Not sure why you feel it's important to mock those who have a different opinion than yourself.
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Jake Gless
May 5, 2023
Mike, in all seriousness, how in your mind does one calculate ROI on any public education facility? (Here’s an inside scoop: Public services are not at all private enterprise, i.e., this pool is probably not going to turn a direct financial profit!)
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Mike
May 6, 2023
Hi Jake. That's actually a really good question and one I don't have an answer to. That doesn't mean it shouldn't be considered though. I don't expect a social service to turn a profit. They never do which is why they must be considered carefully. We can't tax people into poverty to provide social services. I suppose one could consider things such as lives saved through swimming lessons, number of students who achieve scholarships for pool related sports, accolades the school recieves for pool related sports that bring in more people to the district. I'm sure there are other measure that could be considered but it would be worth considering. We can't just spend money for fun. Otherwise we should invest money for buildings that house every conceivable profession. We certainly wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to invest in a childs possible future. Where is the opportunity for the children who want to be in equestrian related sports. I don't see the school requesting funds for a new barn and new horses. I'm sure there are an equivalent number of students who would be involved in that as there would be pool sports.
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Jake Gless
May 6, 2023
Mike, a couple clarifications for your comment: Passing this bond is not “taxing people into poverty.” The bond is not raising anyone’s taxes. Saying the bond taxes people into poverty doesn’t even meet the requirements to qualify as extreme hyperbole. Every school spends money for fun all the time. Honestly for most folks, “spending money for fun” factors heavily into their meaning-of-life equation, including mine. Wayland Union Schools did not decide to build a horse stable for the high school back in 1974 has been neglected by our kick-the-can school board for the past two decades. A horse stable comparison is nonsensical and without merit. Have a great weekend.
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Jake Gless
May 5, 2023
Hey farmboy are you the guy who said me and my friends and family are causing the destruction of America or are you the guy who said me and my friends and family are causing the biblical endtimes?
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Couchman
May 6, 2023
Those unhappy with the results and are implying the results are in question due to a vote tabulator breaking have the avenue of a recount to pursue. If they truly believe their claims, folkish like Just an old farmboy and uncle cookie can belly up to the bar and pay for a recount that will include counting ballots and votes. This could possibly cost more than the taxes they will pay over the life of the passed proposal but it’s all about election integrity. Right? When I look back at the November 2016 election in Michigan where the GOP candidate won the state in a very close election. There were 4,548,382 total votes for the major party candidates. The margin of victory was 10,704 or 0.002% of the vote yet neither candidate demanded a recount. But after the 2020 election and subsequent events anytime some folks find their vote was cast to to the losing side of the ledger it’s must be an illicit election result. If one truly loves democracy it requires one to accept that there are candidates and issues where your vote isn’t always going to on the winning side. Sometimes a majority with whom one disagrees , regardless of how small the percentage, their choice prevailed. Want to end American democracy? Constantly call into question the validity of election results. Elect candidates who do the same and one day all we’ll have left is sham elections,
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