Voters pass emergency service levies
MOSES LAKE - Grant County voters approved four fire district levy propositions by wide margins according to initial results of the primary election.
Grant County fire districts 10 and 11 both passed versions of a measure restoring the 2011 regular property tax levy of $1 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This is an increase of 13.6 cents over the current District 10 levy and an increase of 22.8 cents over District 11's current levy.
The measure supports continued finances of maintenance, operations and capital facilities for the districts.
The districts also passed propositions authorizing an emergency medical care and service levy of $.25 or less per $1,000 of assessed valuation on all taxable property within districts 10 and 11 for six years.
The primary results also helped narrow several city council races, although final ballot counts will be not be certified until Aug. 31.
In Coulee City, city council position 2 candidate Otto Jensen captured a wide margin over second place challenger Carmen Hammons, who came in nine votes above Sue Bohnsack.
Position 3 candidate Lorna Pearce is leading the race ahead of Truman Crisler, who is seven votes above Anita Paulsson.
The top two candidates for Soap Lake City Council position 1 are neck and neck, with Barney Berg five votes ahead of John Glassco.
Soap Lake council position 2 is led by Kat Sanderson, who is nearly 100 votes ahead of second place challenger Maynard Hagen. Hagen sits three votes ahead of De Vaun "De" Black.
The Warden mayoral race shows Tony Massa more than 100 votes in front of Kayla Kight, who holds a two-vote lead over Velma Meiners.
The Royal School District board position 4 is still close, but Michael Noftle currently holds an eight vote lead over Ben Fanning, who is 21 votes ahead of Anna Valle.
There were 1,337 ballots cast by voters in 12 precincts, a 43 percent turnout, according to the county auditor's website.
There were 25 votes left to count on Thursday, according to the Grant County Auditor's Office.