Steelville voters went to the polls April 7 to determine leadership for the city and schools, as well as vote on a proposed no-tax increase bond issue. Races for mayor, Ward 1 alderman and three seats on the school board were decided.

In the mayoral race, Duane DeRennaux ousted incumbent Mayor Terry Beckham, who has served for six years. Beckham received 50 votes, while DeRennaux received 120 votes, resulting in DeRennaux being elected to the two-year term.

The Ward 1 alderman race featured incumbent Curtis Crouch, who has served for four years, and challenger Harry H. Martin Jr. Crouch received 47 votes and Martin received 34 votes, with Crouch being reelected to the two-year term.

Incumbent Ward 2 Alderwoman Lula Patterson and City Marshal Mike Sherman ran unopposed and were reelected to their positions. Patterson received 76 votes and Sherman received 139 votes.

For the Steelville R-3 Board of Education, three seats were up for election with four candidates vying for the positions. Incumbents Brad Brooks and Rachel Martin sought reelection alongside Kyle Grayson and Michael Retkowski. 

The three candidates elected were Martin with 466 votes, Grayson with 435 votes and Brooks with 433 votes. Retkowski earned 284 votes. 

Voters also considered a no-tax increase bond issue for the Steelville R-3 School District. The proposition required a four-sevenths majority, about 57 percent, to pass. The results were 437 yes votes and 252 no votes, meaning the bond passed.

Voters approved issuing general obligation bonds for $6 million “for the purpose of constructing, improving, repairing, renovating, furnishing and equipping school sites and facilities.”

The additional funds will not increase the tax burden on local property owners.

The district has several priorities when it comes to use of the funds. Elementary school renovations are at the top of the list, including asbestos removal, drainage repairs, window replacements and HVAC upgrades.

The high school’s gymnasium floor is also planned to be replaced and an ADA compliant parking lot will be put in at the high school. The district needs $6 million in bond proceeds to complete the list of projects.

At the county level, a majority of voters decided not to approve a countywide use tax with 760 yes votes and 1,909 no votes. This tax would have been placed on all out-of-state online purchases made within the county at the same rate as the local sales tax. 

Crawford County’s current sales tax only applies to purchases made at brick-and-mortar businesses, but the proposed use tax would have extended it to online purchases, excluding medicine, insulin or oxygen and small sellers like Etsy.

If the use tax had been approved, revenue from it would have been split three ways: 60 percent would’ve been divided among the road districts for road repairs, 20 percent would’ve gone toward employee benefits and 20 percent would’ve been used to maintain county buildings in good condition.

Crawford County SB3 passed with 1,555 yes votes and 1,061 no votes. The bill will allow the county to limit property tax increases for qualifying homeowners on their primary residence. Property taxes on homeowners’ primary residences will be frozen at the qualifying year’s amount, protecting them from future increases.