The latest Madville Times poll asked "Should Lake County voters approve the revised zoning ordinance?" Voters will answer this question at tomorrow's (Tuesday, March 15) special election. The online poll results suggest that whatever the outcome, it won't be decided by many people:
- Yes: 39 votes (64%)
- No: 22 votes (36%)
61 votes total: that's the lowest blog-voter turnout out of four polls conducted here on the new blog platform since January. Twice as many people voted in the Madville Times poll on the school board race, which was still over a month away, and more voted in the January poll on the school bond election. Let's throw mathematical caution to the wind and try some merry extrapolation: if the school bond issue could draw only 28% turnout, the lower blog poll turnout suggests we can expect 14% turnout on the zoning vote tomorrow.
That means maybe a thousand people will show up to decide this technical matter. Low turnout like that means the hotheads and knee-jerk reactors have a better chance of swaying the vote Nay.
Financial advisor Chip O'Malley is one of those naysayers. In a letter to the editor in Friday's Madison Daily Leader, my Wentworth neighbor manages to link the zoning issue, the failed school bond issue, and high electric rates in Madison. He accuses Commissioner Dan Bohl of "half-truths and deceptions" in his Tuesday letter to the editor. O'Malley then warns that "there are more than a handful of people concerned about the changes and you will find this out when the votes come in."
Of course, O'Malley inexplicably concludes his letter by commending his neighbor Russ Olson for making "hard but needed decisions" during the Legislative session... which suggests Mr. O'Malley's assessment of political matters (not to mention his ability to stay on topic) is questionable at best.
Mayor Gene Hexom has been doing what he can to boost turnout for tomorrow's zoning vote. At the Feb. 24 public meeting on the zoning ordinance, Mayor Hexom noted that Madison residents sometimes ask if they even get to vote in the county election. They certainly do, even though the zoning ordinance does not apply to the county's incorporated municipalities (Madison, Wentworth, Nunda, Ramona, and Prairie Village). But should those town residents vote? Mayor Hexom says heck yes, as building and environmental activities in one township can affect people throughout the county.
Mayor Hexom also expressed the interesting position that there are lots of Madison residents who own property at the lakes that is subject to the county zoning ordinances. Therefore, says the mayor, those property owners should get out and vote tomorrow.
Property owners should get to vote—indeed! So when do Jim and Ruth Heidelberger, who live at Lake Herman but own several rental properties in Madison, get to vote for the Madison City Commission that sets their zoning rules and taxes?
These revised zoning regulations have been well thought-out and simply clear up areas of confusion that caused several lawsuits involving the County. Countless hours have gone into the revisions, which give Lake County residents many new opportunities that weren't allowed previously. It also protects our aquifer, wetlands and water supplies for future generations. A "yes" vote is an informed vote. City residents need to vote Tuesday along with rural residents. It is a county-wide election.
City, lake, farm... everybody! I want to see a crowd when I go vote tomorrow!
Some things are hard to predict: 812 voters rejecting the revisions and 224 in favor. I guess those against were motivated and the rest didn't care much.