Long slate of hopefuls competing for Scott City votes

Voters in Scott City and Scott County are facing a lot of choices in the April 5 election. In Scott City, seven out of eight seats on the city council are up for election with only two uncontested.

Voters in Scott City and the surrounding area will also decide the fate of the Illmo Special Road District and select a commissioner to serve on that district -- if it isn't dissolved.

At the same time, voters in the rural areas of Scott County will decide whether or not to form a rural water district.

Twelve candidates are trying to win election to the city council in Scott City this April. In a normal election year only four seats would be up for grabs, but vacancies from council members moving or dying has meant that almost all the seats are up for election this year. Only Jeff Curnell in Ward 1 and Robert Tyler in Ward 3 are unopposed.

Newcomers to the race include Charles Klughart in Ward 2, a 28-year-old business owner with previous council experience who wants to bring a young perspective to the governing body; Jim McCarty in Ward 2, a relative newcomer to Scott City and business owner who wants to contribute to his new community; Susie Chapman in Ward 3, a legal secretary who thinks her experience in the legal field will help her on the council; Larry Taylor in Ward 4, a longtime resident of Scott City who wants to promote business growth; and Christopher Klughart in Ward 4, who currently has a warrant out for his arrest on meth-related charges.

The Illmo Special Road District is another issue facing Scott City residents in the election, as well as some residents outside the city. The district covers part of the city and the extreme northwest corner of Scott County. It has been under fire recently, with detractors charging the road district commissioners with mismanagement.

A petition drive put the question on the ballot of whether to disband the district -- a move commissioners call "small-town infighting."

While the road district's fate hangs in the balance, one of its commissioners is up for re-election. Commissioner Bill Zimmerman has been an outspoken supporter of the road district, saying under the tenure of he and the other commissioners the district has greatly improved its services.

But his two opponents, Edwin Ledure and Terry Gettings disagree, saying they could do a better job at managing the district and providing service to the area.

Gettings is also running for re-election in the city's Ward 2 against Charles Klughart.

Rural Scott County residents will have the opportunity to approve a rural water district.

A measure on the April ballot would create the water district, which would allow engineering and funding to begin. The water district would serve all areas of Scott County not presently served by a public water supply, and county commissioners have said district formation is needed to stop the hazard of shallow wells near septic tanks at many rural residences in the county.

No tax increases would accompany the formation and building of the water supply, as it would be paid for by a future bond issue retired through water users' fees.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182