NIACC bond referendum is Tuesday

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Floyd County residents are reminded to vote Tuesday in the NIACC special election on a $15 million bond question.
Voting will occur in all 11 counties that make up the North Iowa Area Community College district, which includes Floyd County.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in these Floyd County locations:

• Charles City 1 Precinct – Floyd County Courthouse.
• Charles City 2 Precinct – Messiah Lutheran Church.
• Charles City 3 Precinct – Trinity United Methodist Church.
• Floyd/Cedar/Niles Precinct (Colwell, Floyd and the Floyd, Cedar and Niles townships) – Floyd Community Center.
• Rudd/Rock Grove Precinct (Nora Springs, Rudd and the Rock Grove and Rudd townships) – Nora Springs City Hall.
• Rockford/Ulster Precinct (Rockford and the Rockford and Ulster townships) – Rockford City Hall.
• Scott/Union/Pleasant Grove Precinct (Marble Rock and the Scott, Union and Pleasant Grove townships) – Marble Rock Library.
• St. Charles/Riverton Precinct (Nashua and the St. Charles and Riverton townships) – Cedar Valley Transportation Center.

Pre-registered voters are required to provide an approved form of identification before voting. Voters who are not pre-registered – such as those registering to vote on election day – and voters changing precincts must also provide proof of residence.

Here is the text of the question being decided Tuesday:

“Shall the North Iowa Area Community College District (Merged Area II) in the Counties of Butler, Cerro Gordo, Chickasaw, Floyd, Franklin, Hancock, Kossuth, Mitchell, Winnebago, Worth and Wright, State of Iowa, be authorized to renovate, improve, repair, construct, erect, furnish, and equip existing buildings, at multiple campus and enrollment locations, with an emphasis on safety, security, and sustainability; to construct, erect, remodel, repair, renovate, improve, furnish, and equip career academy buildings and related site improvements, and to acquire sites, if necessary; and issue its school bonds in an amount not exceeding $15,000,000 for such purposes?”

Vote “Yes” or “No.”

The ballot needs 60% voter approval to pass.

If approved, the money will fund the development of regional career centers, expand and enhance workforce training programs and provide for infrastructure improvements on the NIACC campus.

According to the college, those funds would be used like this:

• $5 million to $6.5 million for job training and workforce programs, including up to three new regional education centers in communities in the 11-county area. Also included are career and technical education classroom upgrades and equipment.

• $4.7 million for interior infrastructure improvements at the NIACC campus, including renovating classrooms, new equipment, remodeling the 1972 dormitory food service building and replacing its roof and updating the activity center and kitchen.

• $3 million for exterior infrastructure, including replacing lighting and updating sidewalks and parking lots on campus, and new wayfinding signage.

• $2.15 million for sustainable energy upgrades including LED lighting and safety equipment, sensors to turn off lighting when areas are not occupied, and replacements or upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

• $1 million for campus security improvements.

• $710,000 to update the North Iowa Community Auditorium on the Mason City campus, including a new roof, new seating and carpeting, upgraded controls for the orchestra pit and lighting and sound equipment improvements.