Allamakee County voters approve bond referendum for new public safety center

Voters in Allamakee County expressed widespread support for the $5.1 million bond referendum to fund the construction of a new jail and public safety center at the location of the Makee Manor facility north of Waukon. The same project was first presented to voters in November of 2014 with a $4.9 million price tag, but that measure failed to gain the support of the required 60% super majority by less than one percentage point.
The May 5 bond referendum was approved by just shy of 68.5% of Allamakee County voters participating in the special election, with Allamakee County Auditor and Commissioner of Elections Denise Beyer reporting that approximately 17% of registered voters in the County voted in the May 5 event. Voters in the Dorchester area produced the only disapproving result, with 63.6% of voters in that precinct voting against the measure. The only other precinct that fell short of the 60% super majority approval was in New Albin, where 55.3% approved of the measure.