Sikeston voters shoot down PILOT

Yes: 262, 11%; No: 2,046 89%

SIKESTON - After impassioned, hard-fought campaigns on both sides of the issue, Sikeston voters soundly defeated the PILOT by nearly an 8-1 margin.

The proposed amendment to the city's Home Rule Charter would have imposed a 3 percent "payment in lieu of taxes" on all electrical revenue from the Board of Municipal Utilities, generating approximately $1.6 million annually for the city's general revenue fund.

According to unofficial tallies from the Scott County Clerk's office the total vote Tuesday was 262 yes votes to 2,046 opposed.

"It didn't turn out the way we wanted it to, but we stirred up a lot of interest," said Mayor Phil Boyer. "The public said we need to back up and look at our budget, and we'll do that. We'll try to keep things moving ahead, if maybe a little slower than we would have liked."

Approximately 21 percent of the 10,870 registered voters cast ballots. "That's a pretty good turnout," said Scott County Clerk Rita Milam.

Precincts voted as follows: Airport 33-255; Allen 45-319; Armory 38-325; Broadway 26-178; Clayton 15-106; Delmar 12-103; Northwest 36-319; Park 27-195; Sunset 10-59; Big Prairie IV 18-154; and absentee 2-33.

The McMullin precinct voted at the Northwest precinct's polling place, according to officials.

Ward 2 voters selected Jim Terrell with 332 total votes and Shad Old with 318 in the primary race for their ward representative.

Also running in the Ward 2 primary was Kevin Melrose who received 145 votes.

Terrell and Old will now appear on the April ballot as Ward 2 candidates along with Bart Grant and David Teachout for Ward 3 and Mike Marshall and Harry Sharp as choices for the city's first elected mayor.