Traverse City voters have chosen Amy Shamroe as their next mayor.
Shamroe won nearly 64 percent of the vote over opponent Tom Mair.
She has spent eight years on the city commission, many as mayor pro tem. Incumbent Mayor Richard Lewis decided not to seek reelection.
For city commission, challengers Jackie Anderson and Heather Shaw received the most votes, with incumbent Mitch Treadwell close behind.
BROWN BRIDGE QUIET AREA
Voters overwhelmingly approved two ballot measures that will expand the Brown Bridge Quiet Area.
One proposal amended the city charter to remove a spending limit on the Brown Bridge Trust Fund. The other proposal authorized spending up to $746,245 to pay for the expansion.
FIRE MILLAGE
The Traverse City Fire Department will become the city’s primary ambulance service.
That’s after voters approved a millage increase, allowing the city to buy two ambulances and hire 10 more people, eventually ending its contract with Mobile Medical Response.
SCHOOL BONDS
It was a mixed bag for school districts seeking more money.
In Leelanau County, voters rejected a bond proposal for Glen Lake Community Schools.
The district was hoping to raise $36 million for facility improvements, including air conditioning in classrooms, updated restrooms, security upgrades and more. It was the first time in 30 years the district asked for a millage increase.
But the 1.75 mill increase was too much for voters, with 54 percent of them rejecting the ballot measure.
In the Manton Consolidated Schools, centered in Wexford County, voters approved borrowing up to $7.4 million for school renovations. The money will fund a band room extension and renovations to the school’s athletic facilities, without raising taxes.
But a separate proposal, also approved, brings a 3-mill increase to create a sinking fund, which will give the district money for repairs and upgrades on an ongoing basis.
