Archive: News

Election inspectors, school officials, and library supporters waited for nearly an hour before the final votes were counted Tuesday night.  For Lansing Community Library supporters the final numbers were worth waiting for.  Those who said 'No' on a proposition to abolish the library as a public library counted for 71.56% of the 446 to 1122 vote.  Loud cheers and hugs were exchanged when the voting machine totals were announced at 9:30, and again when the final tally including absentee ballots was announced.

"I'm really excited for the future of the Lansing Library," said Friends of the Library President Donna Scott.  "This is a great mandate for us to move forward and serve the Town of Lansing as best we can with our wonderful library."

The 'Friends of the Library' took the lead in the campaign to keep a public library in Lansing, because library board members, as trustees of the library as a taxing authority, were not permitted to campaign.  Normally the Friends raise money and volunteer for library programs.  The group sent mailings, wrote letters, and phoned supporters to get people to come out and vote even when the school district part of the ballot was largely uncontroversial.


"It shows me what a great job the Friends did," said Library Board President Dale Baker.  "They worked so hard to get the people out to vote, and to tell them the details of what the vote was about.  And I think that people really understood what this meant.  They're saying that the library is an important part of this community, and I think they said it big-time.  This was a major victory for the library."

"Lansing made the right choice to keep their public library open," says professional librarian Susie Gutenberger.  "Based just on today on the new cards I made, the teens that checked out books, and people interested in adult summer reading I think Lansing likes this library."


On the school side, the $23,944,315 2009-2010 budget passed 1140 to 363.  School officials estimate that there will be a 0% tax rate rise from last year.  A second proposition that will allow qualified residents to register to vote on any school day also passed 1152 to 339.

Superintendent Stephen Grimm credited the budget's success to an open and inclusive process.  "It started about five months ago," he said.  "When you involve all of the stakeholders in the entire budget process, then you have informed people.  More importantly you have a budget that reflects the financial plan that the stakeholders in the district desire."

"I wasn't  overly concerned, because I know that the district supports its education here," said District Business administrator Mary June King.  "It's a good community.  It's great to be in Lansing."

School Board President Anne Drake was re-elected with 719 votes.  Drake was the only candidate on the ballot to fill her seat on the board as well as the outgoing Sandi Dhimitri's spot.  Aziza Benson won the second open seat with 90 write-in votes.  Barb Policay received 35 write-in votes, and Mary Wright 26.

Grimm said he was excited about the level of voter turnout in contrast to the relative lack of controversy on school issues.  "It's truly representative of the Lansing electorate to be informed, intelligent, and active," he said.  "That makes for the best democracy and it makes for the best community as we move forward.  It's a great sign not only for today, but for the future as well."

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