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In the Chisago Lakes School District a special vote was held to fill an open seat on the school board from Cory Spencer's resignation in March.

Sarah Aadland, who had been appointed in the wake of that resignation, won the position with 2,437 to Aaron Olson’s 2,067.  There were 36 write-in names reported.  Aadland had the most votes in all the precincts within the district boundary.

The data shows 16,007 registered voters in the district , so about one in four cast a ballot.

The district was also asking for authorization to sell bonds for capital projects and this was defeated.

The unofficial numbers are the bond went down, 2,819 no to 1,913 yes.

There was a second question for an excess local levy to boost available per pupil funding, which was also defeated.  The levy got 2,967 no votes to 1,764 yes.

The voting activity involved in two ballot measures taking place locally Tuesday, was impressive for a non-general election event.  

North Branch citizens came out to vote for two utility related questions, in a special election seeking to blend the independent water division with the city and abolishing the utility commission...both were authorized.

There were 900 ballots in North Branch according to unofficial results, that will be canvassed and made final by the city council November 14.  

The day of voting 34 new registrations were processed.

The abolition of the Water & Light commission will proceed with 607 yes votes and 288 voting no. Transfer of water operations authority to the city was authorized on a vote of 575 to 318.

The city will have about a month to make the switchover complete;  but water functions have been overseen by public works director Shawn Williams for quite some time.  The electric side of the utility was sold-off nearly one year ago and there was no longer a need for a general manager skilled in electric distribution.  Public Works in North Branch has been responsible for wastewater systems and it has been a fairly seamless leap to potable systems.

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