Advance voting under way on Eudora pool question

Eudora ? Residents here don’t have to wait until Aug. 26 to decide whether the city can build a new $2.25 million pool.

The city’s 2,390 registered voters may cast their special-election ballots in advance at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Mass., in Lawrence.

Advance voting is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The advance polling site closes at noon Aug. 25, the day before Eudora’s polling places will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

At issue: Whether the city should be allowed to borrow up to $2.25 million to build a new pool, and whether the city should impose a 1/2-cent citywide sales tax to pay off nearly half of the debt.

Both issues are combined into a single question, the only one on the ballot.

In the April 1 general election, Eudora voters split on the pool issue — they voted to support a 1/2-cent sales tax, but rejected plans to borrow up to $2.5 million for a pool.

Officials met after that election and agreed to pare the pool plans.

The latest drawings still call for a water slide about three stories tall, six lap lanes, a zero-depth entry area, spray toys and a diving well with two boards. But the pool’s length would be reduced from 25 meters to 25 yards, and the new bath house also would be smaller.

And this time, it’s all or nothing.

“Last time it was a two-part question and I think it was a little confusing to the voters, so they’ve condensed it into one question this time,” said Patty Jaimes, Douglas County clerk.

The April election drew votes from 730 Eudora residents.

The tax passed, 54 percent to 46 percent, but the tax was contingent on the city winning permission to issue up to $2.5 million in bonds, an issue that drew support from only 44 percent of voters.

Jaimes declined to speculate on how many registered voters would turn out for the special election, which will be conducted in three polling places in Eudora:

  • Eudora City Hall, 4 E. Seventh St.
  • Eudora Township Fire Station, 310 E. 20th St.
  • Eudora Public Library, 114 E. Ninth St.

Since advance voting opened Aug. 6, Jaimes said, four registered voters had cast their ballots at the courthouse.