Trial for Highland bond vote delayed

WASHINGTON — A contest court trial for the challenged Highland School District bond election will be delayed five days, as petitioners rush to find a lawyer.

Officials from the Washington County Auditor’s Office and Attorney’s Office on Wednesday confirmed the case had been continued to Jan. 20. It was originally scheduled for Jan. 15.

Neither gave a specific reason for the delay. Ron Greiner, one of three judges in the trial and the man who drafted a petition challenging the bond vote’s outcome, said it was needed as supporters of that petition moved to hire and prepare an attorney.

The contest court will decide whether a $15 million bond issue narrowly approved on Election Day in November can take effect, after poll workers mistakenly gave 96 ballots to voters who shared a precinct with the school district, but didn’t live in it, making them ineligible to shape the decision that determines property taxes for Highland area families.

Attorneys for the school district argued at an informal pretrial meeting Dec. 31 that the challenge was submitted after state-mandated deadlines, and said there was no way to no whether the 96 improper ballots shaped the outcome of the race. While the bond issue passed by a margin of less than 30, it’s not clear if or how those given incorrect ballots voted in the race.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com