Pam Hickson-Stevenson spent her off day positioned on prime real estate: the sidewalk immediately before drivers turned right to vote at Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ or turned left to vote at Judith A. Resnik Community Learning Center.
For most of the day Tuesday while polls were open, the executive director of the Akron-Summit County Public Library held a blue, ubiquitous “VOTE FOR ISSUE 18” yard sign in her left hand while using her right hand to wave at every vehicle that turned north of West Market Street. She hoped her efforts, minutes before many residents voted, would be enough to approve a property tax increase to fund significant repairs and improvements at the district’s public libraries.
“It’s been so encouraging because as I was waving at people, most everybody either waved back or even did a thumps up,” Hickson-Stevenson said Tuesday at 5:50 p.m., about 10 hours after she first arrived at the spot (She briefly abandoned the location to change after a bird pooped on her pants, which friends told her was a sign of good luck).
“I just had one woman, about 10 minutes ago, take her hands off the steering wheel and start applauding. So that was very, very encouraging, and I’m really, really hopeful.”
Levy passes with nearly 70% approval
According to a Tuesday night tally from the Summit County Board of Elections, the positive sentiment Hickson-Stevenson experienced in the Northwest neighborhood was overwhelmingly mirrored by 26,632 people, constituting 68.32% of the vote.
Only four of the 116 library district precincts voted against Issue 18, including those in Sagamore Hills Township, Springfield Township, Coventry Township and New Franklin. Issue 18 tied with 37 yes and 37 no votes in one precinct in Akron’s Kenmore neighborhood.
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Shortly after the votes were counted late Tuesday night, Hickson-Stevenson said the library’s board and staff were extremely grateful for the votes “and for believing in the power of libraries.” She said money for repairs could be made available after selling bonds by the end of the year and the library system could soon start the bidding process for the work.
Tuesday’s vote means that, starting next year, district homeowners will see property taxes increase $35 annually per $100,000 of home valuation. The library district includes all of Summit County except Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Peninsula, Stow-Munroe Falls and Twinsburg, which have their own library systems.
Langdon, 9, gushed about the library’s toys (he’s particularly fond of the rocketship), movies (he’s a big fan of the “Despicable Me” and “Harry Potter” franchises), and, most importantly, “the best books.” (Christiana Cacciato / Signal Akron)
How passed levy will impact local libraries
The levy will fund $160 million in improvements to the district’s 18 library branches, which proponents of the levy highlight were built an average of 24 years ago and require updates to “keep pace with modern and ever-expanding community needs,” according to the campaign.
The election result is welcome to fourth grader Langdon Molenaur, who was with his mother, Rene, an Akron school board member, when she proudly voted for Issue 18 on Tuesday afternoon.
Langdon, 9, gushed about the library’s toys (he’s particularly fond of the rocketship), movies (he’s a big fan of the “Despicable Me” and “Harry Potter” franchises), and, most importantly, “the best books” (he’s been enjoying books about accidentally summoning monsters and Blackbeard the pirate).
“It’s fun to know that if I want to watch a movie or get a book,” Langdon said, “I can always go to the library.”
