The third time wasn’t a charm in Dallas County as voters again turned down a bond referendum to build a new jail and law enforcement center.

Sheriff Chad Leonard tells Raccoon Valley Radio Proposition A received a 52 percent Yes vote, and while that is the majority it fall short of the 60 percent needed for the issue to pass.

Just 10 percent of registered voters cast a ballot countywide.  That’s a total of 2,770 Yes votes to 2,559 No votes.

Leonard says he’s disappointed the issue didn’t pass but there are great people in Dallas County and he understands where voters are coming from.  He’s glad this election is now past him and he plans to go back to work today doing the best they can with the facilities they have.  Leonard says he hopes the Board of Supervisors will come up with a better plan and address the concerns of the public before the issue is up for another vote.  The Sheriff asks anyone who voted No on the issue to contact him and share why so that he can bring the feedback to the Supervisors for future consideration.

The $16.8 million referendum was for a new facility on the east edge of the Adel city limits that would have housed all divisions of the Sheriff’s office and emergency management.  This is the third time in as many years that Dallas County voters have failed to pass a bond referendum and the first time the law enforcement center was the only item on the ballot.

All results are unofficial until canvassed by the Board of Supervisors.  Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more details as they become available.