Inver Grove Heights Bond Request Wins Approval

Inver Grove Heights voters narrowly approved a bond referendum that will pay for school facility improvements.

The proposal won the support of 51.87 percent of voters—earning 127 more yes votes than no votes.

The $24.75 million dollar bond, which is to be repaid over 19 years, will fund work at Salem Hills Elementary School and Simley High School, security improvements and deferred maintenance at all district buildings. It will add about $6.42 per month to the tax bill of an average home, which is worth $184,000 in Inver Grove Heights.

“We can now begin to address the facilities needs that were identified by the district facilities committee, focused on four primary areas of safety, academics, arts and athletics,” Superintendent Deirdre Wells said in a statement released after the vote. “On behalf of all the Inver Grove Heights Community Schools staff, thank you for sharing your children with us.”

In the School Board race just three candidates ran for three open positions. The results were:

• Paul Mandell: 33.25 percent, 2,038 votes
• Lynette Stensgard: 31.79 percent, 1,949 votes
• Cindy Nordstrom: 31.5 percent, 1,931 votes
• Write-in: 3.46 percent, 212 votes