Elgin city officials react to EMS referendum failing

ELGIN, Minn. (KTTC) – After 52% of voters rejected its referendum question during Tuesday's election, the city of Elgin goes back to the drawing board.

The city presented a question on the ballot that proposed a $4.5 million project, which would have created a new emergency services facility to house the fire department, ambulance service and emergency management.

When the dust settled, the final total was 314 votes for yes and 350 votes for no.

"Well, it's kind of hard to see that it was so close," Elgin Ambulance Director Sarah Ring said. "I fully believe that if the public would have come to the open houses and asked questions, we could have rectified a lot of the issues that were presented as to why it did not pass."

Elgin Mayor Tim Boardman said he was disappointed with the results, adding how there was miscommunication about the project.

"When people don't come to the open houses and get the information straight from us, the chief, the ambulance director, myself [and the] financial advisor, there's a lot of hearsay that goes around and that's unfortunate," Boardman said.

Boardman said the city plans to move forward to get the project done. Even after the defeat, he said he does have a backup plan in the event the referendum failed.