FAIRBANK -- Twenty-four hours later, and it's still unclear whether a celebration or condolences are needed in the Wapsie Valley School District.

A two-part referendum asking for new elementaries in Fairbank and Readlyn came within 12 votes of approval after an election Tuesday night. Wednesday, the gap closed to nine votes after staffers at the Bremer County Auditor's Office counted 30 absentee ballots that arrived in the mail.

Wes Hicok, an auditor's office employee, said more could arrive before Friday's deadline.

"There's quite a few people looking at it for the next few days to see what absentee ballots come in," he said.

In all, 318 absentee ballots have been counted so far. The election drew more than 1,400 votes -- far past the total in the first bond election in December. That election produced 1,100 cast ballots, but the measure failed with only 46 percent approval.

This time, the referendum asked voters to approve $8 million for two schools. Existing buildings are more than 70 years old, face several structural problems and have been cited for a number of fire code infractions.

Voters approved half of the referendum -- the question of allowing the bonds -- with 60 percent approval. The second part of the question, however, fell just short. That would have allowed the district to raise the property tax levy to a maximum amount of $4.05 per $1,000 of assessed taxable valuation to help pay for the bonds.

School Board President Randy Woods said he remains hopeful enough ballots will trickle in to reach the 60 percent supermajority.

"We really don't know where we're at with this," Woods said. "As close as it is, it's still very much alive yet."

Woods said the new totals were a large turn-around from the first referendum. He credited the most recent results to the work of the Wapsie Valley KIDS, a group promoting the measure.

Wood said the board will likely pursue a recount if the vote comes up short.

"You almost have to. You owe it to the people who promoted and went out and did the work," he said. "We want to do everything we can to maybe turn up another vote or two to get it through."

Superintendent Chad Garber said the schools' priorities and concerns -- safety and a good learning environment -- won't change if the referendum fails.

"What was important to us yesterday is vitally important to us today," he said.

What will be of concern is how to address the fire code problems, like better means of escaping either building. That could mean a costly renovation or addition to the schools.

Some revenues from the statewide 1 percent sales tax fund could pay for that, Woods said, but he added it is too early to think about alternatives.

"I'm hoping that maybe come Friday we won't have to worry about a Plan B," he said.

Suspicious calls

Some in the district blame the loss in part on a series of mysterious automated phone calls that urged residents to vote no. The first batch went out Monday and another round Tuesday.

The calls came out strongly against the referendum and told voters their taxes would go up.

Proponents said much of the information in the anonymous calls was dubious at best. Garber said the calls were a "last-minute effort to cloud the issue."

The first set traced on some caller ID displays to the Oran Community Sanitation District. Members of the district's board called Wapsie Valley officials to disavow any connection to the messages, said Arnold Schellhorn, district secretary.

"The sanitation district had no part in this whole procedure," Schellhorn said.

Schellhorn said he wasn't sure why the district's number showed up, but the situation upset him.

"If I went against something, I'd be man enough to say, 'Hey, this is the way I feel,' and let everybody know," he said. "To do it in such a shystery, derogatory method, it just makes our Oran Sanitation District and the Oran community look terrible."

Schellhorn said district board members have requested the Fayette County sheriff's and attorney's offices investigate the matter.

Dale Neil of Oran said he received two calls on Monday and Tuesday evening. Neither indicated who sponsored the call, which bothered Neil.

"If they would have put their own name on it, that could have made it right with me," he said. "They have the right to vote no and they have the right to do whatever they want, but don't use a false name."

Woods said the calls, which he called "cowardly," could have swayed a bloc of undecided voters. He said he was disappointed to see the work of public volunteers on the KIDS committee negated by anonymous phone calls.

Woods added the board intends to pressure the county attorney's office to look into the matter.

The Wapsie Valley School Board is expected to discuss the election results at its next meeting. That session will begin at 7 p.m. Monday at the Wapsie Valley Junior Senior High School. If a recount is needed, the board may not have results by Monday, however.

For information about the referendum, go online at www.wapsievalleyschools.com.

Contact Josh Nelson at (319) 291-1565 or josh.nelson@wcfcourier.com.