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This is a scene Temple residents won’t see for long — firefighters closing down streets to test fire hoses. The bond election passed Saturday will mean testing can be done at a new training facility. Mitch Green/Telegram

The chief of Temple Fire and Rescue thanked citizens Saturday for casting their votes in favor of the $13.99 million dollar bond election to replace Central Station, build a new station and buy equipment.

The major part of the bond will include relocation and rebuilding of Central Station; a combined new Station 8, training facility and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the northwest part of the city; and replacement of two existing engines.

Voters numbered 1,408 for the bond election, which was passed 1,058 to 350.

“We know we have our work cut out for us in the future and so we look forward to that,” Chief Lonzo Wallace said. “The support of all the citizens in Temple we take seriously.”

Wallace, always proud of his team

of firefighters, knows they appreciate the voters as well.

“I am very pleased that the bond issue passed as overwhelmingly that it did,” Mayor Bill Jones III said at the municipal building on Saturday night. “That’s a great sign for a community and a great show that the community is supportive of the work that’s going on in their city. I am very pleased and I thank the citizens of the city of Temple for the confidence that they have in us to help to improve and grow the community.”

All of Saturday’s election results are unofficial until they are canvassed.

Jones was re-elected Saturday for another three years and District 3 council member Martin E. “Marty” Janczak was re-elected.

A run-off election date will be determined this week for the District 2 seat. District 2 incumbent Patsy Luna received the most votes (108), closely followed by Mia McBride (99). Robert M. Martin received 29 votes.

To be elected you must receive at least 50 percent plus one of the votes.

“I encourage all constituents to come out and vote in the run-off election,” Ms. Luna said on Saturday night. “I would like to continue to build on the improvements the council has made in the last six years.”

Voters in the District 2 election numbered 388.

In the Temple Independent School District District 2 race, Dorothy A. Powell received 191 votes to Mary Lee Loving’s 57.

Belton Independent School District had two at-large positions at stake. Incumbents Jeanette Kelley and Tim Stephens retained their positions. Ms. Kelley garned 383 votes, Stephens 399 and Kristi Tindell followed with 193.

Salado elected Merle Stalcup mayor with 316 votes to Michael Cooper’s 259.

In Troy, voters passed a $16.9 million bond election, 300 to 170. The money will be used to construct a new middle school to house grades 6-8 and assist with upgrades to other campuses.

Based on the passage of the bond issue, the proposed total tax rate for 2008-09 would be estimated at $1.53 per $100 valuation, according to Troy ISD officials. Senior citizens whose homestead tax bills are frozen will not have their school taxes increase as a result of the passage of this bond.