Voters in Buchanan County have passed a sales tax to repair area river levees by more than 77 percent.

Tuesday voters approved the implementation of a countywide sales tax of 1/4 cent for a period of 4 years from the date it’s first imposed for the purpose of construction and repairs to the Missouri river levees. 10,860 voting yes and only 3,222 voting no.

Bob Wolleman is the campaign chairman for the Committee to Save Jobs and the owner of Deluxe Truck Stop, one of the business protected by the levees. He said he’s pleased with the show of voter support.

“We are so proud of the residents of Buchanan County recognizing the significant interest and the importance of getting this quarter-cent sales tax passed. We are just absolutely thrilled that the residents of Buchanan County recognized this very very essential project,” Wolleman said.

He said the levees are in great need of repair.

“What we’re finding is maybe a little piece of mind for the residents of south St. Joe, for the businesses that invest in both the Kansas side of the river and the Missouri side of the river that they know these levees are going to be restored. The levee on the west side will be re-certified again by the corp of engineers because it’s been de-certified since 1993,” Wolleman said.

The project is estimated to cost more than $70-million. However, Wolleman said the federal government is providing 65 percent of those funds.