FLY CREEK - Voters in the Fly Creek fire district have spoken loud and clear.

Edward L. Kukenberger, Wolfgang J. Merk and Richard H. Carr were elected Fly Creek fire district commissioners and Elizabeth A. Staffin was elected district treasurer in uncontested elections Tuesday night.

Kukenberger, seeking the five-year term vacated by Dean Colby, received 147 votes with no write-in candidates receiving votes. Merk, seeking the two-year unexpired term opened when Pat Rhyde resigned in June, received 146 votes with two people receiving single write-in votes apiece. Carr, seeking the one-year unexpired term left when Patty Pernat resigned in June, received 146 votes with one person receiving a write-in vote. Staffin - who was originally voted in during a special election in early March to fill the remaining two years of an unexpired term, dismissed shortly after in May and then subsequently reappointed by the fire board - received 147 votes.

"The people have spoken," said Eileen Kukenberger, Edward's wife, shortly after the results were announced by election officer Bernice Bachanas at 9:30 p.m.

"It's great to see this kind of support," commissioner Mark Weir said after the large turnout numbers were announced. "It just shows that change is wanted and needed."

"This is the beginning of a process of restoring the confidence in the fire department," Carr said. "It's time to move forward."

"I think we've got our work cut out for us," Edward Kukenberger said.

Merk said he's looking forward to rebuilding the district and reestablishing the EMT and paramedic units in the department.

"We want to bring them back whether they're new members or old members," he said.

In an election many feared would not take place at all or would feature incomplete ballots, the electoral process went relatively smoothly. Chairwoman Julie Pernat made ballots and brought them to the fire hall Tuesday night after fire board secretary Yvonne Colby apparently resigned earlier in the week. The ballots had all four names of candidates known to have submit petitions and had a blank space for write-in candidates.

Town of Otsego supervisor Tom Breiten said he was pleased with the election process.

"I would like to thank the Fly Creek fire commissioners for their many years of service to the community and especially chairwoman Julie Pernat for putting together a fair and legal election," Breiten said. "There was a wonderful outpouring of community spirit that developed around the issue and I sincerely hope this will continue to improve emergency services in the Fly Creek fire district."

Many residents expressed concern about possible election problems Dec. 8 at the last fire district board meeting of the year. The meeting ended up not taking place when only one commissioner showed up, but residents stayed to mull over the situation.

Dean and Yvonne Colby called commissioner Mark Weir earlier that day to inform him they would not be at the meeting. Several residents expressed concerns that Yvonne's absence from the proceedings Dec. 8 and at an informal ballot signature check Nov. 30 signified a potential problem with the election.

Resident Jim Atwell and commissioner Weir assured the audience that if official ballots were not present, they would ensure that backups were on hand.

The new commissioners will be sworn in at the first meeting of the fire board Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at the fire hall. The board could also appoint a new secretary at that time, Weir said.