BOC approves purchase of voting machines

CLEVELAND, Ga. – White County commissioners unanimously approved an amount of up to $55,000 for the purchase of new voting equipment and supplies to be used during the 2020 primary election cycle during Monday’s combined work session and regular meeting.

Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill last April that authorizes the statewide purchase of new touchscreen voting machines that prints paper ballots. Probate Judge Garrison Baker, who oversees elections for White County, told commissioners the county will need to purchase 60 of the voting machines and 12 security cages at a cost of $35,370. Baker said there is an additional cost of approximately $20,000 for supplies to be used in conjunction with the machines.

There is a Help America Vote Act (HAVA) grant of about $15,000 Baker said he plans to apply for that could help offset some of the cost. But he pointed out that his request is time sensitive. “We are kind of under the gun,” he said. “We are less than a month away from having to mail out absentee ballots for the presidential preference primary.”

The purchase can be funded as a capital expense from special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) funds. The county expects to receive the new machines early next month.

Commissioners unanimously a resolution adopting qualifying fees for candidates who will run in the 2020 election cycle. The new fees are as follows:

Clerk of Superior Court ($1,591.05); Sheriff ($1,943.28); Probate Judge ($1,591.05); Tax Commissioner ($1,591.05); Chief Magistrate Judge ($1,591.05); Board of Commissioners District 1 ($360); Board of Commissioners District 4 ($360); Board of Education Chair ($148.50); Board of Education District 1 ($121.50); Board of Education District 3 ($148.50); Coroner ($226); Surveyor ($25).

The Board also approved Public Safety Director David Murphy’s request for renewal of the statewide mutual aid agreement.

“It simply puts mutual aid into effect throughout the state for anyone that agrees to it,” he said. “We have agreements with any county in the state to provide us assistance during any man made or natural disaster that could occur.”

Commissioners tabled a vote on a proposal by Brewster & Crocker Associates for engineering services for the Yonah Preserve football field, press box, concession stand and restrooms.

The Board also considered four land use applications.

It approved a conditional use permit for Benjamin Goodman to place 4.61 acres at 177Rabun Road in Sautee Nacoochee into the county’s short-term rental program. Commissioners also approved a land use application filed by Bryan Lee for property locatedat28 Lothridge Road in Cleveland from Community Commercial District to Community Business District for the purpose of expanding his mini storage facility.

Two requests for a conditional use permit were denied by the Board.

Mark Carriger’s request for a conditional use permit to operate a wedding chapel/event facility at 520 Adair Mill Road was denied by a unanimous vote.

Sam Kondamudi’s request for a conditional use permit to place 1.01 acres located at 635 Yonah Mountain Road into the county’s short-term rental program was denied by a vote of 4-1.

 

 

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