By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Carter County Clerk Mike Johnston told the fiscal court on Monday night that new voting machine mandates from the federal government could end up setting the county back nearly $500,000 to cover all 26 voting precincts, and the two locations counting absentee ballots, before the next presidential election.
Johnston explained that changes to the voting system guide adopted by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission earlier this year mean that the county will have to upgrade their voting machines before the next federal election.
The new machines, which Johnston explained will provide the federal government with “a better paper trail,” cost $17,000 each for the system and printers. But with only $57,000 in federal assistance available, and 28 machines needed for all the county’s polling places and the clerk’s offices in Grayson and Olive Hill, that’s an unfunded debt of more than $419,000 for the county to be in compliance with the new federal recommendations.
Johnston said while he hopes that the federal government will make more funding available in the future to cover the difference for poor counties like Carter, the $57,000 offered was a “take it or leave it,” deal. He said his office went forward with applying for that funding while it was offered rather than holding out and hoping for more assistance later.
If further funding is made available, he expects the county should be eligible for that as well.
Johnston also discussed extending voting days moving forward, to three days. While this was done during the previous election to help maintain social distancing during the election, he said it was found to be beneficial for working people and parents who often have a difficult time making it to polls on election day. Because of that, he said, they are looking at maintaining the schedule moving forward.
However, he noted, the state will not permit counties to continue with provisions that allowed voters to cast absentee ballots to avoid COVID exposure. The restrictions on absentee ballots will revert to pre-COVID requirements, meaning those requesting an absentee ballot must demonstrate that they will be out of state, out of town, or that they have a medical condition that makes visiting a traditional polling place impossible.
In other action the court moved to remove Tal Road from the county road system. The road , and all responsibilities for maintenance, will now revert to the property owner.
The county also heard from a Mr. Holbrook, of Cattlemen Lane near Carter City. Holbrook, who identified himself as one of four homeowners on the road, was requesting the road be taken into the county road system. The court moved to assign two disinterested magistrates to survey the road and report back to council with their findings.
The court also moved to approve the sheriff’s state advancement application, approve the sheriff’s state advancement bond, and approve the sheriff’s 2022 budget. They also moved to approve the sheriff’s 2022 annual order setting maximum salaries.
While hearing department reports the court discussed Burton Road, which despite having been reviewed by magistrates back in June of 2020, was never officially taken out of the county road system, and Kiser Hollow. The road department removed one gate along Kiser Hollow because it was blocking a portion of road in the county system. However, road department supervisor Jason Carroll explained, a second gate was not removed because it was determined to be on private property that had not been taken into the county road system.
E911 Director Joe Lambert requested a work session with court to discuss possibilities for salary increased in the department.
In emergency management news EM Director Adam Stapleton reported that the EM have submitted a list of assets to the state that Carter County can make available for assistance and cleanup in western parts of the state hit by recent tornadoes. These include two trucks from the road department that can be used for cleanup and the EM drone for aerial survey work.
Judge executive Mike Malone said the only thing the county could provide, at this time, was equipment. He said he had talked to colleagues in the area and they were not accepting donations of food and clothing at this time because, although they are needed, they don’t have anywhere to store them or anyone to receive and distribute them.
The county also moved to approve a bid for installation of propane heaters in the new road department building, at a cost of $6,000 and to approve payment of the COVID bonus to a retired employee who worked through the qualifying pandemic period but who retired before the funds were distributed.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
