County discusses purchase of new voting booths
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Lyon County commissioners heard a request for money to buy new voting booths at the commission’s study session Wednesday morning.
Election Deputy Assistant Heather Dill appeared before the commission to request $1,358 for the purchase of 17 Franklin four-station voting booths at $79.90 each. The booths themselves cost $799 each, but the state will cover 90 percent of the costs.
“We are here to request these new voting booths,” Dill told commissioners. “The old ones are aluminum, and are not very sturdy.” She went on to say that the county clerk’s office does not want to turn the opportunity for the new booths down at such a cost savings.
“It’s almost like free money,” she said of the state’s share of the cost.
The new four-station voting booths have one side that is handicapped-accessible and three booths of ordinary height. The booths also are able to be folded up to make them more compact for storage and transportation.
For extra cost savings, employees of the county clerk’s office have decided to put the canvas covers from the old booths to use on the new ones.
“The covers that come with the new booths are $50 each,” Dill said, “but since we got rid of all those old booths, Tammy [Vopat] has decided to take the old canvas covers and make covers for the new ones.”
Recycling the old covers will save the county about $850, Dill said.
In other business, commissioners:
• Discussed proclaiming Oct. 10, 2011, as Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day.
• Discussed approving expenses to allow County Engineer Chip Woods to attend the De-Paving Roads seminar in Lawrence on Nov. 30.
• Discussed approving sending out a Request for Proposals for mobile and portable radios for the highway department.
• Discussed approving the low bid for 20 dump truck tires from Kansasland Tire Co. for $345.25 each for a total of $6,905.
bubbadleroy (anonymous) says...
The state covers 90% of the cost, "It's almost like free money"
Damn, don't people think before they talk. The states can't print money, so where does she think it comes from. The old ones aren't broke are they? Just want some that are more pretty????
October 6, 2011 at 10:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I'm with you, bubba.
Well, well Heather Dill. Free money indeed. Gee whiz, girl, have you any idea in the world where this "free money" comes from?
This is the kind of belief system that does more harm than good. Schools often use the same kind of "free money" thinking.
Think, people, think! Think farther than your nose. Think about consequences and how the system works.
Geez!
October 7, 2011 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tourguide (anonymous) says...
Ah HELL, Go ahead and buy them. Not like they are made of rocks (LOL). With shiny new voting booth s,MAYBE voters will show up to see them . Then accidentally use them. (NOT) It's only money...
October 7, 2011 at 7:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landinkansas (anonymous) says...
Agreed the state can't print money, it has to come from somewhere. However these type of expenditure are typically in a large bucket (I don't have a better term for it) of money setup to help counties, cities, ect. in the state pay for such items. Municipal groups from all over the state will apply for various assistance and the state will spend the budgeted money. Lyon county residents just as well reap the benefit when available, or one of our neighboring counties or cities will.
I'm not saying this is right or wrong. Just the way it is. Understand the rules and work within them accordingly until they change.
October 7, 2011 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
I'll agree with landinkansas on this one. "FREE was an unfortunate use of words, but it's still a good idea. Get them now with the state paying 90% and they are going to use to old canvas covers. It's OUR money, we may as well get some back.
October 7, 2011 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )