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November 22, 1976 Page 4 <br />persons that voted from each precinct during the last election. He explained <br />that Precinct # #4 is in a different legislative district so they are recommending <br />that this precinct be left as is. <br />Administrator Achen recommended that Precincts 1 -3 be split in one - half. One <br />precinct would then have a boundary of Edgewood and County Road I. The line would <br />be continued up Edgewood from Highway 10 for another precinct. The remaining <br />area west of Edgewood Road would be divided along Eastwood Road up to the <br />northern boundary of the City. <br />New polling places could be at Messiah Lutheran Church's educational building, <br />Abiding Savior Lutheran Church and the Sunrise Methodist Church. <br />Administrator Achen stated there were ways to make the precincts more balanced, <br />but this would require making a lot of jogs in the boundary lines. He felt it <br />would be more beneficial to keep the precinct boundaries as simple and easy to <br />understand as possible. Admin. Achen stated that this did not have to be <br />acted on tonight but a decisbn will have to be made before December 31st. <br />Councilmember Baumgartner stated that the reason for doing this is because of <br />the long lines experienced in the general election and thewaiting time. This <br />should cut the waiting time down. Councilmember Baumgartner asked Administrator <br />Achen if he would have difficulty in finding enough election judges for the <br />additional three precincts. <br />Admin. Achen stated that the election judges at each precinct will be reduced <br />from 11 to 6 or 7 so he would probably need about 15 more judges with the <br />three additional polling places. He stated it would probably be easier to get <br />judges by revising their pay scale. Admin. Achen said he would evaluate this and <br />submit recommendations to the Council with the next budget that includes an <br />election. <br />Councilmember Baumgartner stated he had heard this complaint too and he realizes <br />they put in a lot of time, but so do the people on the Planning Commission and <br />they do not get any pay. <br />Administrator Achen stated that it is important that elections be conducted as <br />fairly and openly as possible. An increase in salary will not increase the <br />efficiency, but it makes it easier to be selective. He explained that by <br />State law the training session will be required for other elections too. <br />Councilmember Baumgartner stated he would be uncomfortable with increasing their <br />pay scale. <br />Councilmember Rowley asked if the additional precincts would require more <br />machines. Administrator Achen stated that it is recommended to have one voting <br />machine for every 125 registered voters. During this election the City had one <br />machine for every 150 voters. The City has 38 devices and will probably need <br />another 6 to 8 more. Administrator Achen recommended that these additional <br />machines be acquired on an annual basis so we are brought up to the recommended <br />number by the 1980 election. <br />Charles Parker, 8040 Groveland, stated he felt the polling places should be <br />within the precinct boundaries and if possible as close to the middle of the <br />precinct as possible. Admin. Achen stated that this is a problem with all <br />of the new precincts. He explained that it is very difficult to get the <br />