HomeMy WebLinkAboutgr00090_000042_pg326November 22, 1976 Page 4
persons that voted from each precinct during the last election. He explained
that Precinct # #4 is in a different legislative district so they are recommending
that this precinct be left as is.
Administrator Achen recommended that Precincts 1 -3 be split in one - half. One
precinct would then have a boundary of Edgewood and County Road I. The line would
be continued up Edgewood from Highway 10 for another precinct. The remaining
area west of Edgewood Road would be divided along Eastwood Road up to the
northern boundary of the City.
New polling places could be at Messiah Lutheran Church's educational building,
Abiding Savior Lutheran Church and the Sunrise Methodist Church.
Administrator Achen stated there were ways to make the precincts more balanced,
but this would require making a lot of jogs in the boundary lines. He felt it
would be more beneficial to keep the precinct boundaries as simple and easy to
understand as possible. Admin. Achen stated that this did not have to be
acted on tonight but a decisbn will have to be made before December 31st.
Councilmember Baumgartner stated that the reason for doing this is because of
the long lines experienced in the general election and thewaiting time. This
should cut the waiting time down. Councilmember Baumgartner asked Administrator
Achen if he would have difficulty in finding enough election judges for the
additional three precincts.
Admin. Achen stated that the election judges at each precinct will be reduced
from 11 to 6 or 7 so he would probably need about 15 more judges with the
three additional polling places. He stated it would probably be easier to get
judges by revising their pay scale. Admin. Achen said he would evaluate this and
submit recommendations to the Council with the next budget that includes an
election.
Councilmember Baumgartner stated he had heard this complaint too and he realizes
they put in a lot of time, but so do the people on the Planning Commission and
they do not get any pay.
Administrator Achen stated that it is important that elections be conducted as
fairly and openly as possible. An increase in salary will not increase the
efficiency, but it makes it easier to be selective. He explained that by
State law the training session will be required for other elections too.
Councilmember Baumgartner stated he would be uncomfortable with increasing their
pay scale.
Councilmember Rowley asked if the additional precincts would require more
machines. Administrator Achen stated that it is recommended to have one voting
machine for every 125 registered voters. During this election the City had one
machine for every 150 voters. The City has 38 devices and will probably need
another 6 to 8 more. Administrator Achen recommended that these additional
machines be acquired on an annual basis so we are brought up to the recommended
number by the 1980 election.
Charles Parker, 8040 Groveland, stated he felt the polling places should be
within the precinct boundaries and if possible as close to the middle of the
precinct as possible. Admin. Achen stated that this is a problem with all
of the new precincts. He explained that it is very difficult to get the