| 3/3/2010 9:08:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Commissioners purchase voting system
Sue Price - Mail Staff Writer
Purchase of the $52,565 Ballot Now voting system, was unanimously approved by county commissioners during their regular meeting Tuesday.
The new system will be paid for in two installments from the Chaffee County replacement fund, county finance director Dan Short, said.
Ken Trethewey of Hart Intercivic demonstrated the system Monday at the commissioners' work session.
County clerk Joyce Reno said Ballot Now includes software, scanner, desktop computer, printer and staff training. She labeled it "much more efficient and cost-effective."
"This will save a large amount of money by allowing print-on-demand of ballots," Reno said. Previously, Reno said she orders ballots in September without knowing how many voters will vote by mail, use vote centers, or fail to vote.
Unused ballots are discarded after election day, wasting thousands of dollars.
Reno said she hopes having a mail-in primary election will save $15,000. In the general election, she said the new system can save the county as much as $45,000, depending upon ballot size.
Commissioner Dennis Giese said, "The program has to be user-friendly, get the voting results out much quicker, and save money.
"It also has to be accurate and ensure integrity of election results. We will go by your recommendation that this system does all those things."
On another topic, commissioners approved amending the Chaffee County Building Code, allowing building permits to not expire as long as the time between inspections has not exceeded 365 days.
It also allows expired permits to receive additional board of review extensions in the event unforeseen circumstances prevent completion of a project within three years - or two years following adoption of a new version of the applicable code.
"In today's economy, we want to keep the building trade moving forward and this resolution is less restrictive than we had before. It's more favorable to business," commissioner Tim Glenn said.
In other business, commissioners:
• Approved amending the intergovernmental agreement with Salida regarding land use and map revisions.
• Appointed Giese to the flow committee for administration of the Recreational In-Channel Diversion.
• Hired John C. Baker as Chaffee County Veterans Service Officer replacing Ron Sheller who resigned was effective March 1.
• Approved a resolution to support a planning grant application for parks and outdoor recreation improvements at Chaffee County Fair Grounds. The grant source will be Great Outdoors Colorado.
• Approved the letter of intent to purchase building space at 499 Antero Circle, Buena Vista, from Harder-Diesslin Development Group LLC.
• Approved a letter of support for the Southern Colorado National Veterans Cemetery proposed site in Custer County.
• Waived rental fees for fair ground use by Articipate, a nonprofit art education group, for a two-day fund-raising event in September.
• Proclaimed March 7-13 as Girl Scout Week.
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