County to help update election equipment

“I’m sure you all know it’s only 268 days to the primary election,” said Lyon County Auditor/Treasurer E.J. Moberg.
It was an opening remark to the real fact, “We need to replace aging (election) equipment,” said Moberg.
Lyon County is taking the forefront in an attempt to secure funds to update election equipment across the county.
The Minnesota State Legislature has provided a $7 million appropriation to establish a grant program for voting equipment.
The grant program will allow up to a 75 percent match for electronic roster equipment purchases such as ePollbooks and up to 50 percent match for the cost of other equipment or technology purchases.
Cities and townships have been planning on the purchase of the new equipment, which will be needed by the next elections. “We had five cities or townships express interest in equipment,” Moberg said.
The county board must approve all applications for funds and the state contract pricing is available up to September 15. “What I am looking for is a resolution to purchase the equipment,” said Moberg. The county board approved the resolution.
Lyon County hosted demonstrations from three companies with state-approved election equipment and two companies with state-approved ePollbooks.
Moberg met with representatives office cities that expressed interest in ePollbooks in an effort to determine the need for equipment purchases. “I am looking at getting two (ePollbooks) for my office,” said Moberg.
“We’re looking at buying for 11 polling places and my office needs one plus a pair, so we are looking at purchasing 14 pieces of equipment.”
“What we are looking at, with the grant money, is a cost of $1,699 per precinct in Lyon County,” added Moberg.
Moberg said the communities of Marshall, Tracy, Cottonwood, Minneota and Balaton have shown interest in purchasing ePollbooks.

IN OTHER action the board:
•Approved tobacco licenses for the Balaton Liquor Store, Benson’s By the Lake; Farmers Co-op of Ghent; Valley Discount Liquor; Farmers Co-op of Minneota and Brad’s Market of Minneota.
•Authorized Commissioner Rick Anderson, on behalf of the Lyon County Board, to sign the “Memorandum of Agreement” with  the Yellow Medicine One Watershed One Plan.
•Heard the details on the volume of garbage that is being shared in the Redwood, Renville Regional Solid Waste Authority plan (RRRSWA). Lyon County took on the solid waste from Redwood and Renville County in order to increase income to the county. “We are trying to minimize the traffic and are asking people to be patient,” said Environmental Director Roger Schroeder.
“Things are going really smooth,” said Schroeder.
•Approved a request to advertise for an Assistant County Attorney I position. This job would pay in the range of $56,401.49 to $78,962.29.
 

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