Next step okayed for voting machines

By Melinda L. Lucas

Shackelford County commissioners and elected officials met Monday, Nov. 8 to authorize the next step in purchasing new voting machines and also approved the repair of a damaged fire alarm panel at the Courthouse.

They plan to meet again this Friday, Nov. 12 to hear public comment concerning the proposed redistricting of the four county precincts.

The hearing is set for 9:00 a.m. Friday in the second floor courtroom.

The process is required by the state in order to equalize the populations within the four precincts.

Voting Machines

Tony Cervantes with Hart InterCivic updated the local officials on the status of the county’s plan to replace the county’s aging voting machines, which have been in use for more than 15 years.

The cost of new equipment is estimated at more than $150,000, but Shackelford County has about $120,000 in Help America Vote Act (HAVA) funding that can be used for the purchase.

The commissioners authorized county judge Robert Skelton to sign an agreement with Hart once it has obtained approval from the state.

Other Business

•A $2,850 bid to replace a fire alarm panel, which was found to be defective last month during a routine test, was approved.

•The commissioners okayed a request for the county’s $11,719 allotment of surplus materials from TxDOT for 2022.

•Online education for commissioners, with some exceptions, was authorized by the court.

•A small direct payment of $339 for the proposed Janssen opioid settlement was approved, as recommended by legal counsel.

•The Nov. 2 election was canvassed.