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MIFFLINTOWN -- Even though the mandate is something they strongly disagree with, the Juniata County Commissioners are making plans to set up meetings with potential voters to purchase new voting equipment in time for a deadline of May 2020.
During the regular business meeting of the commissioners on Tuesday, Chairperson Alice Gray said the
board recently met with the deputy state elections commissioner to voice concerns about the requirement to purchase new machines that provide a "paper trail" to combat voter fraud. Even though the machines currently in use already have the paper trail, Gray said she was told the problem lies in the software program currently employed "that will not be maintained. Therefore we cannot report the voting results."
"We're hoping strongly the state does come through with some funding to help offset the cost of the machines," Gray added. "Right now our hands are tied so we need to get the process started to meet with vendors and get this process underway."
During the board's Feb. 26 meeting, Eva Weyrich, voter registrar/election director, said the county has received $20,000 in federal monies allocated for the purchase of new voting machines. However, she said that amount is "barely enough to cover the cost of four new machines. Governor Wolf has included in the budget $15 million per year for the next five years to help defray the burden of the cost of new voting systems for Pennsylvania counties. That budget has yet to be approved. Although the board of elections and myself are very satisfied with the current voting system in place in Juniata County, our hands are unfortunately tied and we will once again be forced to purchase new voting equipment."
In other business Tuesday, the commissioners:
¯ Approved the certification statement for children and youth social service programs for the period Oct. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2018.
¯ Approved a five-year agreement with ComPros Inc. to provide maintenance support for transmitters as recommended by Emergency Services Director Allen Weaver.
¯ Approved the yearly application for a Community Development Block Grant competitive application in the amount of $1 million to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to construct a public collection system and a surface water treatment plant in Oakland Mills.
¯ Approved a participation agreement allowing Union and Montour Counties to enter into the SEDA-COG Natural Gas Cooperative.
¯ Ratified a CDBG-IDIS check in the amount of $34,235 to SEDA-COG for administrative costs.
¯ Accepted a Juniata County Rights and Services Act and Victims of Juvenile Offenders grant.
¯ Approved the information technology support services agreement with RBA Professional Data Systems Inc. to provide information technology services for a two-year period.
¯ Ratified a home housing rehab project check in the amount of $4,735 to Rick Schannauer for a rehab project.
¯ Approved payment of bills in the amount of $98,207.73.