New voting machines on hold till next year

Shelby County Clerk Sue Carol Perry has $148,500 to buy new voting machines but the money's not burning a hole in her pocket yet.

Because Congress could still decide to alter the type of electronic voting machines currently used in Kentucky and other states, Perry said it would be best to wait until next year to purchases any new voting machines.

If approved by Congress, the Holt bill would require voting jurisdictions to use opti-scan voting machines equipped with printers rather than touch screen electronic machines to ensure votes from each machine are verifiable.

Plus, in light of presidential elections traditionally generating the highest voter turn-out in Shelby County, Perry told magistrates at last week's fiscal court meeting that it would be less chaotic to just wait until 2009 to add new voting machines to the current set-up.

For now, the $148,500 in grant funds obtained under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) won't go anywhere, County Judge Executive Rob Rothenburger explained at fiscal court's meeting last week. He said the money will just be set aside to buy new machines next year.

In other business, the court also:

Heard the first reading of budget amendments for ambulance training fees, EMS reimbursements, office supplies and training.

Heard the first reading of budget amendments to increase general fund receipts for state grants in the amount of $25,150.00; Homeland Security-WMD- for the county in the amount of $4,811.30; Homeland Security Grant/Area 6 Regular Team in the amount of $21,569.24; dog shelter donations in the amount of $820.00; miscellaneous revenues in the amount of $300.00; animal removal costs in the amount of $10,000.00; building code reserve for transfer in the amount of $300.00; EMA state grant-county equipment in the amount of $4,811.30; Area 6 Team Homeland Security in the amount of $21,569.24; animal control spay/neuter/rabies vouchers in the amount of $820.00; and litter abatement equipment in the amount of $15,150.00.

Agreed to allow the county Judge-Executive to sign a resolution relating to the application to the Governor's Office for Local Development for assistance under the Land and Water Conservation Act of 1965 for the purpose of matching funds for Red Orchard Park.

Reappointed Hubert Pollett to the Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission.

Reappointed Wayne Stratton to the Shelbyville Water & Sewer Commission.

Proclaimed Feb. 3-9 Earthquake Awareness Week in Shelby County.