08-16-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes-August 16, 2004 2776 12. RESOLUTION #2004-8, Metropolitan Council of Governments transportation plan Robert Bright, Executive Director of the Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG), was present, along with Richard Lane, SRF Consulting Group, Inc. concerning a draft of the area's short and long-range transportation plan. Also present were Keith Berndt, County Engineer, and Mike Zimney, County Planner. Mr. Lane said an update of the Metropolitan Transportation Plan is required every five years according to federal regulations, and projects would not be eligible for federal funding without this plan. Mr. Lane reviewed potential future transportation improvement projects for short range (2004-2010) and for long range (2011-2030). The transportation plan includes population projections to 2030, as compiled by Dr. Richard Rathge, Sate Demographer at NDSU. Mr. Berndt has reviewed the plan and found the list of Cass County's future transportation improvement projects to be accurate. Mr. Zimney forwarded a suggested resolution for the county commission to consider. The Cass County Planning Commission received a draft of the plan on July 22, 2004, and approved it for forwarding to the County Commission. MOTION, passed Mr. Wagner moved and Mr. Bennett seconded to approve Resolution #2004-8 relating to the Metropolitan Council of Government's short and long-range transportation plan for the Fargo-Moorhead area for the years 2004-2030. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. 13. ELECTIONS, Establish early votina precinct Heather Worden, Auditor's Office, was present representing County Auditor Mike Montplaisir, who was unable to attend today's meeting. Commissioners received a letter from Mr. Montplaisir dated August 10, 2004, requesting authorization to establish an early voting precinct in the Commission Room at the Courthouse from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM on October 19 through November 1, 2004. Mrs. Worden said the early voting precinct would require five election workers and six ballot scanners; and the purpose would be to reduce the amount of time and paperwork involved in the absentee voting process. For the voters, their ballots will be counted immediately and second chance voting could take place if a ballot was not filled out properly. Absentee voting will still be done in the Auditor's Office prior to setting up the early voting precinct and for applications received by mail. Mr. Montplaisir indicated in his letter that 6,000-7,000 absent voter ballots are handled by the Auditor's Office in the weeks before the general election. Mrs. Sorum said she would be concerned about authorizing the early voting precinct in the Commission Room through November 1st since that is the day of a regularly scheduled Cass County Commission meeting. Commissioners were not in favor of moving elsewhere to hold their regular meeting because of technical equipment and the confusion for citizens wishing to attend the meeting.