3. Grandin election concerns - Laserfiche WebLink

GOVERNMENT Auditor Michael Montplaisir, CPA 701-241-5601 Treasurer Charlotte Sandvik 701-241-5611 Director of Equalization Frank Klein 701-241-5616 Box 2806 211 Ninth Street South Farg~ North Dakota 58103 FAX 701-241-5728 February 25, 2002 Board of County Commissioners Cass County Courthouse PO Box 2806 Fargo ND 58108 Re: Contract with Grandin for Election Services Dear Commissioners: On March 4th's agenda, you have the proposed contract from the City of Grandin for the Joint City- County elections. Joint City- County elections were first mandated as a result of legislative actionin 1991. At that time, the countyput together ajointpowerscontract that was approved by the county and each of the cities. In 1997, that contract was modified and again approved by the county and each of the cities. In 2000, the City of Grandin officially withdrew from the joint powers agreement. Attached to this letter are the following: A - 1991 contract with the changes in 1997 either underlined for additions or cross outs for deletions. B - a training aid that I used in conducting a class on the contract. The training aid explains each part of the 1991 contract. C - contracts with the rest of the cities in the county. D - contract that the City of Grandin is proposing. The original 1991 contract called for the cities to pay 75% of the costs of the election board. The 1997 revision took out the 75% in exchange for the county being able to designate where the polling place would be located and added some language that was needed in regard to city recounts. Grandin's objection to the 1997 contract is the granting of the right to name the polling location to the county. Their proposal calls for the county to pay all the costs, as in the 1997 contract, but the city would retain the right to designate the location of the polling place. My suggested change to their proposed contract is as outlined in my letter to the city on February 11, 2002. That letter is included in attachment D. Basically, my recommendation is that the county use the same contract we have with the rest of the cities in the county for conducting the Grandin election. That contract calls for the county to pay all the costs and gives the county the right to designate the location of the polling place. As an alternative, I would recommend the county adopt the contract that Grandin has supplied but that the language be added to the costs section indicating that the City of Grandin is going to pay the election board costs.