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Commission Minutes—June 19, 2023 5733 <br />16. CAREER INNOVATION CENTER, Pledge payment tabled <br />Mr. Wilson said in July, 2020 the Commission approved a statement of intent to provide $5 million in <br />funding over 5 years for the construction of the Career Innovation Center (Career Workforce <br />Academy). He said funds have been paid out yearly in 2020, 2021 and 2022. He said the request <br />today is to approve the $1 million pledge for 2023. This is a 2023 budgeted expense. Mr. Wilson <br />said in accordance with the statement of intent, the County will be asked to make the final $1 million <br />pledge in 2024. <br />Mrs. Scherling said she would like to hear an update on the project before approving the pledge for <br />2023. Mr. Peterson said the facility is still under construction and construction has been pushed <br />back. He said the facility will be complete in the fall of 2024. Mr. Kapitan said the facility is owned by <br />the North Dakota School and College of Science (NDSCS) Alumni Foundation. He said when <br />complete, it will service students from North Cass, Central Cass, and West Fargo School Districts. <br />Mr. Kapitan said the NDSCS Foundation was going to sell the current facility, however, now are <br />going to keep the facility for students in the north Fargo area. Mrs. Scherling said she was not aware <br />of these changes and believes the project has not had oversight the past few years. She said she <br />would like an update from the NDSCS Foundation before proceeding. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Grindberg moved and Mrs. Scherling seconded to table action on the <br />payment of $1,000,000 to NDSCS Foundation for 2023 pledge for Career <br />Innovation Center. Motion carried. <br />17. FINANCE OFFICE, 2024 polling locations approved <br />Finance Director, Brandy Madrigga was present and said the 2024 election cycle includes the <br />primary election scheduled for June 11 and the general election on November 5. She said Cass <br />County is comprised of 11 legislative districts which are divided into 34 precincts. She said Cass <br />County will utilize vote centers for both early voting and election day. Vote centers contain every <br />precinct within the county which allows a qualified elector the choice of casting a ballot at any polling <br />place they choose so long as it is located within Cass County. Ms. Madrigga said the Finance Office <br />is recommending 6 early voting locations be open from Tuesday through Saturday during the week <br />preceding election day with weekday operations running 11AM to 7PM daily and Saturday hours be <br />set at 11AM to 5PM. She said 5 locations will service the Fargo/West Fargo metropolitan area and <br />one location will service the rural areas. She said 21 vote center locations have been reserved for <br />the 2024 primary election. She said election day operating hours will be from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, <br />which maintains consistency with other counties in the state of North Dakota. Ms. Madrigga said of <br />the 21 vote centers, 15 will service the Fargo/West Fargo metropolitan area and 6 locations will <br />service rural electors. <br />Mr. Peterson said the most important communication to voters is that voters can go to any vote <br />center in Cass County. He suggested the Finance Office display posters at each polling location <br />informing voters they can vote at any vote center in the County and if possible, the wait time to vote <br />at each polling location. He said then if one center is busy, voters can go to another location. Mr. <br />Grindberg said he appreciates Ms. Madrigga and the Finance Office's work to incorporate feedback <br />from the last election and other parties to choose the 2024 polling locations. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Grindberg moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the primary and <br />general election early voting and election day polling locations, hours, dates, <br />and hours as presented by the Finance Office. On roll call vote, the motion <br />carried unanimously. <br />18. FINANCE OFFICE, Purchase of Ballot on Demand printers approved <br />Ms. Madrigga said the 2023 election budget includes funding for the procurement of ballot on <br />demand (BoD) printers in preparation for the 2024 election cycle. She said BoD printers will be <br />implemented as proof of concept and utilized within the finance operations for absentee ballot <br />processing and to provide back up for ballot stock for the various polling locations. Ms. Madrigga