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Commission Minutes—July 28, 2023 5764 <br />Election Fund <br />Ms. Madrigga said there will be a presidential election in 2024 which places a great deal of expenses <br />on the County's election budget. She said the Commission has approved 21 polling locations for <br />2024 as compared to 10 in the 2020 election. She said cost for polling locations will remain the same <br />at $80,000 due to local churches, cities, and park districts providing space at no cost. She said the <br />largest cost to the 2024 election budget request is $570,000 to purchase 125 additional ExpressVote <br />machines. She said it is expected that 50,000 to 60,000 voters will turn out to vote centers on <br />election day and the addition of 125 ExpressVote machines would adequately fill the needs of the 21 <br />vote centers. Ms. Madrigga said the County currently has 150 ExpressVote machines that were <br />purchased with partial funding by the State. She said the cost per machine is $4,375 not including <br />the cost of installation and shipping. <br />Mr. Peterson asked how many ExpressVote machines will be at each vote center. Ms. Madrigga said <br />the number of ExpressVote machines will vary at each vote center depending on the size of the vote <br />center and how many ExpressVote machines can be accommodated. She said for example, the plan <br />is to have 21 ExpressVote machines at the Fargodome. Mr. Peterson asked what percentage of <br />voters use the ExpressVote machines. Ms. Madrigga said during the last election approximately 40% <br />of the voters used ExpressVote. Mrs. Scherling said it is her experience people want paper ballots. <br />Ms. Madrigga said Cass County has 70 to 80 ballot styles. She said the ExpressVote is easy to use <br />and provides the least likely event for human error to give out the wrong ballot style. <br />Ms. Madrigga said the Commissioners could take a multi-year approach to the purchase if needed <br />by purchasing half of the machines this year and half before the next election. She said she has <br />talked to the State about providing partial funding for the ExpressVote machines, however, does not <br />believe State Aid is likely as priority goes to smaller counties. <br />MOTION, failed <br />Mrs. Kapitan moved to approve the 2024 Election budget as presented. The <br />motion failed due to a lack of a second. <br />Mr. Breitling said half of the units would cost approximately $330,000. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Breitling moved and Mrs. Scherling seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary Election budget with the purchase of only half of the <br />ExpressVote machines and if the State were to provide a 50% match, the <br />full purchase could be made with a budget adjustment. On roll call vote, the <br />motion carried unanimously. <br />6. BREAK <br />The Commission took a break at 10:36 AM and reconvened at 10:43 AM. <br />7. RECESS <br />The Commission recessed the meeting at 10:43 AM to hold a County Park Board meeting. The <br />Commission reconvened at 10:54 AM. <br />8. COUNTY PARK <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Kapitan moved and Mr. Breitling seconded to approve the 2024 preliminary <br />budget for the Cass County Park Board as presented. On roll call vote, the <br />motion carried unanimously. <br />9. ROAD DEPARTMENT <br />Jason Benson, County Engineer and Tom Soucy, Deputy County Engineer were present to review <br />the 2024 Highway Fund budget. Mr. Benson said the 2024 budget includes $25.7 million in revenues <br />and $27.6 million in expenditures. He said the largest request for 2024 is a request for two <br />equipment operators out of the Highway Fund and one assistant planner position from the planning