Election issues, vehicle purchases under debate
Wharton County Commissioners have a full agenda New Year's Eve Day including material bids and budget issues.
By BARRY HALVORSON
news@leader-news.com

Items addressing election issues and getting a start on the new year make up most of the agenda for the final Wharton County Commissioners meeting of 2007.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, New Year's Eve day, in the commissioners courtroom in the county annex building, 309 E. Milam in Wharton. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.

Election issues including the continuing discussion regarding allowing the Republican Party to use paper ballots for the party's March Primary Election. The item was placed on the agenda by Precinct 1 Commissioner Mickey Reynolds at the request of Republican Party Chairwoman Debra Medina.

"She went to the county judge's office to make the request and I just happened to be the only election official to come into the office that day," Reynolds said.

At the commissioners previous meeting, held Dec. 20, County Elections Administrator Judy Owens said she received Medina's request to use paper ballots late and could not submit a voting change in time to meet Department of Justice approval deadlines. Owens added that using the paper ballots would increase the cost of holding the election and would create confusion at those locations where the parties were both conducting voting. She said the Democratic Party had contracted with her to use the touch screen voting machines and that offering paper ballots in one primary and not the other would create confusion among the voters.

The commissioners are also scheduled to take action on authorizing County Judge John Murrile to sign a three year agreement with Election Systems and Software, effective Jan. 1, for ballot layout, coding, voice file services and ballot printing for the touch screen equipment.

In dealing with upcoming business transactions, the commissioners will be opening seals bids for the construction of a new Precinct 1 building, sheriff's department vehicles for 2008 and the sale of the county owned property at the corner of Milam and Resident streets across the street from the courthouse annex. The commissioners will also be looking at re-bidding the purchase of fuel, cold mix asphalt and blended wash aggregate for road construction and repair.

The court is also expected to make a final decision on exempt and non-exempt employees in regards to their pay status and responsibilities to better comply with U.S. Department of Labor Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines. Other items on the agenda include: