Warren County paid $6.51 per ballot

But new voting machines bring cost to $17

November 11, 2004

By CAROL CLARK of The Register-Mail

MONMOUTH - It cost Warren County taxpayers $6.51 for every ballot cast in the Nov. 2 general election, according to Warren County Clerk Tina Conard. But, Conard told Warren County Board Finance Committee members Wednesday morning the price does not include the cost of the new AccuVote machines used at the election.

If the cost of the AccuVote machines is included in the total cost, each vote cast in Warren County cost $17. Warren County received $89,000 from the federal government to help defray the cost of the AccuVote machines, enough money to buy 16 of the 21 voting machines the county needed. Each additional voting machine cost the county $975.

Warren County has 12,227 registered voters and 8,522 voted during the November general election.

"Nearly 70 percent of the voters turned out for the election," Conard said. "It was a hectic day, but we didn't have any problems."

Conard said she was surprised to find Warren County had more registered voters for the 2000 general election but more voters turned out to vote this year. Two precincts had more than an 80 percent turnout.

Warren County also had 750 absentee ballots returned this year, which Conard said was an all-time high for her office.

The committee agreed to recommend to the County Board on Wednesday the county continue its general insurance package with Insurance Program Managers Group through the Chuck Hay Insurance Company at a cost of $105,665 for the coming year. Dan Ingersoll of Monmouth is the local agent.

Ingersoll said the county could reduce the cost of the insurance by increasing its deductible from $1,000 to $5,000 on all claims and eliminating the flood and earthquake insurance package. The savings for increasing the deductible would be $10,600 and the cost of the flood and earthquake insurance is $1,300.

Committee members agreed if the county had more than two claims, the savings would be cancelled by the deductible.

David Jenks, R-Dist. 3, made a motion to accept the proposed insurance package less the flood and earthquake insurance. That motion failed for a lack of a second. Rod Davies, R-Dist. 1, made a motion to accept the full package. Mike Pearson, R-Dist. 2 and committee chairman, seconded that motion. It passed by a 2-1 voice vote with Jenks voting against the motion. John Turnbull, R-District 2, and Jim Simpson, R-Dist. 3, were absent.

Treasurer Nancy Clayton said the last tax distribution would be made by the end of the month. She also said the county is earning less on its investments this year than last, primarily because of the interest the county is receiving. This year Warren County generated $73,714 in interest, down from the $121,500 the county generated on its investments a year ago.

Bids to farm the Warren County farm were opened at the Building and Grounds Committee meeting Wednesday afternoon. Jon Graham, Biggsville, submitted the high bid of $182.50 per acre. The county farm, which has 180 tillable acres, is located south of Monmouth on U.S. 67. Graham farmed the ground this year. His previous bid was $177.50 per acre.

Other bidders included Tom Parrish, $155 per acre, Andy and Tom Jenks, $178.86 and Robert Chandler, $177.55.

The County Board is expected to accept Graham's bid at its meeting Wednesday.