Election board’s planned move downsized by commissioners
Robbinsville – Things are becoming contentious between the Graham County Board of Commissioners and the Graham County Board of Elections.
During Monday’s Board of Elections meeting, there was a lengthy discussion between board members about a proposed move of the facility into a wing at the Graham County Community Center.
After being promised $100,000 – as a line item – to cover the remodel and plans were drawn up in June of 2019, the Board of Commissioners have already shaved off roughly 200 square-feet of the proposed 1,316 square-foot office, setting up shop for the county’s new project manager – Jason Marino – and also moving the Veterans Affairs office into the allotted area.
The Board of Elections deems the move a necessity, citing that its current set-up in a building on the verge of collapse – plus cramped facilities for both one-stop voting and storage of both machines and records – all make for an immediate need for re-location.
“More than once, we have led the state in percentage-voting,” said election board member Lowell Crisp. “I’m proud of the fact that people in this county vote. I’d like to have the facility – for the people – to be as nice, efficient and safe as we can get it.”
“We need adequate space, so that this county can have a good, fair election for all parties,” stated board member Keith Rogers. “The county, as a whole, needs to do a better job of planning for the future, not for the here and now.”
“As a board, we have decided unanimously to take what space the commissioners have offered, even though we don’t feel that it’s in the election board’s best interest at this time,” president Juanita Colvard said. “We need a larger amount of space.”
By comparison, Swain County’s current Board of Elections office is 1,400 square-feet, with a powered side building for metal ballot boxes that measures 240 square-feet; Clay County’s facility is 1,400 square feet and Cherokee County’s is 1,200 square-feet, with off-site storage that measures roughly 800 square feet.
The Board of Commissioners opted to release its side of the story after discussing the issue at Tuesday night’s meeting, which will appear in the Jan. 30 edition of The Graham Star.