Board of Elections increases deputy director’s hours
By Kyle Shaner - kshaner@sidneydailynews.com
SIDNEY – The Shelby County Board of Elections authorized Deputy Director Collin Claywell to work an additional five hours a week during its Feb. 16 board meeting.
With Clerk Trina Reithman on leave and a requirement to implement directives from Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the Board of Elections needed to increase staffing, Chairman Jim Kerg said. Claywell offered to work an additional five hours a week indefinitely, bringing his weekly total to 37.5.
“Short of hiring temporary help, which we don’t have any budget for, I don’t see how we accomplish what we need to accomplish without asking one or more of the staff members to expand their amount of time,” Kerg said.
Board faced unique challenges during elections
SIDNEY The 2020 election cycle was historically unique in so many ways.
For the first time in history, Ohio primary elections on March 17 were suspended just two hours prior to polling locations opening. This was a result of four different court orders being issued in an eight hour period at the request of the governor due to the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Accordingly, our local board followed the statewide orders of Secretary of State Frank LaRose and suspended voting as constitutionally scheduled,” said Chairperson James Kerg. “Subsequently, the Ohio legislature stepped in and authorized extending the primary election utilizing absentee voting which was completed on April 28 and locally certified on May 11. During the summer the Board conducted a special election for local tax levy issues on Aug. 4.”
Board of Elections seeks to spend grant funds
By Kyle Shaner - kshaner@sidneydailynews.com
SIDNEY – Working to ensure it utilizes available funds before upcoming deadlines, the Shelby County Board of Elections made plans to spend grant money during its Dec. 21 meeting.
The Board of Elections has funds available from two grants – a Center for Tech and Civic Life grant and a Help America Vote Act grant.
With the Center for Tech and Civic Life grant, the board voted to spend approximately $5,744 on training projection equipment.
Board of Elections officials previously discussed purchasing a television monitor for their training needs. However, after consulting with the county’s information technology department and viewing projection systems at other local agencies, Director Pam Kerrigan said a projection system would be a better option. The screen is easier to read from a distance, she said, and the projector lasts 20,000 hours.