(Harlan) Shelby County Auditor and Election Commissioner Mark Maxwell discussed the requirement of in-person absentee voting in Iowa during the Supervisors meeting Tuesday.
According to the minutes, Maxwell said the in-person absentee voting will take place from April 23 to Election Day. Plans have been made to segregate staff as much as possible from voters. At this time the number of voters allowed in the building at a time will be limited to one, and the area disinfected after each voter. This will be under the guidance of the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, which will have the final say on whether limiting the number of voters in the building will be allowed. The only other option would be to rent a building and staff it with a full time certified election worker.
Todd Valline with Shelby County Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported the call center operated out of the Chamber of Commerce has been very busy. They continue to ask for volunteers to man the phones to take grocery orders. He said so far this has been a very successful endeavor. Valline notified the Supervisors that the grant that Shelby County had signed up for being fiscal agent was awarded to the Iowa Community Kitchen. The grant is paid by reimbursement, making funds necessary to start the home delivery of meals. Details on this are being worked out.
In other news, Supervisor Darin Haake, representative to the Building and Grounds Committee, has ordered a drop box for use by the Treasurer and Recorder. This box will be installed by the accessible door on the south side of the Courthouse. Haake also mention that with the uncertainty of the times he would not ask the Board to choose a contractor to install a new roofing system at the Sheriff’s complex. The money could possibly be used somewhere else or saved for next year. Auditor Maxwell said he would call a roofing company and have it inspected along with the Courthouse, to make sure the project isn’t a necessity this year.
