Early, in-person voting to happen in Salmon Room
Those interested in voting early in the election year will head to a different location.
During the 2020 general election in Brown County, voters cast their vote ahead of Election Day in the bottom level of the Veterans Hall at Deer Run Park. That space is now being used by Brown County Parks and Recreation.
On Dec. 8, the Brown County Commissioners approved a recommendation from the Brown County Election Board to move absentee voting to the Salmon Room in the County Office Building for the 2022 primary and general elections.
Picking voting locations is the responsibility of the county commissioners.
The commissioners also approved on Dec. 8 to allow the absentee voter board to use the conference room space next to the commissioners’ office in the County Office Building. The absentee voter board would move into that space around March to start administering absentee voting, which includes mailing out ballots to those who requested one before in-person voting starts in April.
Anyone who will be out of the area for work on election day, has a disability, is 65 or older, can’t get to the polls, or meets other specific requirements can apply for a ballot by mail.
In April, early, in-person voting will be moved to the Salmon Room along with the absentee voter board.
Another meeting area will be set up for commissioner, county council, election board, zoning boards and others who would need to use the Salmon Room during that time. The room will have to remain locked while being used for absentee voting, so meetings will not be able to be held in there.
“It will inconvenience us for four or five weeks, but without going through a big expense to actually rent a facility (it is our only option),” Commissioner Diana Biddle said.
“Everything has to be double deadbolted and no one can have access. We have to cut it off to cleaning people.”
The conference space next to the commissioners’ office will also have to be deadbolted while being used by the absentee voting board, Biddle added.
Animal control contract OK’d by commissioners
The Brown County Commissioners approved a contract allowing the county’s animal control department to continue working with the Brown County Humane Society on Dec. 8.
The contract is for $50,000, which is the same rate it has been for the last two years.
Animal Control Commission member Greg Bennett presented the contract for 2022 at the commissioners meeting. The contract is for the humane society to take care of animals brought in by animal control.
The Animal Control Commission also approved the contract with the final signature coming from the commissioners.
“We really appreciate the humane society for all they do for us, saving the citizens of Brown County a lot of money and doing a wonderful job with stray animals as well as those lost who are picked up by the animal control officer,” Commissioner President Jerry Pittman said.
In June, the humane society opened its new shelter next door to the old one. Supporters managed to raise more than $3.2 million for the new shelter in less than three years.
“They have a dedicated space now where our animal control officer can go in (after hours), she can put the (stray) animal in a confinement area. It is separate from rest of the shelter. Then the next morning when the staff comes in then they can take care of the animal,” Commissioner Diana Biddle said.
