Erath County is moving back to paper ballots for all elections after approval from the Erath County Commissioners Court Monday, July 14.
This move is starting to come about for many Texas counties after an executive order from President Donald Trump regarding the integrity of American Elections.
The order directs the updating of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards for voting equipment. This includes requiring a voter-verifiable paper ballot record and not using ballots in which the counted vote is contained within a barcode or QR code.
“As there is still not a final decision on the executive order by Trump, the attorneys at the Secretary of State believes the direction they will be going with the election process now is ballots on paper. The machines are now only going to be able to be used by ADA voters. Everybody else will be voting, kind of like a mail-in ballot voter,” Elections Administrator Lana Stevens said.
The process would be that a voter will check in, and then their ballot would be printed right then based on precincts and elections.
Then a voter would “bubble” in their selection by hand and then cast it in the DS200 machine, like voters have done in the past.
“Voters won’t be using the machines to make their selections anymore,” she said.
The commissioners court approved a total cost of $68,120 to purchase 22 machines to print ballots in Erath County, and an annual maintenance and support fee of $14,806. The county is guaranteed to receive a minimum of $42,500 from a grant, Stevens said, but could receive more.
County Judge Brandon Huckabee said the item is on the Governor Abbott’s emergency list.
“It’s think it’s probably inevitable,” Huckabee said. “The problem is we have to make decisions fairly quickly based on the information we have from the state to get these things enacted to get things ordered in time. This isn’t a good feeling when you’re spending money on things but all we can do is go off of what the Secretary of State is telling us for the elections.”
The new process will be in place for the November Constitutional Amendment election in order to give it a try before the major mid-term elections.
The court also approved an interlocal agreement between the city of Dublin and the county for work being done on CR339/ Douglas Street though a Community Development Block Grant Erath County had received.
In exchange for getting the road paved, the city of Dublin is agreeing to take over maintenance once the project is done.
The county also approved an agreement with Norman Alston architect for a structural assessment in regards to the downtown courthouse.
Due to some structural movement on the courthouse, Huckabee said the $8,000 assessment was needed in order to possibly move forward in receiving a Texas Historical Commission Grant.
“I’m terrified what it’s going to be, and how much it’s going to cost,” Huckabee said about the structural damage.
The commissioners also approved professional services for road inspections at the request of Subdivision Coordinator Jason Gardner.
Gardner explained currently County Engineer Joe England comes out to make sure inspection companies take road samples from the correct place anytime a subdivision roadway is built.
“It’s not a good use of his time,” he said.
After doing research as well as following up with TxDot on any recommendations, Kevin Rust, an engineering inspector was recommended.
The court approved a $50 per hour professional services agreement (to be used once or twice a month) for the inspector to be utilized to oversee the collection of the roadway materials for inspectors.
The court also heard a presentation from EsoGuard Screening, a company that is implementing screening for esophageal cancer.
EsoGuard is a DNA test used to detect Barrett’s Esophagus and precancerous cells in the esophagus. It’s a noninvasive, office- based procedure that collects cells from the esophagus using a specialized device. These cells are then analyzed in a lab to identify any abnormal DNA changes.
“If a two minute test could save your life, would you do it?” said Erica Austin, senior director-first responder partnerships with Lucid DX.
Esophageal cancer has an extremely low survival rate, but early detection can significantly improve outcomes.
Those with at least three of the following risk factors should get tested, she said, including: having Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), being male, white, being obese, smoking, having a family history of the disease or being exposed to carcinogens like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and benzene (often found in structure fires, making firefighters at a higher risk).
The Erik Burleson Cancer Foundation, formed in honor of Erik Burleson - a Stephenville firefighter that died of esophageal cancer, is encouraging testing.
Motivated by the belief that early detection could have saved her husband, Sylvia Burleson founded the Erik Burleson Firefighter Cancer Foundation. The nonprofit is aiming to have all Erath and Stephenville firefighters tested for esophageal cancer by the end of the year.
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, occupational cancer is the leading cause of death in the fire service.
According to representatives of the company, the test would be billed through insurance, and would not cost the county any money. The presentation was heard by the court, and they may take action on the item in the future.
In other business the court:
■ approved a tower lease agreement for an emergency communications tower located in Dublin
■ approved a written policy for the disposition of deceased paupers. The policy helps the county have in writing how they help bury or cremate those who have no family to handle funeral expenses
■ approved job descriptions in the county clerk’s office for Deputy Clerk-Courts and Deputy Clerk Land/ Vitals
■ approved the local maintenance of railroad pavement marking and signs
■ deemed zero value items from facilities and jail
■ approved the online legal publications contracts with LexisNexis for the District Judge and County Court at Law