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Home My WebLink About2015-08-03 5:30PM PUBLIC HEARINGBRAZOSCOUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS PUBLIC HEARING 1 _ 1 D � � �� 1015 JUL 24 p 06 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT Monday August 3, 2015 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015 AT 5:30 P.M. IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 200 SOUTH TEXAS AVENUE, SUITE 106, BRYAN, TEXAS. Presentation and discussion on proposed Vote Centers for Brazos County. All interested persons are invited to attend said hearing The Commissioners Courtroom of the County Administration Building, 200 South Texas Ave., Suite 106, Bryan, TX 77803 is wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spaces are available. Any request for sign interpretive services must he made two working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 361-4102. Vol. �,?A3 Pg. L9 BRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS MINUTES August 3, 2015 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PUBLIC HEARING IF. Signature Paae.odf Ii') File Stamped Agenda.pdf R. Sign in sheet.pdf The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas held a Public Hearing at the Brazos County Administration Building in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 3, 2015 with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Lloyd Wassermann, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Sammy Catalena, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Kenny Mallard, Commissioner of Precinct 3, Irma Cauley, Commissioner of Precinct 4, Karen McQueen, County Clerk. Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in attendance. ('� Presentation.pdf The Court met to hear and discuss a presentation on the proposed Vote Centers for Brazos County. Judge Peters opened the Public Hearing and then turned it over to the County Clerk, Karen McQueen to make her presentation. A copy is attached. vol. A43 pg. —lc:�e' Mrs. McQueen began by stating that this is not a done deal. The Court scheduled this Public Hearing to hear comments from the citizens before making any decisions. She went on to explain that a committee was formed to review current polling places and make recommendations as to which places should become vote centers should this program be approved. The Committee recommended the following 25 vote centers: Millican Community Center Living Hope Baptist Church College Station ISD Admin Building Wellborn Community Center St. Francis Episcopal Church Zion Church of Kurten College Heights Assembly of God Church Beacon Baptist Church Brazos County Admin Building Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church Arena Hall Brazos Center Church of the Nazarene Parkway Baptist Church First Baptist Church of Bryan Memorial Student Center Lincoln Center College Station City Hall Aldersgate Methodist Church Christ United Methodist Church Siegert Center Galilee Baptist Church Precinct 4 Volunteer Fire Station Castle Heights Baptist Church Momentum Church The County Judge then called for any citizens wishing to speak on the topic T.C. Langford, Democratic Party Chairman asked the County Clerk for clarification concerning her statement that the election judges would fall in line with the commissioners. Mrs. McQueen explained that she meant by precinct. Pastor Charles Jefferson is concerned that the G.W. Williams Tabernacle is not listed as a voting center. He feels this would be a detriment if removed as a voting site. Patrick Gendron said that he served on the vote centers committee. He has done more research since serving, specifically on the G.W. Williams Tabernacle. He stated this is a largely pedestrian area. There aren't any other vote centers proposed in the neighborhood. The closest place would be the Church of Nazarene geographically, but this would require a drive. He feels that it would be wise to add the G.W. Williams Tabernackle or something closer since most voters in this area walk. Judy Leunes said as a former candidate she stood outside of the G.W. Tabernacle. Most of the voters are elderly and walk there. She asked the Court to please consider keeping the Tabernacle as a vote center so that people who want to vote are not cut out. Tina Hanna has worked elections as an alternate judge in Wellborn. She said having close, walkable polling places is key. She feels having the poling places open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm makes it difficult for some to vote, even if this is required by statute. She asked that the Court look at these issues. Vol. A ,�3 Pg. --EL Phyllis Fahlquist asked the Court to think small and think about the people who want to vote but may have a hard time doing so. John Miller has served as an alternate judge. He says that consolidating polling places for vote centers and not increasing the number of poll workers will cause problems. He believes there will be frustrated and unsatisfied voters. Irene Erion likes the idea of voting centers, but thinks the plan needs a little work. She described problems with the heat while working elections at Living Hope Baptist Church and with parking while working at the College Station Fire Station #3. She suggested using Christ United Methodist Church which is right across the street but acknowledged that it is in a different commissioner precinct. T.C. Langford thinks if ServPro can verify to the Court that they can clean the G.W. Williams Tabernacle of the mold and other problems that it needs to remain as a polling place. If ServPro cannot repair the issues then there are much better alternatives for polling places that are closer. She suggested Shiro Baptist Church or the African American Museum. She also said that vote centers need far more election workers. Mary Ann Arnold said that she plotted the distance from G.W. Williams Tabernacle to the nearest proposed centers. She said it is 1.6 miles to Castle Heights Baptist Church but would be dangerous for walkers because you are required to cross a highway. It is 1.4 miles to the Courthouse and 1.5 miles to the Arena Hall. A highway has to be crossed to walk to the Arena Hall as well and there are no sidewalks along the route. Barbara Cooper has worked elections for several years. She stressed the need to keep the G.W. Williams Tabernacle as a polling place. She said many in the neighborhood walk there safely. She asked that the Court consider adding this location to the plan. Larry Gilbert spoke in support of keeping the G.W. Williams Tabernacle as a polling place. He said he would also like more money spent on educating the young people about voting. Commissioner Cauley thanked everyone for coming and voicing their concerns. She stated that she did not serve on the vote centers committee. She is concerned that there are not enough places to vote in Precinct 4. She asked that the committee take another look at the plan and consider increasing the hours that the polling places are open. She would like to see them open on Saturday and Sunday as well. She also addressed concerns with the Memorial Student Center as a voting location. She said it is not convenient and is not used by students except during Presidential elections. She would like to consider closing it. Judy Leunes stated that many faculty and staff utilize voting at the Memorial Student Center and it is not open just for students. Commissioner Cauley said that the numbers will show that the Memorial Student Center is not heavily utilized for voting and you also have to pay to park on campus. Larry Gilbert asked Commissioner Cauley for a copy of the numbers she referred to for voting on campus and how soon he could get this. He stated that he would like to see the Memorial Student Center closed and save the G.W. Williams Tabernacle. Jackie Girouard stated that cafeteria workers and maintenance workers along with many others vote at the Memorial Student Center. She thinks it will be even busier once anyone can vote there. Delores Turincio has worked as an election worker at A&M for 16 years. She said all the professors vote at the Memorial Student Center. She said of course students do not vote in the non -presidential elections because they are normally registered to vote in their hometown. She does not believe that the polling place on campus should be closed. Commissioner Cauley then asked what the process was for approving after this Public Hearing. The County Clerk said that a resolution of support would be on the Commissioners Court agenda on August 4, 2015. The application will be approved and sent to the Secretary of State at a later date if we are accepted into the program. The application will include the polling places at that time. The meeting was adjourned at 6:32 p.m. vol. 3 93 Pg. Z9 The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Public Hearing held August 3, 2015, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the ['S� day of 2015, in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. Duane Peters County Judge a*Ca Commis5ioner, Precinct 2 Irma Cduley Commissioner, Precinct 4 Attest: (�&— L4,a,e-/9lLam Lloyd Wassermann Commissioner, Precinct 1 V Kenny Malla4 Commissioner, Precinct 3 County Clerk Vol.,_ Pg. / COMMISSIONERS CEETING 51, Date and Time Name S; ,W6 A Cl_a-�-7-- r=3 —,Lo/.r— Organization/Department �i�n��eci�cl NI Sid 'L) 11m, j v 7tf_T C t. c I l V�7Er�-' �`�zo5 Cr lio'%ie /fes-�y` Vol. ,2 , Po.9,5— z 0k} COMMISSIONERS COURT S �: -wry, 7� 3 -,fo 1,5 --- Date and Time Name PC L ti.l 14 4 -iv %� lrecc,� fir, �, Organization/Department / L, ��— I,- u 6-1L Pwb (� r✓ ��c- pJ � I/l '. (, 4 P,� (0 11 J v�G�- d PL) 3 arc uhi 1G Vol. . 3 pg.-2-�_ ( r COMMISSIONERS COURT MEETING iI,FTia keigo. Iti.,ic%.sti,. Or i�zat' /Department —L-10 R s 1�11AI �11 a COMMISSIONERS Date Name *dA COURT ME ING id Time Organization/Department o (v 1922� I4d - Vol. 4.2 3 Pg._