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Home My WebLink About2015-12-28 5:30PM PUBLIC HEARINGBRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS PUBLIC HEARING FILED FOR RECORD = /2-zt-1-r BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT Monday December 28, 2015 MCQUEEN BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2015 AT 5:30 P.M. IN THE COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 200 SOUTH TEXAS AVENUE, SUITE 106, BRYAN, TEXAS. Discussion of the use of the countywide voting program or Vote Centers used in the November 3, 2015 election. All interested parties are invited to attend. The Commissioners Courtroom of the County Adminisuauon Budding, 200 South Teras Avenue, Suite 106, Bryan, Teras is wheelchair accessible. Handicap padirg spaces are available. Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting. To make anangemens, please call (979) 761-4102 BRAZOSCOUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS MINUTES December 28, 2015 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT PUBLIC HEARING 05 Signature Page.pdf IM Sign In Sheet. rdf R File Stamped Agenda.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 p.m. on Monday, December 28, 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 Cawley, Commissioner of Precinct 4, Karen McQueen, County Clerk. Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in attendance. I� Vote Center Report.pdf The Court met to hear and discuss the use of the countywide voting program or Vote Centers used in the November 3, 2015 election. Judge Peters opened the Public Hearing and then invited County Clerk, Karen McQueen to begin her presentation. Mrs. McQueen began by thanking everyone for coming out on such a cold evening. She discussed the reports she presented to the Court. A copy of those reports are attached. Vol. A 36 pg. /a(4/ Mrs. McQueen also stated that as a result of the new vote centers her office had very few calls from the public asking where to vote on election day. She then asked if there was anyone wishing to speak. Helen Chavarria stated that she and her husband, Oscar Chavarria worked at the Fellowship Freewill Baptist Church center. She said their experience was very positive. She felt like the public appreciated the convenience of voting at any vote center location. Barbara Cooper said she worked at the Castle Heights Baptist Church vote center and also had a positive experience. Ms. Cooper said she would like for the information about the vote centers to be announced earlier so that people are aware of the locations. Tina Hanna worked the Wellborn Community Center location and thanked Karen McQueen and her staff for coming out to set up the voting machines. Ms. Hanna stated there was one problem with the system, but it was easily fixed. She said that all went smoothly after that. Ms. Hanna also mentioned that workers at the Christ United Methodist Church also reported positive results. Ann Logan stated she worked at the First Baptist Church of Bryan location and also had a great experience. She said voters were especially happy to be able to vote where it was most convenient for them. She said it went very smoothly and feels like the vote centers are a good idea since most people do not know what precinct to vote in anyway. Sherry Mashburn with the City of College Station reported that College Station employees were thrilled to be able to vote at their work place. She felt that the program was very successful. Mary Lynn Stratta with the City of Bryan also reported extremely positive results. Mrs. Stratta stated that it was nice when people showed up to vote that she could just direct them across the street to the Brazos County Administration building, and not have to determine what precinct they were in. She also thanked Karen McQueen and her staff for the great job they did. Kevin Davenport spoke not as a worker, but as a candidate. He felt overall the experience was positive, but feels that the vote centers locations should be announced earlier. Mr. Davenport also mentioned using www.brazosvotes.org and community leaders to get the word out to the public. He thanked Mrs. McQueen, the County Judge and the Commissioners for all they do. Susan Spears worked the First Baptist Church of Bryan location and stated she liked the vote centers and thought everything went smoothly. Ms. Spears said time was saved by setting up the machines early. Nicholas Perez Hernandez worked at the Beacon Baptist Church vote center and said that the vote centers were a good idea. Mr. Hernandez said the only hiccup he experienced was with a student who had a previous out of county address on his driver's license. He also said that they had a number of students who came to vote at the same time, so they did have some long lines. Commissioner Cauley asked Mr. Hernandez if he was able to determine if the student was registered to vote in Brazos County. Mr. Hernandez said that the student was registered to vote here but had failed to update his license. Gary Thomas spoke next. Mr. Thomas worked at the College Station City Hall center. He said what he noticed was that he,did-not e to send someone across town to another precinct. Vol. �.�o __ pg7 He did not see lines backed up with people waiting to vote. Mr. Thomas said they had a steady flow of voters. The only complaint he heard was from someone upset about their polling place being moved last year. Janice Moehlman said she worked at the Christ United Methodist center and the experience was again very positive. Mrs. Moehlman said the only problem she encountered was someone who was wanting to vote but was not registered to vote. Jesse Ostiguin worked at the Momentum Church location and said that it was too early to know the results of this location because of the light turnout. Mr. Ostiguin said he was afraid that a lot of people who normally show up to vote did not. He feels like the new system will work if they are able to get the information to the public ahead of time. George McDonald worked at Arena Hall vote center and said he thought this was a good change. He did not have to send people to another location. Mr. McDonald stated there were a few small glitches but overall it was a good change. Judge Peters said he appreciates everyone's input. Judge Peters also said that the vote centers make a lot of sense by making voting more convenient for people and he is happy to hear that it was successful. Commissioner Cauley thanked Karen McQueen, her staff, and the committee who decided to keep the GW Williams Tabernacle location to remain on the list of vote centers. Commissioner Cauley stated that it was a great success. Karen McQueen said it was definitely a group effort to make it a success. Mrs. McQueen also thanked her staff and all the others who worked on this project. She said she was taking notes and would continue to improve the process. Judge Peters thanked everyone for coming and adjourned the meeting. vol. o� JD Pg. /0 00 The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Public Hearing held December 28, 2015, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the�A day of J �inuar (� 201/,lin Bryan, Brazos County, Texas. Duane Peters County Judge Sammy Cata na Commissio r, Precinct 2 Commissioner, Precinct 4 �Attest: Karen McQueen County Clerk Lloyd Wassermann Commissioner, Precinct 1 Kenny Mallard Commissioner, Precinct 3 Vol. Pg. / ° 9 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DAY OF 5.30AM Name (PLEASE PRINT) 2015 Organization (PLEASE PRNT) Of vc� Ot,& Vol. �Zj 0 Pg. // 0 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT v�?v DAY OF Vtl6em b , 20 /5 511,30 AM/PM, Name JChICe-- PI0e-A�/111.jA L '/S'G-LC Dsnc-c,�,J r; nU's S J Organization (PLEASE PRLNT1 Pi l 1 i11 �m� CG Non - vol. Z 30 Pg. t //