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WHEELING -- The state of West Virginia won't be sending out ballot applications to all registered voters for the Nov. 3 presidential election, but Ohio County is making plans to do so on its own.
County Administrator Greg Stewart provided details Tuesday night to county commissioners, who convened by teleconference.
Stewart said he has had discussions with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office and their council, and they are permitting counties on an individual basis to mail out ballot applications to all voters in their county if they assume the costs. He estimates the costs to mail out the applications to all of Ohio County's 30,091 registered voters at $15,000.
"Once we get the form completed, the Secretary of State's Office has to take a look at it. But it will be nearly the same as it was in May," Stewart said.
The proposed ballot application is expected to come before county commissioners at their next meeting, set for 6 p.m. on Sept. 8.
"I know there is a cost involved, but while we have this dark cloud hanging over us and I think we need to make it easier to vote," Commissioner Don Nickerson said. "As long as there are safe parts to it, I think we should undertake that.
"There are groups of people that may not feel comfortable voting in person, so we should make it easier for them. I am in favor of it."
Commission President Tim McCormick reminded voters these are applications that would be mailed to them, and not actual ballots. The applications must be filled out and returned to the commission office before a ballot is sent to them.
In other matters, the Ohio Valley Regional Transportation Authority will join the county's radio system.
The agreement with OVRTA approved by commissioners Tuesday is similar to those agreed to when Ohio County Schools and Marshall County radio systems joined the network, Stewart explained.
The county will purchase the radios for OVTRA, who will pay back the county the cost of $133,175 over the next five years.
"This has really been a blessing for all parties involved," Stewart said. "No one has to come up with millions of dollars for their own system, and we can all communicate with each other."
He expects to bring a similar agreement with Brooke County agencies to the commissioners at the next meeting.
Commissioners also considered a series of three purchases Tuesday night. The first was a request for a new X-ray screening device for the security entrance at the front door to the City-County Building.
"We have a newer machine down there," Stewart said. "But now that the front has been completed and we've freshened up, the sheriff would like to move forward with a new X-ray scanner for this building."
The current scanner would be moved to the former AEP Building, which is now the courthouse annex.
The purchase of the new scanner would be funded through a federal court security grant, he said. The available grant funding for the scanner is $18,550, and the county might have to pay up to an additional $7,000 for the scanner after bids are received, according to Stewart.
The second request was for a new file server for the clerk's office. The current server was purchased in 2013, and is "showing its age," Stewart said. The estimated cost for a new one is $25,684.
Stewart said revenues in the office "have been very good the last several years," and he expected these would cover the cost of the purchase.
Sheriff Tom Howard, meanwhile, submitted a request to purchase assorted personal protection equipment for the office at a cost of $58,008. The money would be reimbursed through the federal CARES Act.
The commissioners approved all three purchases.