Clerk recommends absentee voting for citizens concerned about in-person voting

Register by Oct. 7 for General Election voting

By Laura Schiermeier, Staff Writer
Posted 8/26/20

Maries County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers already she has seen a lot of interest in using the absentee voting process. She has a big stack of papers from county voters requesting an absentee ballot. The …

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Clerk recommends absentee voting for citizens concerned about in-person voting

Register by Oct. 7 for General Election voting

Posted

Maries County Clerk Rhonda Rodgers already she has seen a lot of interest in using the absentee voting process. She has a big stack of papers from county voters requesting an absentee ballot. The November General Election looms large this fall with high voter interest as is usually the case during a presidential election year. Yet, because of the COVID-19 coronavirus global pandemic, voting sites are anathema to some citizens who fear they may contract the virus while voting at a high people traffic polling place.

Rodgers said she is encouraging registered voters to use the absentee ballot option and to check the coronavirus excuse. That particular excuse does not require the seal of a notary. The county clerk’s office has been getting a lot of calls for absentee ballots and the applications for the absentee ballots will be sent to those who request it soon. The county clerk’s office has to close out the August Primary Election before sending out ballots for the November General Election. Rodgers can begin sending out absentee ballots on Sept. 22 and she encourages voters who will be voting in this manner to ask for an application as soon as possible.

About mail-in ballots, Rodgers said only one person has requested a mail-in ballot. She does not recommend this method because all mail-in ballots must be notarized and they must be returned to her via the mail. They can’t be hand delivered to her office, nor can they be placed in a dropbox. Rodgers said using a dropbox for ballots is not allowed for the August or November elections. The mail-in ballots must be mailed in.

Using the absentee voting process is much easier and safer because it does not require a trip to the polls or the use of a notary. Also, absentee ballots can be dropped off at the county clerk’s office by the voter or by a family member.

All of the national news and accusations about voting by mail is putting a lot of doubt about the election in the minds of voters. That’s why the county clerk’s office asked citizens to call the office (573-422-3388) with their questions. If they have doubts or fears about voting in person, they should request an application for an absentee ballot. Voters also can come to the courthouse and cast an absentee ballot at the county clerk’s office.

Voters who are disabled can sign up to have an absentee ballot automatically sent to them at each election and Rodgers encourages this also.

Rodgers said she would have preferred to have no excuse absentee ballot voting but is glad there is a coronavirus excuse that does not require a notary’s seal.

Persons who are not registered or have changed their address still have time to register for the November election as the last day to register and be able to vote in the General Election is Oct. 7, 2020.

Cancellations

Presiding Commissioner Victor Stratman at the commission meeting on Aug. 17 reported several changes caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. He was informed the Pulaski County court proceedings are going back to a Stage 0. That court in the same judicial circuit as Maries County (25th Judicial Circuit) is using virtual communication methods whenever possible and limiting the number of people in the courtroom at one time and insisting upon adequate social distancing.

The Missouri Association of Counties (MAC) annual conference at the Lake of the Ozarks scheduled for November has been canceled for this year.

The annual MRPC meeting and award’s banquet scheduled for October at State Technical College of Missouri at Linn, will be moved back to at least March 2021. Stratman said people to be recognized were nominated and they want to follow through with the awards. MRPC staffers at this time don’t know where the meeting will be held as Linn Technical College may not have the new date available. It takes time to plan the annual event.

CARES money audit

The county will need to advertise for a company to audit the county’s CARES Act money. Maries County received $1,020,000 in the federal money to be used by public entities and businesses to pay for costs related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Stratman said any awards of money over $750,000 must have a single audit. He wants to try to get the audit accomplished by Dec. 28, 2020 in order to use the money the feds gave the county to pay for the audit. The commissioners don’t know how much such an audit will cost.

Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre said Cole County received several million dollars more than Maries County did and they are paying $278,000 for the audit and also for the company that is helping them approve the spending of the federal money. MRPC is assisting the county in approving expenditures of the federal money and they discussed how much MRPC will be charging the county for this service. Several counties in the region are relying on MRPC’s assistance with this. Fagre said maybe MRPC should send the county a monthly bill for their work.

Stratman said so far $250,000 of the county’s CARES Act money has been spent.

Business Loans

MRPC works with Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and currently has extra money to loan. Stratman suggested interested businesses check with MRPC about these loans which have a one percent interest rate. A business plan is required to obtain one of these loans, which can be used to start or expand a business. Stratman said there is over $800,000 on hand and $780,000 more available in COVID-19 aid loans.

Buildings and Grounds

Ken Stratman Construction is working in the sheriff’s office with two restrooms. He asked the commissioners if they want a utility sink in one of them. Stratman said that type of sink is pretty handy to have. Also, they choose a shower curtain rather than a shower door for the contamination shower Stratman and crew put in the women’s restroom. He will paint the restrooms. On Aug. 20, Stratman complimented the paint color.

Stratman said while they are replacing floor tiles, it may be a good time to strip the floors and wax them. This would require hiring an outside party to do the work at night or on weekends.

At this time, all the tile has been laid except for the landing at the door on the east side of the building, the sheriff’s office entrance. They want to get the new floor waxed before it gets dirt ground into it and looks unsightly.

Stratman called Mike Shaughnessy and he came to look at it and suggested retiling the other landing on the west side of the building, and sealing the bathroom floors right away. He has his own equipment and suggested stripping the floors and applying four coats of wax. He suggested doing the same in the conference room in the basement. The commissioners want to see a price before going forward.