[00:00:15]
[I. CALL TO ORDER]
GOOD EVENING.WE WANNA WELCOME YOU TO HOUR FEBRUARY REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.
CALL A MEETING TO ORDER AND STATE THAT THE MEDIA HAS CALLED A MEETING TO ORDER AND STATE THAT THE MEDIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
UM, ASK THE SECRETARY FOR A ROLL CALL.
VOTE PLEASE TO DETERMINE THE QUORUM CHAIRMAN, MR. EDWARD GAMBLE HERE, VICE CHAIRMAN BRIAN MCGALL.
MS. LYNETTE SAMUELS COOPER HERE.
WE'LL ASK, UM, VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL FOR THE INVOCATION.
LORD JESUS, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY FOR OPPORTUNITY ONCE AGAIN TO SERVE YOU.
THANK YOU LORD FOR HOW YOU KEPT US DURING THE DAY AND BROUGHT US HERE TOGETHER.
LORD, HELP US TO, UH, DO EVERYTHING DECENTLY IN ORDER AND WE MIGHT HONOR AND GLORIFY YOU AND THAT WE MIGHT, UH, DO, DO, DO RIGHT BY THE PEOPLE OF CLATON COUNTY AND THE CITIZENS AND THE VOTERS.
WE THANK YOU LORD FOR WHAT YOU DO.
PASS THOSE WHO ARE ABLE, IF WE'D STAND FOR THE PLEDGE, WHICH TO BE LED BY BOARD, MIKE STR, WHO'S THE UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR STANDS NATION, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY I JUSTICE OR THANK YOU.
[VI. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA]
NEXT WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA.UM, IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE, THE MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
I SECOND A MOTION BY MS. COOPER AND A SECOND BY SECRETARY KILMAN.
ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY CHANGES? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
[VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
AND THEN NEXT WE'LL MOVE TO THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT OF THE MINUTES, LIKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE JANUARY, THE REGULAR SCHEDULE JANUARY 20, 26, BOARD MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD ON JANUARY 26TH, 2026.IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FORM, MR. CHAIRMAN? UH, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THESE MINUTES.
A MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 26TH REGULAR SCHEDULE MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD ON JANUARY 26TH OF 26TH INSTEAD OF SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION MA'AM? MR. CHAIRMAN? I HELPED, UH, SECRETARY CUMAN TO OVERLOOK, UH, AND REVIEW THESE MINUTES AND I MYSELF MISSED TWO SPELLING, UM, THINGS, TWO SPELLING SITUATIONS.
UM, UNDER NUMBER 10, THE WORD, UH, SHOULD BE, UH, VIA INSTEAD OF VIS, UH, VIA EMAIL.
AND THEN, UM, THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH UNDER NUMBER 10, SHOULD, UH, THE WORD FOUR ON THE THIRD LINE THAT COMES AFTER THE WORD CANVASSERS SHOULD BE REMOVED FOR CLARIFICATION.
SO I RECOMMEND THAT WE MAKE THE AMENDMENT, UH, THAT I'VE SO STATED.
CAN YOU RUN BACK TO THOSE ONE, ONE MORE TIME, SIR? YES, SIR.
UH, I NUMBER, I SEE THE FIRST ONE, NUMBER 10 UNDER NEW BUSINESS.
THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH, THIRD LINE AFTER THE WORD CANVASSERS, WE WOULD ELIMINATE THE WORD FOR, TO MAKE, TO MAKE IT MORE CLEAR.
SO WE OKAY WITH THE AMENDMENT TO CHANGE THE MINUTES FOR JANUARY 26TH, CORRECT.
THIS, UM, SPELLING IN NUMBER 10 FROM VIS TO VIA.
AND IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH, THE THIRD LINE TO DELETE THE WORD FOUR AFTER THE WORD CANVASSERS.
ANY OTHER CHANGES OR DISCUSSION? SO, GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UM, AND THEN NEXT WE'LL APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026 SPECIAL CALL MEETING.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026 SPECIAL CALL MEETING MINUTES AS WRITTEN.
A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MS. ARTIS TO APPROVED TO FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026.
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SPECIAL CALL MEETING MINUTES AS WRITTEN.BY MS. COOPER, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY, ANY OPPOSED? MOTION? CARRIE? UM, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, WE HAD NOBODY SIGN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[IX. DIRECTOR'S REMARKS]
TO DIRECTOR'S REMARKS AND WE WANNA WELCOME ROBBIE ADAMS. OFFICIALLY ROBERT ADAMS. BUT ROBBIE ADAMS, WHO'S OUR DIRECTOR, STARTED ON LAST TUESDAY AND INTO THE DEEP END OF THE POOL, HE WENT, SO HE'S, HE'S HERE SO HE MIGHT NOT KNOW.YOU GOT A MICROPHONE? YOU HAVE TO, IS IT A HOT SMASH, LITTLE GREEN BUTTON OR THE LITTLE GREEN LIGHT? COME ON.
HOW'S THAT? CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME NOW? HOW ABOUT THAT? YES, I GET TOO LOUD.
UH, THANK YOU FOR WELCOMING ME TO THE COUNTY.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL BEING HERE FOR MY FIRST MEETING WITH EVERYONE.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, PLEASE COME BY THE OFFICE AND SEE ME.
YOU WANT ME TO GO AHEAD TO BUSINESS? YES, SIR.
SO EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT EARLY VOTING DID START THIS MORNING, RIGHT? I SEE A LOT OF FACES THAT I DIDN'T SEE THIS MORNING.
ALRIGHT, SO TODAY WE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT.
WE HAD 80 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR EARLY VOTING.
I WAS TOLD THAT'S A VERY GOOD NUMBER.
SO WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH IS COUNTY COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO, THIS IS THE PRIMARY THAT'S GOING TO BE ON MARCH THE 10TH OF THIS YEAR.
EARLY VOTING WILL START TODAY AND LAST UNTIL MARCH THE SIXTH, EIGHT 30 TO FIVE, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
EVERYTHING WENT WELL ON TUESDAY.
LAST TUESDAY, UH, TRAINING WENT WELL.
WE HAD 35 MS. ALFREDA, WE HAD 35 SHOW UP FOR TRAINING.
UH, OUR PRECINCTS ARE GOING TO INCLUDE AL.
I'M NEW ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER.
BLOOMVILLE DAVIS STATION, HOME BRANCH, JORDY, VILLE, MANNY, 1, 2, 3, 4, AND FIVE ARE THE PRECINCTS THAT WILL BE INVOLVED.
IF YOU'RE NOT SURE, CALL THE OFFICE WILL FIX YOU UP.
OKAY? UH, OTHER THAN THAT, WE HAVE THE TOWN OF SUMMERTON AND THE TOWN AND THE CITY OF MANNING.
THAT WILL BE COMING UP ON APRIL THE SEVENTH.
AND THEY WILL BE RUNNING CONCURRENTLY.
THEY'LL BE RUNNING AT THE SAME TIME.
OKAY? UH, THAT DATE AGAIN IS 4 7 26 FOR SUMMERTON AND FOR MANNING.
NOW, EARLY VOTING WILL START ON 3 23 AND GO FOR THE TWO WEEKS TILL THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY, EIGHT 30 TO FIVE, SAME AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH NOW.
OKAY? THE PRECINCTS INVOLVED WITH MANNING ARE GONNA BE CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO, CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT THREE, CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT FIVE.
THE OFFICES ARE FOR MAYOR AND THREE COUNCIL SEATS.
IS THAT CORRECT? FOR MAN? FOR THE CITY COUNCIL? THREE COUNCIL SEATS ONLY THREE.
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME TIMEFRAME FOR SUMMERTON.
AND IS THAT FOR MAYOR AND THREE COUNCIL SEATS? MAYOR AND THREE TOWN COUNCILS FOR SUMMERTON.
SO SAME DATE SUPPLY, SAME EARLY VOTING SESSION EXCEPT FOR SUMMERTON FOUR WILL NOT BE PART OF THE TOWN OF SUMMERTON.
IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE PRECINCT WHEN THE ELECTION WAS CREATED.
THAT'S THE NOTE I WAS GIVEN FROM COLUMBIA.
ANYBODY WANTS ANY FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON THAT? JUST GIMME A CALL AT THE OFFICE PLEASE.
AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR NOW.
IF, UH, UNLESS THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS, NO, THANK YOU.
DON'T SEE ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
OKAY, NEXT WE MOVE INTO NEW BUSINESS.
[X. NEW BUSINESS]
AND THE FIRST ONE IS SORT OF A HOUSEKEEPING.UM, MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER ON TRYING TO SET THE AGENDA.
THE ONLY CHANGE IS, UH, IT'S A RECOMMENDATION TO, UM, CHANGE THE DEADLINE FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO ASK FOR THINGS TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA.
INSTEAD OF SAYING WEDNESDAY, IT GOES TO NOON ON THE WEDNESDAY PRECEDING.
SO IT SAYS A PRECEDING THAT MEETING, REGULAR SCHEDULED MEETING.
SO IT'S A RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED MOTION THAT ANY ITEMS TO BE ADDED TO A REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA BE SENT VIA EMAIL
[00:10:01]
OR TEXT TO CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE CHAIRMAN OWNER BEFORE THE PRECEDING WEDNESDAY OF THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING TO THE CHANGE TO ANY ITEM TO BE ADDED TO A REGULAR SCHEDULE.MONTHLY MEETING AGENDA BE SENT VIA EMAIL OR TEXT TO THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VICE CHAIRMAN OWNER BEFORE NOON OF THE WEDNESDAY PRECEDING THE REGULAR SCHEDULE MONTHLY MEETING.
HERE'S THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
MR. CHAIRMAN, I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THIS CHANGE MOTION BY VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL TO MAKE THE CHANGE.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND FOR MR. STR.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
UM, NEXT IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS.
THESE ARE, THESE APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED AFTER FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026.
CALL MEETING, UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, UM, I MAKE A MOTION THAT, UH, WE DEFER DISCUSSION OF THIS IN REVIEW UNTIL AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MS. ARTIST TO MOVE.
IT WOULD STILL BE NEW BUSINESS TO MOVE ITEM B ON THE AGENDA.
THE RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS, THESE WOULD BE FOR CLARINET COUNTY COUNCIL, DISTRICT TWO, SPECIAL ELECTION, CITY OF MANNING MUNICIPAL ELECTION, AND THE TOWN OF SUMMERLAND MUNICIPAL ELECTION.
AGAIN, THESE APPLICATIONS WERE RECEIVED AFTER THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026 SPECIAL CALL MEETING OR THE APPLICATIONS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DEFERRED AFTER THE FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026 CALL MEETING.
UM, IT WOULD, SHE'S GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO MOVE THE ITEM TO AFTER THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, IT IS NOT ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION, IT'LL JUST BE MOVING IT ON THE AGENDA.
AND FOR SOME CLARIFICATION, WE HAD APPLICATIONS THAT CAME IN AS LATE AS THIS AFTERNOON.
AND SO THE BOARD HAS NOT HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW ALL OF THE APPLICATIONS.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO CAME IN EVEN DOWN TO THE WIRE.
SO, GOT A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND FROM MS. COOPER.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? SO WE'LL MOVE THAT TO AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, NEXT WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE 20 26, 20 27 BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF CLATON COUNTY BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED TO CLATON COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THEIR REVIEW AND FINAL APPROVAL.
UM, THE BOARD HAS IN FRONT OF THEM A BUDGET WORKSHEET AND THERE ARE PARTS OF THIS, THE FIRST PARTS THAT INCLUDE SALARIES, UH, ANYTHING TO DO WITH, UM, PERSONNEL WE'LL DISCUSS IN, IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, SO WE'RE GONNA SKIP DOWN TO THE FIRST ITEM, WHICH IS POLL WORKERS.
UM, AND I'LL GO THROUGH AND THEN, UM, LET'S MAYBE ASK FOR A, A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET WORKSHEET, THE PROPOSED BUDGET AS PRESENTED.
AND THEN WE'LL GO TO DISCUSSION AND MAKE WHATEVER CHANGES THE BOARD DESIRES.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? MR. CHAIRMAN? I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE ACCEPT THE BUDGET WORKSHEET AS IT IS CHAIR, UH, MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL TO ACCEPT THE BUDGET WORKSHEET PROPOSAL AS IT IS SUBMITTED RIGHT AS IT'S WRITTEN.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND FROM MR. STR.
SO NOW WE GO INTO DISCUSSION AND IF Y'ALL BEAR WITH ME, WE'RE GONNA START AT POLL WORKERS AND SOME PLACES WILL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, ATTENTION THAN OTHERS.
UM, IN 20 25, 26 BUDGET, THERE WAS $60,000 BUDGETED.
AND I'M SORRY, THE, UM, WE ALSO DO HAVE THE JUNE PRIMARY COMING.
UM, WE HAVE THE SPECIAL ELECTION.
NONE OF THOSE ARE INCLUDED, BUT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE CUT THAT TO $45,000.
WE'RE STILL NOT SURE THAT THAT'S A, UM, THAT THAT NUMBER IS NOT TOO HIGH, BUT WE ALSO DON'T WANNA, UM, NOT PRESENT A FAIR BUDGET TO THE COUNTY.
OR, UM, IF WE GO BACK TO THE 24 25 BUDGET WAS $50,000 BUDGET, THEN WE SIX SPENT $64,534.
UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE HERE WOULD REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE FORMED A STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE.
AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU THAT THAT 64,000 THERE WAS IN EXCESS OF $20,000 WAS SPENT ON POLL WORKER PAY DURING NON-ELECTION MONTHS.
[00:15:01]
THERE IS, UM, WE'LL NICEN IT UP AND SAY FLUFF IN THE BUDGET.SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET BACK TO REALITY AND WE DO THINK THAT IN THE END OF NEXT YEAR THAT WE'LL HAVE A BETTER, WE'LL HAVE A BETTER FEEL OF THIS BECAUSE IF YOU REMEMBER IN THE SEPTEMBER MEETING THE BOOK, THE UM, BOARD DID STOP ANY PAY THAT WAS NOT DIRECTLY TO POLL WORKERS.
IT WAS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO POLL WORK.
SO WE GOT 45,000 ON THE POLL WORKS.
UM, THE HEALTH INSURANCE IS DOWN ABOUT $2,000 TO 33 978 OFFICE SUPPLIES WE'RE GONNA LEAVE AT 8,000.
THE VOTER BOARD STIPEND, WHICH IS, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND, THAT'S 22,500, BUT THAT IS FOR ALL NINE BOARD MEMBERS AND NOT TO ONE BOARD MEMBER OR EACH BOARD MEMBER.
SO THAT MONEY COMES BACK TO US FROM THE STATE.
THEY, THEY REIMBURSE THE COUNTY DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR FOR THAT, BUT IT ISN'T SHOWN IN OUR BUDGET.
SO IT STAYS AT THE 22 5 BY LAW CONTRACTUAL SERVICES.
WE'RE GONNA INCREASE IT BY $1,500 TO 22,000.
OUR MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THEM WHERE THEY ARE.
WE'RE GONNA LEAVE IT AT 33,000.
THE EQUIPMENT AND REPAIRS IS AT 5,000.
THE TRAVEL AND TRAINING BUDGET, THIS IS FOR BOARD AND STAFF ONLY.
IT'S 22,000 AND WE'RE CUTTING THAT TO 10,000.
SO THAT'LL BE MINUS $12,000 THERE.
UM, THE POOR WORKER TRAVEL AND TRAINING WE'RE GONNA INCREASE FROM A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO 37 50.
WHO'S A, UM, THE THINKING BEHIND THAT IS THAT POLL WORKERS, POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS GENERALLY MAKE A HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY.
AND SO THEY REALLY ARE WORKING FROM SIX 30 TO 7 30, 6 30 AM TO 7:30 PM WHICH, UM, IS ABOUT EIGHT OR SO DOLLARS AN HOUR.
WHAT, UM, WE'RE PROPOSING IS THAT WE ALLOCATE UP TO $15 AND WE'RE GONNA DO MEALS AND NOT A STIPEND, BUT WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO MEALS AND, UM, WE FEEL LIKE WE CAN PULL THIS OFF, BUT WE'RE GONNA DO A MEAL UP TO $15 PER POLL MANAGER, A POLL CLERK FOR THE ELECTIONS WHILE, WHILE THEY'RE WORKING AND THINK THAT'S, UM, WILL HELP US ATTRACT POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS, BUT ALSO THINK ABOVE AND BEYOND IT'S FAIR TO THE, TO THOSE PEOPLE AND ALSO FAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS.
SO THAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT $2,700 INCREASE IN THAT LINE ITEM.
THE ABSENTEE BALLOT WORK, UM, WE HAVE 6,200 BUDGETS TO THEM.
WE'RE LEAVING THAT AT THE SAME.
UM, OUR, OUR POSTAGE WAS ZERO, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THAT OUT.
UM, SINCE WE MAILED VOTER ID CARDS OUT, WE'RE, UM, PROPOSING TO PUT THAT AT 360 3.
THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT WE SPENT IN 2024 AND ADVERTISING.
WE'RE TAKING IT DOWN FROM 2,500 TO 2000 AND MEMBERSHIP IN DUES WE'RE TAKING DOWN FROM 2,500 TO A THOUSAND.
AND I MIGHT HAVE MISSPOKE ON THE, UM, POLL WORKERS, BUT IT IS IT 60,000 IN THE CURRENT BUDGET YEAR AND WE'RE TAKING IT DOWN? I WROTE MINUS 45, BUT IT'S A MINUS 15,000.
IT'LL GO TO 45,000 FOR THE 26 27 BUDGET.
UM, HOPEFULLY YOU'RE NOT CONFUSED AND IF YOU ARE, I'LL TRY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, BUT WE'LL OPEN TO THE DISCUSSION NOW.
SO IF ANYBODY'S GOT A QUESTION OR A SUGGESTION, THIS IS THE TIME.
I'M NOT THROWING A DIRECTOR UNDER THE BUS.
HE JUST STARTED LAST TUESDAY, BUT WE DID GET THIS LIKE THE WEEK BEFORE FROM THE COUNTY.
AND IT IS DUE, OUR PART IS DUE TO THEM.
THE END OF FEB BY THE END OF FEBRUARY.
SO THE END OF THIS WEEK AND NEXT YEAR HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE MORE NOTICE.
ANY DISCUSSION OR ANY QUESTIONS.
SO, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CLARIFY FOR THE, FOR THE FOLKS, UM, FOR THE CITIZENS AND, AND, UH, VOTERS OF CLA COUNTY THAT THE, THE LINE 0 5 0 6 5, THE POLL WORKER TRAVEL AND TRAINING.
I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT WHAT WE WANT, WANT TO DO, AND IT, AND AS CHAIRMAN, UH, STATED, WE BELIEVE IT WILL HELP ATTRACT, UH, SOME MORE POLL WORKERS TO, TO DO THE WORK ON, ON ELECTION DAY TO PROVIDE THEM LUNCH.
THAT'S JUST A SIMPLE OF IT, JUST TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THEM LUNCH, UM, MAYBE EVEN A BISCUIT FOR BREAKFAST.
AND SO THAT'S WHY WE INCLUDED THAT $3,750, UM, YOU KNOW, TO, UM, HELP THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT REALLY GETTING PAID THAT MUCH.
UM, JUST TO HELP 'EM OUT A LITTLE EXTRA ON THAT.
YOU ARE CORRECT AND I CAN SAY, UM, AND I'VE SAID SOME HOW MANY TIMES, BUT MY EXPERIENCE
[00:20:01]
WITH THE VOTER REGISTRATION BOARD UP UNTIL LAST APRIL WAS ACTUALLY JUST BEING A VOTER.BUT FOR SOMEBODY TO WORK 13 HOURS, UM, AT THE POLLS AND WE'RE PAYING 'EM A HUNDRED DOLLARS AND NO MEAL AND THEY BRING ON MEAL OR WHATEVER, I THINK THIS IS NOT ONLY TO HELP US ENTICE PEOPLE TO WORK, BUT I THINK MORE IMPORTANTLY IS THE FAIR THING TO DO.
RIGHT? ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? SO WE NEED A MOTION AND WE WILL COME BACK AND DISCUSS TO OTHER SO, AND GIVE YOU THE TOTAL BUDGET AND ALL AND, AND WHERE WE OFFER NEXT YEAR.
BUT SO A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED FOR 2026, ONLY TO INCLUDE 0 5 0 0 6.
I I GOT THAT, BUT I WANNA MAKE SURE WE, HE REMINDED ME THAT WE MADE THE MOTION AND I DIDN'T REMEMBER THAT.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT CLEARER THAT IF WE'RE GOING FROM 0 5 0 0 6 TO POLL WORKER LINE ITEM THROUGH 0 5 2 8 9, THE MEMBERSHIP IN DUES.
SO THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
ANY OPPOSED? IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THE VICE CHAIR WHO SECOND MR. STR.
OKAY, NEXT WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION IF A RUNOFF IS NECESSARY FOR THE MARCH 10TH, 2026 CLANTON COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO SPECIAL ELECTION PRIMARY TO MOVE THE MARCH 26TH, 2026 SPECIAL CALL MEETING FROM THE CLANTON COUNTY COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF CLAIN COUNTY OFFICE AT THREE SOUTH CHURCH STREET MANNING.
PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WILL BE TO CONVENE IF NECESSARY AS THE BOARD OF CANVASERS FOR CERTIFICATION OF MARCH, 2024.
COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, SPECIAL ELECTION PRIMARY RUNOFF.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE A MOTION.
MR. CHAIRMAN, A MOTION FROM VICE CHAIRMAN MCAL.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? JUST A REMINDER TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE WE VOTED.
AND THIS IS STRICTLY FOR THE BOARD.
BOARD OF CANVASERS MAKES IT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC AND EASIER FOR THE STAFF FOR US TO HAVE EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED AT THE OFFICE TO CER ALLOWS US TO CERTIFY THE ELECTIONS QUICKER, TO TAKE ACTION QUICKER.
SO WE GOT A MOTION OR SECOND ON THE FLOOR.
ANY OPPOSED? YOU CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
AND LAST IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION ELECTIONS OF CLANTON COUNTY TO CHANGE.
ITS STARTING TIME FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETINGS FROM 6:00 PM TO 6:30 PM JUST A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.
WE, UM, TRIED TO DO THIS LAST YEAR, MOVE IT FROM FIVE 30 TO SIX 30 AND WE HAD A BOARD MEMBER THAT IT DIDN'T WORK FOR AND THAT BOARD MEMBER'S NO LONGER HERE, UM, ON THE BOARD.
SO, UM, WE THINK THOUGHT THEN AND STILL THINK NOW THAT, UM, AND I'LL PUT VICE MCGALL, HE'S THE ONE WANTED TO BRING IT BACK UP.
BUT, UM, WE, UM, THINK IT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT EASIER FOR PEOPLE WHO WORK TO GET HERE TO THE MEETINGS AND MAYBE ENCOURAGE MORE CITIZEN OR TAXPAYER PARTICIPATION.
SO IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR? I MAKE THE MOTION TO MR. CHAIRMAN THAT WE ACCEPT THIS RECOMMENDATION TO CHANGE THE TIME OF THE REGULAR SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY MEETINGS TO 6:30 PM MOTION ON THE FOURTH FROM MR. MCGALL TO CHANGE THE REGULAR SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETINGS FROM START TIME FROM SIX TO SIX 30.
FROM MS. KIL SECRETARY KILMAN, ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
NEXT WE HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION AND IT NEED A MOTION
[XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION]
TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL MATTERS, OTHER MATTERS, AND CONTRACTUAL MA CONTRACTUAL MATTERS AND SECURITY MATTERS AS STATE ON THE AGENDA.I MAKE A MOTION AS WE GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
[00:25:02]
MOTION FOR MS. COOPER TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE REASON STATED ON THE, UM, AGENDA.ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? AND THEN THE LAW SAYS THAT IF WE VOTE TO GO IN FAVOR, THAT WE HAVE TO DISCUSS OUR, OR DISCLOSE OUR REASONS AND TO RECEIVE AND SPRINT ON THE AGENDA TO RECEIVE AND REVIEW STAFF POSITIONS AND COMPENSATION RELATED TO THE BUDGETING PROCESS TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS FINDINGS FROM THE BVR AND ECC BOARD ATTORNEY REGARDING PERSONNEL MATTERS TO RECEIVE AND DISCUSS FINDINGS FROM THE BVR AND ECC BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE AND TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS SECURITY MATTERS RELATED TO THE ELECTION PROCESS.
I DON'T WANNA JINX US AND SAY WE'RE NOT GONNA BE LONG, SO I'M NOT GONNA SAY THAT.
BUT THANK Y'ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
[XII. RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION]
Y'ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE.AND WE'RE GONNA ASK FOR A MOTION TO RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE RETURN TO A REGULAR SESSION, A MOTION FROM MS. COOPER TO RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I SECOND THE MOTION.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
ANY OPPOSED? CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
[XIII. АСTION(S) TO BE TAKEN AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION (If Applicable) (Part 1 of 2)]
ANY ACTIONS AFTER PUBLIC SESSION? AND I WILL TAKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE FIRST FOUR ITEMS ON THE BUDGET WORKSHEET.THE SUB-ACCOUNTS ARE 0 5 0 0 1 SALARIES OH 5 0 0 3, REGULAR RETIREMENT EXPENSE, 0 5 0 0 4 FICA EXPENSE AND 0 5 0 0 5 PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT.
UM, THOSE AMOUNTS, THE, UM, SALARIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $103,340, WHICH IS, I'M DOING THIS IN MY HEAD, BUT ROUGHLY $24,000 LESS, UM, THAN THE CURRENT YEAR.
OUR, UM, THE NEXT ONE IS REGULAR RETIREMENT EXPENSE AND THAT ONE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR IS 27 980 AND WE'LL GO DOWN TO 19,180.
THE NEXT ONE IS FICA EXPENSE AND THAT ONE IS GOING FROM TEN EIGHT SEVENTY DOWN TO 10,201.
PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT IS GOING UP FROM $14,890 TO $30,000 EVEN.
SO THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR.
I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE, UH, ACCEPT, UH, BUDGET LINE NUMBER IS 5 0 0 1.
SO A MOTION FOR MR. STRAT TO ACCEPT THE SUB ITEM.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
I'M GONNA TAKE A MOMENT TO TELL YOU THAT OUR BUDGET FOR 20 25 26 WAS $400,960.
THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS, UH, A TOTAL BUDGET FOR 26 27 OF $347,512.
UM, A NET REDUCTION OF $53,448.
IT'S A LITTLE OVER 13% DECREASE IN WHAT WE ASKED FOR LAST YEAR.
SO I DO THINK THAT THAT'S, UH, VERY FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AND STILL OFFERING THE SERVICE TO THE TAXPAYERS THAT, AND THE VOTERS THAT THEY DESERVE.
UM, IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS FOR THE BOARD? MR. CHAIRMAN? I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO APPROVE THE LIST OF, UH, POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS.
THE NAMES ON THE LIST THAT WAS SUBMITTED TONIGHT FOR MS. HARD IF YOU, UM, DON'T MIND SITTING TITLE NECK, BECAUSE WE HAD ACTUALLY MOVED, JUST MOVED NEW BUSINESS.
UM, THAT'S, IT'S HARD ENOUGH FOR ME TO KEEP IT IN ORDER.
IS THERE ANOTHER MOTION ON THE FLOOR YOU
[00:30:01]
RELEASED? UH, MR. CHAIRMAN.WE'LL WAIT ON MS. ARTIS MOTION.
AND SO I MAKE A MOTION THAT UPON OFFICIAL REQUEST THAT THE BOARD OF VOTER REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS OF CLATON COUNTY WILL MAKE AVAILABLE THE NAMES OF POLL MANAGERS AND CLERKS WHO HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND PROPERLY TRAINED.
THERE'S A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM VICE CHAIRMAN MCGALL THAT, UM, UPON REQUEST THAT THE NAMES OF THE POLL WORKERS AND POLL, UH, POLL CLERK, I'M SORRY, POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS WHO HAVE BEEN PROPERLY APPROVED AND TRAINED THAT THEIR NAMES BE RELEASED.
THAT'S FROM VICE CHAIR MCGALL.
DID ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? A.
ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU MS. ARTIS.
DID YOU HAVE A MOTION? NOW WE'RE GOING BACK.
THAT IS ALL THE BUSINESS THAT IS TAKEN AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION.
IF YOU REMEMBER, WE MOVED ONE ITEM FROM NEW BUSINESS, UM, TO AFTER WE'D FINISHED EXECUTIVE SESSION.
UM, MR. CHAIRMAN, I, I WANTED TO, UH, MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LIST OF POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS.
THE NAMES ON THAT LIST, UM, THAT WAS SUBMITTED FOR THE CLARENDON COUNTY DISTRICT TWO SPECIAL ELECTION, CITY OF MANNING MUNICIPAL ELECTION IN TOWN OF SUMMERTON MUNICIPAL ELECTION, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NAME LISTED NUMBER FIVE.
SO HAVE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR FROM MS. ARTIS THAT WE ACCEPT THE LIST OF, UM, APPLICANTS TO BE POLL MANAGERS AND POLL CLERKS, EXCEPT ONE THROUGH 22, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NUMBER FIVE, THAT'S AND THAT APPLICANT WOULD BE DEFERRED.
IS THERE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? I SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[VIV. CHAIRMAN'S REMARKS]
HOME REMARKS I HAVE ARE, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE.THE DIRECTOR GAVE US THE DATES AND, UM, WE ARE IN, UM, THE EARLY VOTING FOR DISTRICT TWO AND HAD A GOOD TURNOUT TODAY.
AND WE WANT TO KEEP THAT GOING.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
ONE OF THE GOALS THIS BOARD HAS IS THAT WE SPEND LESS TIME IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AND MORE TIME IN THE PUBLIC SESSION.
AND I KNOW IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THAT TONIGHT.
[XIII. АСTION(S) TO BE TAKEN AFTER EXECUTIVE SESSION (If Applicable) (Part 2 of 2)]
LET'S BACK UP TO THAT LAST VOTE.SO I'M GONNA ASK FOR ANOTHER VOTE.
ALL IN FAVOR? THAT'S ON ME A HUNDRED PERCENT.
ANY OPPOSED, ANY ABSTAINED? A MR. STR ABSTAIN FOR THE RECORD.
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? I MAKE A MOTION WE ADJOURN A SECOND.
ANY OPPOSED? IS IT JUST ME OR WHEN I ASK FOR OTHER MOTIONS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT TAKES ABOUT A HOUR FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY SOMETHING OR WHEN I SAY SOMETHING ABOUT ADJOURN, IT'S LIKE ALL FIVE OF US ARE LINED UP.