Cape’s Dam project, voting equipment on county agenda

Two hot-button topics are on the agenda for the Hays County Commissioners Court this morning: Cape’s Dam and new voting machines. 

The commissioners are set to discuss and consider action regarding a professional services agreement with Vista Planning and Design related to a proposal for the preservation of Cape’s Dam. The Hays County Historical Commission wants to assist in the creation of a conceptual master plan for the dam’s preservation. Funds have been identified in the Historical Commission’s general fund for the contract, which has a price tag of $5,187.50.

This morning’s commissioners court meeting will also include an 11 a.m. workshop with Hart Intercivic and ES&S, two voting machine vendors, who will give presentations on their equipment and answer questions from the court. Since 2017, when the county last considered buying new voting equipment, laws have changed to allow hybrid voting machines that provide paper backups of a voter’s record to be used in the state’s Countywide Polling Place Program. The county will be considering the purchase of such hybrid systems, which will allow voters to verify their choices on the paper record before casting their ballots. The paper back-up also will provide another opportunity for checks and balances, post-election audits and recounts. 

The ExpressVote voting machine from ES&S was one of three options available to be chosen by the Hays County Election Equipment Advisory Committee in 2017. File photo

In other business, the commissioners are set to discuss an agreement with the City of San Marcos formalizing the joint relationship between the city and the county on the Unmanned Robotics Team. The agreement will allow the county and the city to combine resources in the use of drones to assist with crime scene forensic collection, tactical operations, disaster response and other missions. 

The commissioners are also scheduled to discuss approval of three donations this morning. The first is a donation of $750 from the San Marcos Lions Club to the Hays County Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Division. The Lions Club is requesting that the funds go toward supplies and materials for the Junior Deputy Program, according to the commissioners’ agenda. The second donation is $1,500 from Wal-Mart for law enforcement supplies “for the betterment of the community,” the agenda states. The funds will be used to buy supplies for community outreach programs. The third donation is $500 from the Williams-Sebby Veterinary Clinic for the county Juvenile Probation Department. Funds will be used to buy supplies for upcoming summer programs.

The Hays County Commissioners Court meets at 9 a.m. on the third floor of the Hays County Courthouse, 111 San Antonio St. Meetings are also streamed live.