Grayson County Fiscal Court voted on Tuesday to purchase new voting machines for all 22 precincts in the county.
Grayson County Clerk Charlotte Willis said about the current machines, “Our election machines, basically they’re wore out … (and) we can’t get replacement parts.”
The current voting machines were purchased 20 years ago, Willis said.
Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson said the voting machine issue predates the current court and Willis, as officials have been “patching” the machines for several years, but with parts no longer available that option is not viable.
The cost of 22 new machines is $258,825, with Willis noting she applied for and received a grant that will reimburse the county $48,400 for the purchase of new machines.
It’s possible, Willis said, the county could receive additional grant money; she’ll know whether more money is available on December 10.
The new voting machines very likely will not be utilized in the 2022 Primary Election due to the extensive training the new machines require. But, the new machines will be used during the 2022 General Election in November, Willis stated.
Magistrates voted to approve the purchase of the machines for $21o,425 ($258,825 – $48,400 in grant money). That total will be financed through Magnolia Bank for five years at 2.85 percent interest.
Transient room tax ordinance clarified
With the recent proliferation of Airbnb vacation rental property in Grayson County, particularly around Rough River Lake and Nolin Lake, County Attorney Jeremy Logsdon was asked by Grayson County Tourism officials to clarify and clean-up the ordinance language related to the payment of the three-percent transient room tax.
Under the existing ordinance, the penalty for failure to remit the tax payment to Grayson County Fiscal Court (which then passes the tax revenue on to the Grayson County Tourism Commission) was vague and non-specific.
Logsdon amended the ordinance to say, “The willful failure of the property owner a.k.a. tax collecting agent or any lessor to fill out, return the reporting form and pay said taxes due to the appropriate agency shall constitute a Class ‘A’ misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no less than $200 but not more than $500, confinement in the county jail for a period of not to exceed twelve (12) months, or both. The prosecution of this offense shall be initiated by criminal complaint executed by a member of the Tourism Commission and/or their agent/employee through the County Attorney’s office.”
The amended ordinance continues, “Upon the determination by the Tourism Commission or their agent/employee that a failure (whether or not willful) to file any tax return required and/or pay said taxes mandated by this Ordinance has occurred, a notice of delinquency shall be filed in the office of the Grayson County Clerk showing the delinquent tax, penalty and interest to date. Ten (10) days after the notice of delinquency is filed, if the tax, penalty and interest are not paid, suit may be filed in the appropriate court having jurisdiction to collect such tax, penalty, interest and costs to include reasonable attorney fees.”
The amended ordinance also sets forth new quarterly tax payment dates, moving the dates from the 30th of April, July, October and January to the 20th of those months.
Magistrates heard the first reading of the ordinance and will hear a second reading, presumably at the next fiscal court meeting on December 7, and vote on the proposed amended ordinance.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
