MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

TUESDAY – FEBRUARY 27, 1973

The Board of County Commissioners convened in Special Session in the Commissioners’ Room, Courthouse, Tavares, Florida, on Tuesday, February 27, 1973, at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon for the purpose of considering the purchase of used voting machines.

The Chairman called the meeting to order with the following members of the Board present:  C. A. Deems, Chairman; James R. Carson, Jr., J. M. Hoskinson, Thomas J. Windram, and Glenn C. Burhans.  Others present were:  James C. Watkins, Clerk of Circuit Court; Christopher C. Ford, Attorney; and Norma H. Deputy Clerk.

The Chairman informed the Board that the factory representative of International Election Systems, Inc., manufacturers of the Shoup Voting Machine, has notified the Clerk, Mr. Watkins, that the used machines on hand are moving very rapidly, and if the Board intends to take advantage of the savings in the cost of the used machines compared to the cost of new machines, he felt that the Board needs to act on this promptly.

Mrs. Stegall, Supervisor of Elections, was present and advised that eight (8) additional machines are needed to be used as reserve machines because of the necessity of six (6) ballots.

On motion of Commr. Carson, Clerk Watkins was instructed to place an order with Sales & Service, Inc. for ten factory used reconditioned Shoup Voting Machines at a cost of $1400.00, which price includes the installation of vertical voting equipment equal to the machines now used by Lake County and includes a five year factory warranty.  The motion was seconded by Commr. Hoskinson and unanimously carried.

There being no further business to bring before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 2:25 o’clock P.M.

At 2:45 P.M., the Attorney recommended that the Chairman recall the Board in emergency session in order to comply with Florida Statutes 101.293.

Chairman Deems called the meeting to order with all members present except Commr. Burhans and Clerk Watkins.

On recommendation of the Attorney, and on motion of Commr. Carson seconded by Commr. Hoskinson, the following motion was unanimously carried:

An emergency condition exists regarding the purchase of voting equipment in that there is certain used equipment which will be sold, after it has been totally reconditioned, for a price far less than new equipment would cost the County.  The used equipment may be purchased for $1,400.00 rather than $2,500.00 per machine and the sale of the machines is moving very rapidly.  A check for other sources has proved fruitless and the Supervisor of Elections advised that the source used last year is no longer available and the present voter registration indicated a need for the machines.  For the above reason, the potential benefit derived from competitive bidding is outweighed by the detrimental effects of a delay in the acquisition of such equipment.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.

 

 

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cLERK                                                                                                                                                           Chairman