To bolster election security in Barton County, the County Commission Tuesday morning accepted a $94,096.91 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Security Grant. County Clerk Bev Schmeidler said the funding, which requires a 10% local match, will help with election equipment storage, a new trailer to haul supplies to polling locations, rolling bags to haul gear and other needs.

“We had the opportunity to go out for a grant offered through the Secretary of State’s office for federal HAVA funds,” Schmeidler said. Since the money can be used for anything to improve election security, “there is quite a list of things that we asked for.”

Although the commission accepted the entire $94,096.91 Tuesday, they only authorized spending just over $74,000 of that this week.

First, it Oked a bid from Brentwood Builders of Great Bend for $59,700 to remodel the County Clerk’s Office in the Courthouse. This includes making the early voting room more secure, adding an area for secure storage, tamperproof doors and a cabinet to charge and store electronic voting pads.

Second was the larger trailer at $12,200. “Ours is at capacity,” she said of the one they use now.

Lastly were the rolling security bags at $2,820.15. These are used to transfer supplies to voting sites.

As for the balance of the grant, Schmeidler said she will come back before the commission to seek approval for the purchase of secure locks, a server and other electronic items needed for the effort.

“Security is very important,” District 1 Commissioner Duane Reif said.

“Part of this is we’re supposed to have everything bought and implemented by March 1 of 2024,” Schmeidler said. But, “they gave us a waiver because there’s no way we can do that.”

The cost of the project will come from the Equipment Replacement Fund. It will be reimbursed once the grant funding is received.