Published: May 15, 2008 10:05 am      

County takes first step in building new storage space

CLINTON — The Clinton County Board of Supervisors took the first step toward constructing a new county storage building during its regular meeting this week. The space would be constructed in the northwest section of the Administration Building property, and would provide a safe and secure location to store voting machines and other county equipment.

County Building Maintenance Supervisor Rick Laurion appeared before the board to present drawings and cost estimates of the proposed 100-by-60-foot building, which would take up half of the parking lot on the north side. Laurion stated that the building would cost between $117,900 and $126,900 to build, depending on materials used, and would feature 3,000 square feet of storage space.

The county has been searching for an adequate location to house its 31 new Automark optical scan voting machines, purchased after Senate File 2347 was enacted into law on April 1, requiring the replacement of the iVotronic equipment purchased in 2006. The building also will house several county vehicles, including three vehicles used by case management, and the sheriff’s boat and prisoner van. County Auditor Charlie Sheridan noted the building could also serve to accommodate the absentee voting board.

Supervisor Dennis Starling asked who would have control over the building, and Laurion assured the board it would be a county building and be used to store only county vehicles.

Sheridan advised the board that he will have around $200,000 in next year’s budget for elections and new equipment that could be used toward construction costs of the new building.

Starling asked about a timeline for the possible completion of the building and the arrival of the new voting machines. Sheridan responded that the county must hold onto the iVotronic equipment through September in case the new machines don’t arrive in time for the scheduled school election. He added the timing should work out well, because Laurion anticipates construction could be completed by September.

Laurion stated his next step will be to speak with Fire Marshal Mike Brown and city officials about building requirements. The board advised him to move forward with his plans.

“Go for it,” said Supervisor Jill Davisson. “Get everything done you’ve got to get done.”

In other business, County Recorder Steve Mangan appeared before the board to ask about the policy for providing copies of county records. Mangan stated that his office recently received a call from a company in California requesting copies of all deed and mortgage records. He stated he told the caller he was unsure of the cost to charge per CD, and added that County Information Technology Director Ellen Miller advised the board weigh in on the matter.

Mangan also expressed concern that some of the records may contain secure information.

“This is a delicate issue for us,” Mangan said. “We can’t refuse people copies of public records, but we can only charge what it actually cost to produce them.”

Mangan advised the board that his recommendation would be to refer the company, if and when they call back, to the state Web site created by Iowa Land Records, which keeps a database of similar records. He added that older records may contain social security numbers, but that his office is required to remove secure information from current records. Mangan stated he could not recall the name of the company, and was unsure of their purpose in requesting the documents.

Starling asked if the county was obligated to make sure all privileged information was removed before supplying the company with copies of the records, and Mangan stated that, as far as he knows, the county’s only requirement is to redact that information if an individual discovers that it has been inadvertently provided.

“We don’t know this company, we don’t know their purpose. I think we’ve got to really walk lightly,” Davisson said. “You can’t refuse anyone public information, but yet, I think you have a right to protect the public first and foremost.”

Supervisor Grant Wilke advised Mangan to speak with County Attorney Mike Wolf about the subject, and suggested he find out what policy other county recorders throughout the state use, rather than “trying to reinvent the wheel.”