T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY — Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 1600 S. Center St. in Marshalltown, has served as the 4th Ward polling place since 2018.

Although it ultimately didn’t require any official action, the agenda item that garnered the most discussion during Wednesday morning’s Marshall County Board of Supervisors meeting was the county’s potential financial assistance in purchasing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant door at Redeemer Lutheran Church, which is used as the polling place for the city of Marshalltown’s 4th Ward.

County Auditor/Recorder Nan Benson explained that in the past, the elections department has contributed to similar purchases at other polling places to keep them in compliance with federal law. Benson said leadership at Redeemer wanted to share the cost, which is estimated at around $3,600 before taxes and labor.

“We’ve got the money in our budget to assist with that. It was more (that) we wanted you to be aware of it,” Benson said to the board.

Redeemer, located at 1600 S. Center St., has served as the 4th Ward polling location since 2018. In response to a question from Supervisor Carol Hibbs, Benson said the door didn’t currently have a button that allows it to automatically open. Fellow Supervisor Steve Salasek wondered if helping with the purchase would ensure a long-term commitment that the church would continue to serve as a polling place for the foreseeable future, and Benson said she could have that conversation with leadership.

“They’ve been a polling location now for six years, so that seems like a pretty solid commitment. I think as long as we don’t try to put the election equipment there when the ladies are quilting, I think we’ll keep that (relationship),” she said.

Benson subsequently suggested paying either 60 or 65 percent of the total expense and conceded that the church itself would benefit from the new door as well. On the other hand, she said, she didn’t want to have to move the polling location as it’s become familiar to 4th Ward residents over the last several years.

“It’s just hard to find locations that have all of the things you need in the right spot,” Benson said.

Board Chairman Jarret Heil said he didn’t feel action was necessary as the expenditure was within the department’s budget, and Benson reiterated that she just wanted to mention it for the sake of transparency. Navigating the ADA’s rules around elections, she added, can be difficult and “quirky,” and even a place like the Iowa Veterans Home wasn’t initially as compliant as one might assume.

“Thanks for running it by (us). Do what you need to do,” Heil said.

One comment Benson said she hears often is about having elections at schools, but she didn’t feel it was the right direction to move in for the safety of students.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the consent agenda as listed, including the hiring of two seasonal conservation workers and several election workers for the June 4 primary. Also included was officially moving the 3rd Ward polling place to Our Savior Lutheran Church at 3001 S. 6th St. in Marshalltown.

• Heard from Marshall County Chief Jailer Patrick White about National Correctional Officers Week.

Approved an alcohol license renewal for the West Marshall Golf Course Association doing business as Lincoln Valley Golf.

• Approved an agreement amendment for the siren project grant to allow more time for completion.

• Approved the renewal of benefits contracts with HealthPartners UnityPoint Health Inc. from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026, Delta Dental Plan of Iowa from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, and Sourcewell Employee Benefits Program from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.