Thane Election Center proposal to be taken up Monday

• News Home
• More from News of the North

Friday, August 20, 2021 at 11:21 AM

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Messenger
• Share on Twitter
• Share on Whatsapp

Photo Courtesy of CBJ.

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Assembly will be presented at it's regular assembly meeting on Monday an appropriation ordinance for housing an elections center in a portion of the CBJ owned Thane warehouse.

The assembly committee of the whole earlier in the month passed a motion to have staff draft such an ordinance for purchasing the equipment needed for the facility, as well as the remodeling, for $700,000 in total.

City Engineering & Public Works Director, Katie Koester, spoke on the proposal.

"The proposal is really to establish an elections center, so a location here in Juneau where ballots can be processed, regardless of the type of election it is, it would be a center that is highly secure open to the public, that has the equipment necessary to securely and safely count ballots."

Koester said the facility needs to be very secure, a big enough space for operations, and accessible to the public so people can view ballot counting.

She said though that another requirement was the voting machines need to be kept in place.

"Because they're quite complicated to calibrate correctly, and so that limited a lot of the spaces we looked at. The libraries, we looked at multiple different CBJ facilities, and needing it to be in a place where the equipment couldn't be moved, kind of every time there was an election is what landed on the Thane warehouse being the preferred alternative, a big open base that can house this equipment."

Other locations included the former police substation office at city hall; the meeting rooms at the Douglas and Valley Libraries; Mt. Jumbo Gym; and the second-floor conference room at city hall.

If passed at the August 23rd regular meeting, the city's proposal outlines that the facility would be ready in time for the October 2022 election

More from News of the North

• Emergency Services are Responding to an Accident at the Fred Meyer Intersection

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Emergency services are on scene at Egan outbound at Fred Meyer for a motor vehicle crash involving a Maroon Dodge 1500 and a blue Ford van

• Hōkūleʻa to be welcomed in Juneau before launching a four year voyage

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Hōkūleʻa, the legendary voyaging canoe that revived the lost art of Polynesian voyaging and navigation and sparked a cultural renaissance in Hawaiʻi, is preparing to embark on a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific. A welcome ceremony is to be held Saturday to honor her arrival in Juneau.

• Alaska state school board advances proposal to ban trans girls from girls high school sports teams

  Juneau, Alaska (Alaska Beacon) - An almost-unanimous decision will open a 30-day public comment period on the idea.

• 17th Coast Guard District welcomes Rear Admiral Megan Dean

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Coast Guard’s 17th District conducted a change-of-command ceremony Friday at the Alaska Army National Guard Army Aviation Operating Facility in Juneau.

• Building saved on Franklin Street due to sprinkler system

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - On Friday an incident occurred at a building on Franklin Street, but fire safety systems saved the building.

• Alaska State Troopers investigate the murder of 2 women found near Trapper Creek

  Fairbanks, Alaska (KINY) - On May 24, 30-year-old Fairbanks resident Sunday Powers was reported missing to the Alaska State Troopers.

• Update: Basin Road Trestle Bridge now open to all traffic

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Basin Road Trestle Bridge will be closed to all traffic including pedestrians between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week, beginning Jun. 1 due to structural repair work.

• Draft decision for Ward Lake improvement plans now available

  Ketchikan, Alaska (KINY) -The Ward Lake Recreation Area is set to see some significant improvements happening as soon as Aug. of this year.

• Alaska Airlines adds new nonstop between Honolulu and Seattle area’s second airport

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - Alaska Airlines is celebrating more aloha with new nonstop service between Seattle/Everett and Honolulu starting this fall – their first flight connecting Paine Field-Snohomish County Airport and the Hawaiian Islands.

• CBJ Assembly recruiting experienced leader to serve as next City Manager

  Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly is recruiting for an experienced leader and dedicated public servant to serve as the next City Manager.

• Murkowski, Whitehouse introduce Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act in honor of former congressman

  Washington, D.C. (KINY) - U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), co-chairs of the Senate Oceans caucus, with Senators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joining as original co-sponsors, introduced the Don Young Veterans Advancing Conservation Act (DY VACA), legislation.

• State Board of Education holds quarterly meeting in Soldotna

  Soldotna, Alaska (KINY) - On Jun. 7 and 8, the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development held its quarterly meeting in Soldotna.