Posted: 7/20/04
Townships get grants to improve accessibility
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer visited Caledonia on July 9 to talk to officials from four area townships.
She presented them with ceremonial, oversized checks for grants that the four officers had applied for to improve polling place accessibility.
Here is a breakdown of the money, which comes from a federal grant, and how it will be used.
ï Crooked Creek Township, $2,511: $1,800 for paving disability parking space; $561 for handrails and lighting; $150 for signs. Andre Moen, clerk, accepted the check.
ï Mayville Township: $300 for door levers and/or widening doors. Arlyn Pohlman, treasurer, accepted the check.
ï Mound Prairie Township: $1,725 for voting tools, which could be things like magnifying glasses, signature guides, etc. Red Haines, clerk, accepted the check.
ï Yucatan Township, $1,225: $200 for curb and/or ramp for disability access; $425 for handrails and lighting; $500 for door levers and/or widening doors; $100.00 for voting tools. Sandy Ask, clerk, accepted the check.
The townships will receive the money once the work is done and receipts are turned in, Kiffmeyer said.
The grant money stems from the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), in the category of Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities program. A total of 126 grants were give totaling over $190,000 were disbursed.
Kiffmeyer has the goal of making the entire state HAVA-compliant statewide. She told the four people that the goal of the grants is to get people out of the car and voting. She said township halls need to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the grant money is like ìgravyî to help townships do that.
Andre Moen thanked Kiffmeyer, but added, ìWeíre going to need to raise the levy to cover this.î He was referring to HAVA compliance.
Red Haines said the Mound Prairie Township supervisors were overwhelmed with the HAVA requirements at first, but he found that the improvements were do-able. ìThe supervisors were pleasantly surprised,î he said. ìWeíre coming from pretty far back.î
He said they have discussed joining with neighboring townships, but that got an emotional, negative response.
ìWeíre trying to cut the cost and meet all the requirements,î he said.
Kiffmeyer said that townships should do whatís right for them. He noted that her township, Big Lake, worked with the local Lions organization to build a multi-purpose hall.
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