The Brown County Commissioners on Monday morning unanimously approved purchasing a video recording/streaming system for protection of cast ballots from Security Camera Warehouse (SCW www.getscw.com) at cost of approximately $2,400. The funds will come from 2018 election security grant funds.

“I want to state for the record that we’ve had zero complaints about mistrust here, it’s just being proactive,” said Brown County Judge Dr. Paul Lilly. “I think it’s shame that we have to do this today but I think it’s a good idea.”

Brown County Elections Administrator Larry Franks said, “Voter ballots will be under surveillance for 24 hours a day possibly for up to four weeks. Surveillance will be recorded and obtained like a regular election record. Surveillance will also be live-streamed to our county website.”

In other action Monday, no action was taken on the burn ban, which remains off.

Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement between Brown and Hood counties in which the Brown County Jail will house Hood County Jail prisoners at a cost of $45 per day.

Commissioners also approved the promotion of Paul Morgan from part-time to full-time
status with the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners approved as well the hiring of Alan Welch to a part-time position in Precinct 4 to run a shredder in place of another employee, who is currently off work due to an injury.