At today’s meeting of the Brown County Commissioners Court, Elections Administrator Brenda Arp informed the Commissioners that a new election software vendor is needed.  On Friday, Arp received notice that VOTEC is ceasing operations immediately, due to financial difficulties.  VOTEC provides the software used on election day to check in potential voters, verifying the identity of the person and verifying that he/she is properly registered to vote in Brown County.  VOTEC does not furnish the software used in the voting machines or in the vote tabulation machines.

Brown County has used the VOTEC software for several years, covering 28 elections.  Arp said she is working with the Texas Secretary of State office, and other Texas counties that have used VOTEC software, to select a new election software vendor.  She said the Brown County voter data in the VOTEC system will be able to be transferred to the new system, and it should easily be in place prior to the next election on November 4.

In other business:

*** Commissioners agreed to leave the Burn Ban OFF for now.

*** Commissioners received a report from David Becktold of the Treasurer’s office concerning Certificates of Deposit.  Brown County has $21,136,037 in CD’s, and has earned $233,431 in interest in the second quarter (April-June) of this year.  The total interest earned this year (January-June) is $443,286.

*** Commissioners approved a request to install a private water line on County Road 133 by Brookesmith Special Utility District.

*** Commissioners approved a request from the Sheriff’s Department to seek a new inmate telephone system.  The contract for the current system has expired, and the Sheriff will issue a Request for Proposal for a new system.  The proposals will be due by August 28, and a new provider will be selected in September.

*** Commissioners received a report from Christine Pentecost, Tax Assessor-Collector, indicating that her department has completed 32 hours of continuing education training this year.