In a cost-saving effort, the Ely City Council approved a resolution to reduce the number of city voting precincts from four to one.

According to City Clerk-Treasurer Terri Boese, the city currently owns four ballot counters that have become obsolete and will not be supported by Elections Systems and Software for warranty work.

Therefore, the city must purchase new counters for the 2010 elections. The cost of a single counting machine ranges from $5,175 for new and $4,425 for used. Warranty for the machines is $165 per year.

In view of current budget constraints, Boese said St. Louis County officials suggested that the city could consolidate to one precinct. She also contacted Ely School District Superintendent Don Langan who said the school would be willing to provide space for the primary and general elections in 2010. The exact area is still to be determined.

With only one counting machine needed, the cost savings to the city would be more than $14,000 for the equipment alone. Additional savings would come from fewer election judges and related supplies.

The council also discussed possible drawbacks like long lines and waiting from having just one voting location.

However, Boese said she didn’t foresee much of a traffic problem. Previously, the city had four voting booths in each of the four precincts. All 16 of those booths would be moved to the new voting location.

What’s more, though more people will be at the poll at one time, she said the city will have more lines divided alphabetically and volunteers staffing them to deal with the increased numbers.

The council’s general consensus was that an increase in absentee voting would also absorb much of the potential congestion.

Residents have the option of voting absentee regardless of the reason. This would be particularly accommodating for individuals in the senior apartment complexes where some polls were previously located.

Boese said citizens can apply by mail to city hall for absentee ballots. However, once printed ballots are acquired by the city, residents can also fill out their absentee ballot immediately in the clerk’s office and leave it to be counted. A specific timeline for this is required and will be announced prior to elections.

What’s more, she encourages voters to register before election day to avoid waiting in line at the polls.

“Probably the only place there will be a line [at the new poll] is if you’re waiting to register,” she said.

To apply for an absentee ballot or to register to vote, stop by or write to the Ely City Clerk’s Office, 209 E. Chapman St., Ely, MN 55731.

Boese added that the city is looking for volunteers to help at the polls. Election judges are a paid position.

In other matters, council members approved a letter to be sent to Richard Watson regarding questions about the city’s noise ordinance that he presented to the council in 2008. The letter was written by Ely Police Chief John Saw.

Among responses to four questions, Saw said that for one month this summer, the Ely Police Department has watched for and logged all traffic stops, and written warnings and citations for all noise ordinance violations. The department will continue to enforce loud noise and exhaust complaints as often as time allows.

He further explained that, with a few exceptions, a police officer cannot issue a citation without witnessing an offense. Therefore, an officer must obtain a signed, written statement from a complainant. The statement must include the date and time of the offense, a description of the driver and the vehicle, including its color, and the license plate number. If the violator pleads not guilty in court, the complainant will eventually have to testify against them.