| Citizens residing within the cities and towns in Carbon County who are registered to vote will cast ballots for candidates running for office in the November 2003 municipal elections. In Helper, the mayor and council members have changed one of the city’s traditional polling places. East Helper residents will vote at the city fire station rather than at the civic auditorium. The auditorium is not accessible to persons with disabilities. |
As city elections draw near, final changes are being made across the county with regard to voting procedures.
During the monthly Helper City Council meeting on Oct. 16, the governing board made one minor change in the munici-pality’s voting procedures.
When registered voters from east Helper cast ballots on Nov. 4, they will find that the election facility has changed.
Beginning with the upcoming election, the east Helper residents will be able to cast votes at the city’s fire station rather than the civic auditorium.
“It came to our attention recently that the auditorium is not a suitable voting facility. The building is not handicap accessible. Therefore, we cannot continue to use the building for elections,” explained Helper mayor Joe Bonacci.
Carbon County election official Robert Pero recently met with Bonacci and inspected the fire station. The building was approved and named the new polling facility for east Helper residents.
“By changing the location now, we can get voters used to using the new facility before the general election,” indicated the mayor.
In unrelated business, the council discussed the upcoming Electric Light Parade event. It has been discovered that the city will no longer be able to assist in funding the annual fireworks display.
Currently, Helper lacks the funds for many different projects which the city normally sponsors.
With money tight and restrictions in place, Helper will no longer be able to contribute to the fireworks portion of the winter holiday event.
“I know that organizers are really frustrated, but there is nothing that we can do. I realize that the firework display has become a tradition, but I’m afraid that the $2,700 will have to come from outside donations,” explained Bonacci.
The council discussed the many ways which the city contributes to the annual event, including the man power hours that Helper’s workers put in to help with the parade.
Bonacci indicated that everything is on schedule, with the exception of the fireworks, and that the city will continue to assist in any way possible to make the 2003 holiday event a success.
During the monthly public meeting, Helper officials also discussed the creation of a new city web page.
The site is currently in the works and is expected to be up and running by the end of the month. Web page creator Darrin Teply presented the council with an overview of the front page and ideas of what can be added to the site.
The governing body discussed the possibilities of getting local businesses involved in the project.
The officials would do so by creating a link on the city web page which explains the services offered in Helper.
“If we can get the local businesses interested in the project, then maybe we can help them out by listing their business on our site,” stated council member Chuck Buchanan.
Council members are also interested in seeing events and activities listed on the web page. In order to keep information current, Teply explained that the site would be updated at least four times a year. This would allow the city to inform the public of any events that are taking place in Helper in a timely manner.
Because the site will benefit the entire city, it was decided that the $695 one time set up fee will be provided equally by all city departments.
Finally, Helper council members agreed to a rate increase for City Sanitation. Helper residents will soon find that their garbage bill will raise by five cents due to a contract agreement the city has with the disposal agency.
“The contract says that every six months the agency is eligible for a five cent increase based on performance,” indicated city attorney Gene Strate.
Because the council had no complaints regarding the garbage service, the members agreed to the rate increase.