Fire station precinct nearly nixed

Commissioners quickly reversed a move Monday that would have dropped one polling precinct from the City of Alachua’s annual elections in April.

Only minutes after approving a proclamation that didn’t include a provision for the fire station voting precinct, Vice Mayor Gary Hardacre said he wasn’t sure it was the right decision and wanted to review the matter again.  Commissioner Ben Boukari, Jr. agreed.

Commissioners had first approved a proclamation listing only the Hal Brady Recreation Center and Turkey Creek voting precincts after staff cited safety concerns and about $2,400 in additional costs to run the third, the fire station precinct.  The Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office does not use the fire station precinct during countywide, state and federal elections.  However, in the past the city has opted to utilize the three polling precincts in local elections.

Initially, commissioners voted 4-1 for the proclamation.  Commissioner Orien Hills opposed the move and cast the dissenting vote.

Shortly after the decision, one-time commissioner and Alachua resident Patrick Murphy said he was concerned about the elimination of fire station precinct.

Murphy said, “$2,400 might seem like a lot of money, but there is no price on a vote.”

Referring to dropping the precinct, resident Jeannette Hinsdale agreed with Murphy saying, “Even if it’s 100 votes, it hurts a lot of people.”

Nearly two hours after first voting to cut the fire station precinct from city elections, commissioners overturned their decision.

Hills, who was opposed to the move all along said, “These problems have come up before.  I don’t see making it difficult for people to vote.”

City Manager Traci Cain said, “It was never staff’s intention to make it more difficult or try to not have people vote.

“The fire station has been, over the last few years, a safety concern,” she added.

Hardacre said the proclamation eliminating the fire station was “sprung” on commissioners, adding, “I’m having second thoughts about it.”

Boukari said, “There was a little knot in my stomach after the vote. This was never a way to tell people they can’t vote.”

After rescinding the initial approval, commissioners unanimously agreed to adopt an alternative proclamation that did include provisions for a fire station precinct.

The election is scheduled for April 12.  Commission Seat 3, currently held by Boukari, is the only seat up for grabs in the 2011 election.

Boukari successfully ran last year to fill the remaining one year of a three-year term.  He said Monday that he intends to seek re-election.

Anyone wishing to run for the seat must submit qualifying papers between noon on Feb. 17 and noon on Feb. 24.