Weeks insists on use of large room at Community Center

Palm Coast Observer
News

On Aug. 21, Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon wrote a letter to Supervisor of Elections Kimberle Weeks to discuss the use of the Palm Coast Community Center as an early voting location. One point of contention in the debate has been the use of the large room, which the City Council uses for its business meetings twice a month.

Read Landon's letter here.

And here is Weeks' response, dated Aug. 23:

Dear Mr. Landon,

I am in receipt of your letter dated Aug. 21 and am pleased to learn that the city of Palm Coast fully supports the use of the Palm Coast Community Center for both early voting and on Election Day for the 2014 countywide elections. I am hopeful that the city of Palm Coast will fully support the use of the Palm Coast Community Center for early voting and on Election Day for all future elections as well. The city of Palm Coast's full support will be identified by no conditions or obstacles being put into place for the use of this location for voting purposes.

The city has never charged me for the use of this facility for voting purposes and I don't feel it would be appropriate for the city to begin doing so now, so I am pleased to learn that the city will continue to waive the rental fee for elections, including early voting.

Voting hours may extend beyond regular business hours of the Community Center. Additional staffing costs could be avoided to the taxpayers, if the city of Palm Coast fully cooperates by issuing the Supervisor of Elections the key (as is done for other voting locations) or flexing city staff hours so additional costs are not incurred.

It is necessary that voting take place in the large meeting room to adequately accommodate the voters and to avoid confusion. Ample notice has been provided to reserve the large room for primary and general elections, and this room was designated for government services, which voting is a service.

The use of the large room at the Palm Coast Community Center is not limited to the city of Palm Coast for City Council business meetings. The smaller room also is available for City Council business meetings where less attendees are likely to attend than would for Election Day and during early voting. More than a year's notice has also been given to adequately notify the public of necessary changes should the city need to relocate to the smaller room for a business meeting during the election season. The city also has the flexibility to adjust their meeting schedule. It is not unreasonable to expect the city to make necessary adjustments to accommodate the voters when there are 365 days in a year and I am requesting the large room for approximately 14 days per election. The large room will not be needed for four consecutive weeks as your letter suggests.

It is your opinion that the smaller room provides plenty of space for my needs, but unfortunately you are incorrect, and I do not want to be responsible for your judgment. There are currently 4,760 registered voters at the Palm Coast Community Center compared to 1,909 registered voters that were assigned to that location prior to redistributing. Currently there are 67,508 registered voters in Flagler County, and all are eligible to vote early. It is important that I, as Supervisor of Elections, who was elected by the people, and work for the people, make the decisions associated with elections without manipulation.

On Aug. 14, at approximately 1:55 p.m., I requested to be placed on the City Council meeting agenda for Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the use of the Palm Coast Community Center large room for voting purposes, and I look forward to seeing you and the City Council members at that time. I did not schedule or request to be scheduled for a workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 a.m. or City Council business meeting agenda for Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m.

Sincerely,

Kimberle B. Weeks
Flagler County Supervisor of Elections