Ward County plans to strengthen its election security with cameras in key locations in the county administration building.

The Ward County Commission voted Tuesday, March 3, to pursue a federal Homeland Security grant for funds for security cameras. The cameras would be strategically placed in a mailroom and storage area for election equipment as well as provide surveillance for hallways.

Commissioners rejected the idea of installing security cameras within the polling area, despite assurances cameras would not be placed in positions to capture voters’ ballots.

“I also have concerns about even the voters interpreting them as watching them vote,” Commissioner Miranda Schuler said. “If something like this was to be implemented, it’d have to be just the doorways and just the table where they’re getting their ballots. And I think we also need to have screens showing exactly what those cameras are actually seeing so that the voters feel confident voting and that their ballots are not being watched through the camera.”

“I know what the idea is, but I think it’s going to make people feel uncomfortable,” added Commissioner Ron Merritt.

Security cameras had been among suggestions of a representative of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is under the Department of Homeland Security.

County Auditor Marisa Haman said there have been limited incident concerns in the past, and existing, outside cameras provided the information needed.

In other business, the commission clarified language in its temporary dog pound contract with the City of Minot that the contract is only for up to 12 dogs. The city released information to the public this week about its temporary pound arrangement, including working with Animal Empowerment League to provide care for dogs and exotic animals that come into police custody. Dogs will be housed in a building at the Ward County Highway Department but exotic animals will not.

The commission also updated its contract language to add third parties, such as AEL, to an indemnity clause to ensure the county is not liable in connection with the care of dogs on its property that might result in a lawsuit or other claim.

In other action Tuesday, commissioners directed its resolution on agricultural land valuations be delivered to local legislators, legislative leaders and the governor.

The Ward County Soils Committee and the Ward County Commission approved a resolution that essentially states easements that diminish or disallow uses of agricultural land should be factored into the North Dakota State University agricultural value per acre. U.S. Fish and Wildlife leases that claim to hold perpetual easements on property would be required to pay the tax calculated in the ag value formula for that property if they limit the use of property for which current landowners were never compensated.

Additionally, in preparation for the upcoming construction season, the commission accepted bids on various road and bridge projects.

The projects include paving of Ward County Road 15, from Burlington north to Baker’s Bridge. The low bid of Central Specialties was $3.33 million. Morris Sealcoat & Trucking submitted the low bid of $1.97 million for countywide crack seal and seal coat projects.

The county plans to replace two bridges, in Eureka and Burlington Townships, with reinforced concrete box culverts. County Engineer Dana Larsen explained the two wooden bridges are the last of about 15 bridges to be replaced due to load restrictions of less than 25 tons, which limits road maintenance equipment as well as certain public traffic. The low bid of $509,449 came from C3 Energy Partners.

All bids were below the engineer’s estimate and were among multiple bids for each project.