MERCER COUNTY The lack of voters left higher cost rate

The average cost of each ballot was about $7, according to the director of elections.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Because of low voter turnout, the cost to Mercer County for the May primary election was as high as $34.15 per ballot in one location.
Director of Elections Jim Bennington told Mercer County Commissioners Thursday that Sheakleyville village had the highest cost because only 13 people voted there and he had to pay four workers to be at the polling place all day. He said one of the four poll workers was paid $100 and the other three $95 each.
While costs in other jurisdictions were not as high, Bennington said that the 22 percent turnout, with 15,731 out of 74,000 eligible voters casting ballots, averaged out to a cost of $2.85 per ballot. Bennington added this takes into account only the one day cost of renting polling places and wages for poll workers. If the preparatory costs of work done in his office are added, the cost per ballot rises to $7 or $8, he said.
The cost problem has its roots in federal law. The number of polling places which must be rented and the number of poll workers hired is tied to the number of eligible voters in each jurisdiction. Bennington said that the 1995 Voter Registration Act swelled the number of those eligible by opening registration to voters at drivers' license stations. And, while officials used to purge inactive voters every two years, the 1995 law only allows them to be purged every five years. Other requirements require eight years before names can be purged for federal elections.
New chief clerk
In other business, commissioners announced that Kenneth Ammann has been hired as the new chief clerk for the commissioners.
He replaces Rick Boggs, who retired. Ammann, 54, of Hempfield Township, owns Adventure Online, an Internet service provider, along with his brother, John. An electrician who worked at Sharon Steel and at Trinity Industries for many years, Ammann graduated last year from Thiel College with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
He also ran unsuccessfully for county commissioner in the last election, being defeated in the primary, and unsuccessfully ran for state representative in 1996.
Ammann and his wife, Kathy, have two grown sons.
He will be paid $23,285 annually.
Commissioners also:
UAnnounced that the two applicants for the position of administrative assistant in the veterans' office have withdrawn from consideration. Commissioner Olivia Lazor said that the job will again be posted among employees, then advertised publicly if no employees apply. That post will be vacated June 28 by the retirement of Rosemary McKenna, who has worked for the county 38 years.
UAwarded JET Excavating Co. of New Middletown, Ohio, a $283,954 contract to replace a bridge on Clay Furnace Road, Jefferson Township. County Engineer Mark Miller said JET was the lowest of four bidders and the highest bid was $342,250. Work is expected to begin July 1 and finish Sept. 27.