File photo by Fritz Busch Former Brown County Treasurer Jean Prochniak stands next to a secure official absentee ballot box in the Brown County Law Enforcement Center lobby in August 2020. The County Board is considering applying for a grant to fund a ballot drop box in the 2022 general election.

NEW ULM — Brown County Commissioners will consider a resolution May 3 for the treasurer to apply for a 24-hour drop box grant.

In its 2021 first special session, the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $2 million to implement Minnesota Statutes section 203B.082, which specifies minimum security requirements and standards to establish a 24-hour ballot drop box.

The program does not require counties to match funding to be eligible to receive a grant, but provides for reimbursement of actual costs of up to $15,000 per drop box.

Authorized uses includes drop box purchase and installation, video monitoring installation and related costs such as license and data storage contracts and related costs.

Priority will be given to applications received by May 16. After that date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis until grant funds are gone.

Grants will reimburse counties for actual costs and will not provide up-front funds. Applicants will be awarded up to $15,000 based on estimated costs. Funds will be awarded after drop boxes are complete and actual costs established.

“We already have a secure ballot box that we used in the Law Enforcement Center lobby for the 2020 election,” said Brown County Treasurer Kelly Hotovec. “We’re not certain yet if we will get a new one, or if we would put it indoors or outdoors. That may depend on ballot box security requirements.”

Hotovec said the secure ballot box is not being used for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District special election on May 24, 2022.

Commissioners will also consider:

• Authorizing the state of Minnesota 2022 Voting Equipment Grant. Brown County requested $26,915 for Omni-ballot tablets and a $1,298 poll pad. Brown County was awarded $18,590, which is 69% of the requested amount.

The grant will be used to purchase 14 Omni-ballot tablets or assistive voting devices to replace outdated Automark machines. It requires a $50% match of $9,295, which is covered by Help America Vote Act funds Brown County received.

• A TH 14/CSAH 2 rural intersection lighting agreement. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) would pay for lighting installation west of Springfield. Brown County would maintain items and pay electrical costs.

• Hiring a contractor for landfill scale house interior and exterior wiring/units. Bids are $8,490 from Sleepy Eye Electric and $11,485 from Paul’s Electric, New Ulm.

• Hiring a contractor for landfill scale house heating, ventilation and air conditioning work including a heat pump with LP secondary. Bids are $9,200 from Gag Sheet Metal, $11,900 from C&S Heating, Sleepy Eye and $13,060 from Nilson Heating, New Ulm. Possible rebates are $2,000 from Brown County REA for each bid plus $600 from Carrier for the Nilson bid.

• A proposed Lake Hanska County Park campground camping ordinance public hearing at 10 a.m.

• The board meeting begins at 9 a.m., Tuesday, May 3 in the courthouse commissioner’s room.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.)