Registrar of voters says her office is out of space

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 11, 2007

vidalia — Registrar of Voters Golda Ensminger told the Concordia Parish Police Jury her office is simply running out of space.

“We just need more room,” she said.

While none of the jurors seemed to disagree with her, none are exactly sure where to relocate her office.

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At Monday’s meeting the most discussed option was a swap within the courthouse.

The proposed swap would entail a relocation of the Concordia Parish Indigent Defender’s office.

Under a plan supported by Jury President Melvin Ferrington, the two entities would simply swap office space.

Ferrington said the switch is necessary because the growing office needs more space and it would make early voting easier for elderly voters who cannot easily climb the staircase to the registrar’s office.

Relocating the office downstairs would be more accommodating for elderly and disabled voters Ferrington said.

However Indigent Defender Derrick Carson said thinks the plan to swap offices is unnecessary.

Carson said his office is also growing and would not benefit from being moved into a smaller office.

While both sides in the matter presented a compelling case, the jury’s Courthouse Committee will ultimately make it’s recommendation on what to do with the much desired office space.

Members of the Courthouse Committee did agree to meet with both parties to gain a better understanding of the situation.

At their Monday meeting the jury also voted to adopt an amended version of their 2007 budget.

Randy Temple said the 2008 budget was not ready to be voted on due to unresolved payroll issues.

The jury moved to hold a special meeting on Dec. 17 to discuss those issues and vote on the budget.

Jury members also voted to raise their mileage reimbursement to match the state’s rate of forty-four and one-half cents per mile.