Some Oregon Township voters will likely have a new polling place during next year’s elections, but it will need a few upgrades first. The Starke County Election Board has been looking at moving the Oregon 2 precinct voting site to the Koontz Lake Association Clubhouse.
Board members visited the site last month to check for ADA compliance and other potential issues. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler did his own ADA assessment. He told the election board Thursday that the front door isn’t wide enough, and there isn’t enough room for handicap parking close by.
Ritzler said the back door would work, but the highway department would have to pave at least a couple parking spaces, since the current gravel parking lot isn’t suitable for wheelchairs. He said the two spaces and the necessary signage would cost about $300. Paving the entire parking lot would cost $2,500.
There was some discussion as to whether the Koontz Lake Association would cover that. Ritzler explained that the highway department keeps the cost down by making its own asphalt.
For now, it’s up to the Starke County Commissioners to decide whether to move the polling place to the Koontz Lake Association Clubhouse. They would also have to authorize the highway department to do the upgrades. If they approve the proposal, Ritzler says the new parking lot would probably be paved in April, ahead of the May primary.
