Pulaski County officials are finalizing arrangements for IT services during this year’s elections. IT Consultant Willie DeGroot and the county’s in-house IT director, Matt Voltz, are both expected to help out during the May primary and November general elections.
The Pulaski County Election Board only had enough money budgeted for DeGroot, but the county commissioners had said they wanted Voltz present, as well. Election board members asked the commissioners Monday how exactly that will work.
Commissioner Kenny Becker said the commissioners will cover the cost of paying Voltz overtime. “How’s he going to learn if he never shows up?” he asked. “What happens if, say, Willie gets sick or falls or gets hurt or something? His first year, he’ll get to know what’s going on.”
Election board member Laura Bailey added that Voltz could also help with election preparations during his regular workday, such as setting up for poll worker training.
The reason the election board wanted to hire an outside IT consultant was that the county was without a full-time IT director when planning began for this year’s election cycle, and the county’s vote center plan requires an IT technician to be present on Election Day. Since then, Matt Voltz has been hired as the county’s IT director, but election board members weren’t sure if he’d be available. Both election days are holidays for county employees.
Election board members say they’ve discussed the situation with both DeGroot and Voltz, and they’re willing to work with each other during this year’s elections.
