HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Letter from Story County Auditor, annexation of land in certain precincts E .
STORY COUNTY ZoL
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AUDITOR AND COMMISSIONER OF ELECTIONS
' O+'t►, JUDY R. EMMONS
515-382-7210
515-382-7221 Fax DEPUTIES:
- i,-,..•�-•*= STORY COUNTY COURTHOUSE ROBERT E. DANIELSON
tIO )�►,_ 900 6TH STREET LISA M. MARKLEY
11\ti �
NEVADA IOWA 50201-2087 LYNN A. SCARLETT
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August 23, 2000 " 1
AUG 2 3 2000
City of Ames
Mayor and Council Members CITY CLFRY
CITY OF AIMCE ,IOWA
RE: Annexed lands since January 1990 which require amendment of your city
ordinance establishing voting precincts (Iowa Code Chapter 49.8)
It appears that when land was annexed into the City of Ames during the 1990's the
auditor's office added the land to precincts established by your city Ordinance #3142. 1
have to assume this practice was carried over from my predecessor. According to Iowa
Code Chapter 49.8 establishing precincts for annexed land is to be done by the it
council.
Three annexations were attached in Ward 2, precincts 4&5 (map areas 7, 14 & 17) and
one annexation in Ward 4, precinct 1 (map area 23). The Secretary of State's Office
has advised that all of the lands annexed since 1990 must be included in an ordinance
amending your current Ordinance #3142 which established precincts after the 1990
census.
The four annexations at issue are recorded by your Resolutions: (96-91 Somerset); 91-
175 & 94-520 Bloomington Hgts.); (92-214 Brookview). All three annexations are in
Franklin Township, which is the 63' House and 32nd Senate Districts. Somerset
addition was added to Ward 2, precinct 5; Bloomington additions were added to Ward
2, precinct 4. However, Ward 2 is in the 61st House and 31S' Senate Districts. When
the annexed land was added to Ward 2, it made a precinct which crossed 2 different
house and senate districts, which cannot happen. The same situation happened to
Brookview. Brookview was added to Ward 4, precinct 1. Ward 4, precinct 1, lies in the
61s' House and the 311t Senate Districts. Brookview lies in the 63' House and 32nd
Districts. After consultation with the County Attorney and staff from the Secretary of
State's office, we have a proposed plan to correct this problem.
As the Somerset and Bloomington Hgts annexations in Ward 2 are not contiguous
territory they cannot be combined. However, the Uthe Farms annexation (resolution
00-116) is contiguous to both. All three (Bloomington, Somerset and Uthe) may be
combined as one precinct. We propose an ordinance combining the Bloomington,
t
Somerset and Uthe additions into new precinct 6 in Ward 2. 1 have identified a potential
polling place in this proposed precinct.
The Brookview addition sits alone and poses a different situation. It's location requires
designation as new precinct 6 in Ward 4. Otherwise the city and the county would have
to enter into an agreement which would require approximate 90 registered voters in the
Brookview addition to vote at the Fran klinTownship/Gilbert polling location for the
general election on November 7.
The remaining annexations in Ames, as contained in the resolutions listed on the
enclosed map, may remain attached to the various wards and precincts because all of
the areas either are wholly contained in the same House and Senate Districts or are
excepted under Chapter 49.3(2a).
Enclosed is a map of the City of Ames prepared by my office indicating the 1990 city
boundary, annexations since 1990, legislative & senate districts as stated in the Code
of Iowa, and precincts as they are now. Please compare this information with yours for
accuracy. The reprecincting is subject to review by the county and state commissioners
for approval.
My office will begin ballot preparation & setting polling locations for the November 7,
general election on August 31. According to the Iowa Code my office must be ready for
absentee voting on September 28th which requires final ballots to be at the printer no
later than September 11 th. Please review Iowa Code Chapter 49.5 for time
requirements for notice and public hearing for final adoption of your ordinance.
If your council takes action, other than what I am proposing, you will need to complete
all business before August 31, in order to permit my office to complete the necessary
corrections to the voter registration records and begin election preparations. Again, to
emphasize the need to make your decisions quickly, my office must be ready for
absentee voting on September 28th which requires final ballots be at the printer by
September 11 th.
Your prompt attention to this matter will be appreciated. Please do not hesitate to
contact myself or County Attorney Stephen Holmes, if you have further questions or
need our assistance.
Sincerely,
y . Emmons