Clerk and Recorder seeks state Homeland Security grant to add cameras at 24-hour ballot drop boxes

The Weld County Clerk and Recorder's office on Jan. 28 asked the commissioners to authorize submission of a Colorado Department of Homeland Security grant application to help reimburse the purchase and installation of wireless IP security cameras at the county's 24-hour ballot drop-box locations.

Rudy Santos, chief deputy clerk and recorder, explained the county had approved the camera project last year and identified an opportunity "to get some of that reimbursed through the Colorado Department of Homeland Security" and, ultimately, FEMA. Santos said the county had an opportunity for "a little over $90,000" in grant funds. He also described current monitoring costs, saying, "Right now, we have outsourced that task to IT, and that that is kinda expensive. It's around $3,040,000 dollars a year to do that." Santos asked the chair and assistant controller be authorized to sign the application.

Commissioner Jason Maxey praised the office's efforts to recover funds and called the grant-seeking fiscally responsible. Commissioner Ronsek (moved), with a second by Maxey, led the motion to approve the resolution; the board approved it unanimously.

Action taken: the board authorized county staff to submit the state Homeland Security grant application seeking reimbursement for cameras at ballot drop-box locations. Any award would require follow-up acceptance and contracting.

Next steps: Clerk and Recorder staff will submit the application and, if funds are awarded, return to the board for contract execution and implementation details.