County considers moving Sand Lake polling place to Hayside Trail Center for accessibility

Mister Barton reviewed the history and rationale for a proposed change to the Sand Lake (Hayside College precinct) polling location at a May 26 public hearing, saying the former Hayside Town Hall is unavailable after purchase by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that the registrar had used the Hayside Municipal Building for a recent special election.

Barton said the proposed polling site is the Hayside Russell Fort Trail Center (a former theater at 256 Main Street in Hayside). “It’s laid out a little better too for curbside voting,” Barton said, noting the Trail Center has elevator access and that curbside voters could use adjacent parking at a vacant law office.

Residents and board members asked about parking capacity, suggested temporary cones or a marked crosswalk for election day, and proposed coordination with the sheriff’s office to manage traffic and pedestrian safety. One attendee asked whether cones could highlight a walkway on election day; Barton and others said the board could discuss options with the sheriff’s office.

There were no substantive objections raised during the hearing. The board recorded public comment, discussed possible traffic and parking mitigations, and did not take a final vote during the hearing; further administrative coordination and any formal action would come later in the process.