Benton County Election Officials Eye Parking

— Benton County election officials spent time Monday morning talking about potential parking problems come primary election time.

The Election Commission met to review paper ballots for the May 20 primary election. The discussion then turned to potential parking problems at the county's new Rogers office location -- one of nine early voting locations for the primary election.

AT A GLANCE

Early Voting

Benton County plans to have nine early voting sites open for the May 20 preferential primary election. Early voting begins May 5 and ends May 19. Voting hours will vary at the different sites and Saturday voting will be available only at the three county clerk’s office locations. For voting hours and other information, call the Election Commission at 271-1049.

These are the locations for early voting:

• County Clerk’s Office, 215 E. Central Ave., Bentonville

• County Clerk’s Office, 1428 W. Walnut St., Rogers

• County Clerk’s Office, 707 S. Lincoln St., Siloam Springs

• Iberia Bank, 706 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville

• Riordan Hall, 3 Riordan Road, Bella Vista

• Intrust Bank, 3300 Market, Suite 130, Rogers

• Gravette Civic Center, 401 Charlotte St. SE, Gravette

• Rogers/Lowell Chamber of Commerce, 506 Enterprise Drive, Lowell

• Centerton Fire Station, 755 W. Centerton Blvd., Centerton

Source: Benton County Election Commission

Robbyn Tumey, commission member, said she had spent more than an hour at the new location and heard nothing but complaints about the parking and waiting times. The problem could be worse with early voting bringing more people to the office, Tumey said.

Tumey suggested the commission might consider approaching Rogers officials to ask about opening another early voting location in the old city hall at Third and Poplar streets. The county vacated that site at the end of February. The county had offices for the assessor, collector and county clerk in that office before moving to the new location at 15th and Walnut streets. People still will have the old location in mind when they go to vote, Tumey said.

"I think a lot of people are going to go there first anyway," Tumey said.

Lack of parking at the Third and Poplar site was a problem with early voting in past elections, County Clerk Tena O'Brien said. With early voting for the primary set to begin May 5, it's possible the first of the month rush of business for the state Revenue Office might have subsided, she said. The Election Commission is responsible for early voting at locations other than the three offices of the county clerk, O'Brien said.

"It would be up to the Election Commission to approach the city of Rogers to see if that building would be available," O'Brien said.

John Sudduth, the county's general services administrator, said county officials were aware of the parking problems being reported at the new Rogers office and they were waiting to see if more parking may be needed.

"We really don't know," Sudduth said. "We know we had a surge. Apparently there was a record number of vehicles sold, so they had a run on everything. We're going to be watching and assessing to see if there really is a need."

County Judge Bob Clinard said Monday no one from the Election Commission had mentioned any concerns about parking for early voting to him. The county is working with adjoining businesses to see if overflow parking can be available if needed, he said. The parking problem may have been added to by a sign placed on the old county office location in Bentonville that directed people to the Rogers location without mentioning the services are also available at the County Administration Building in downtown Bentonville, he said.

"We are working on a plan for some additional parking, but it's too early to tell if it's needed," Clinard said. "We are aware we've had parking issues there, but it's too early to panic."

NW News on 03/18/2014

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