'A couple' election day issues in Union County, director says
May 7—LEWISBURG — The Union County election director said the primary election on April 23 had only "a couple of issues."
Greg Katherman, the election director for the county, gave his report to the Union County commissioners at Tuesday's public meeting. He said a few election machines had battery pack issues.
"We're pretty much wrapped up," said Katherman. "There are no recounts statewide and we're on to the November election."
Katherman said there were a handful of mail-in ballots with misprinted dates that he was unable to cure. They had to be rejected, he said.
"The federal panel said 'you're not counting them' so we did not count them," said Katherman. "They're set aside and they're not counted."
Katherman said his office attempts to reach out by phone or email to voters who have misprinted days, months and years in order to fix the issue. No more than six ballots were rejected, he said.
The county has no official policy, and election offices in other counties have differing policies, he said.
"I will cure it if I can," he said.
Commissioner Jeff Reber said the Department of State has been talking about printing ballots with the year in an effort to curtail part of the issue.
"That won't cure all of it," said Katherman.
The commissioners also awarded a $93,573 contract to Mar-Allen Concrete Products Inc., of Ephrata, for epoxy overlay work for bridges on Supplee Mill Road in East Buffalo Township and Trails End Road in Hartley Township.
The bridge on Supplee Mill Road, which spans Turtle Creek, and the one on Trails End Road, which spans Penns Creek, will have epoxy overlay to preserve the existing concrete decks. The decks are starting to show minor longitudinal cracking. The epoxy treatment will seal those cracks and prevent water from penetrating the deck, according to county officials.
Since this is a maintenance project it will be 100 percent funded with county liquid fuels funds. No county general fund dollars will be needed, officials said.
In other business, the commissioners approved:
A resolution authorizing the Union County Higher Education Financing Authority to undertake finance of a project for Bucknell University. The university is in the midst of a $55 million investment into campus living called the West Campus Apartment Complex.
Letters of resignation for Kori Waltz, executive administrative assistant; and corrections officers Tyler Sampsell and Timothy Kratzer.
A pass through contract agreement with Transitions of PA for the 2025-27 STOP Formula Grant Application in the amount of $31,250 for prosecution of domestic violence charges and $19,250 for law enforcement.
Hiring Amy Smerlick as a field assessor and Brenna Brown as an adult probation officer.
