— Daily Freeman-Journal photo by Tyler Anderson.

In the age of information and technology, there’s a need to keep things current. With the issue of voter fraud being projected, the need to balance out technology and protection from tempering is of utmost importance.

To help with achieving that balance, the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors gave the proverbial thumbs up for new voting machines in their latest regular meeting, held this past Tuesday at the Hamilton County Courthouse, 2300 Superior St., Webster City.

The machines, bought through a renewed contract with Henry M. Adkins and Son, will be brought in time for the upcoming elections in November. The cost of the upgraded machines come up to be $45,762, along with a laptop and printer.

“This is the same system that we have now, but it’s an upgrade,” said Kim Schaa, Hamilton County auditor. “Our current machines are 12 years old, and the motherboards are at the end of their life. They will no longer be able to do software updates.”

“We’ve been very happy with Adkins,” Schaa added.

Jerry Kloberdanz, chairman of the board, emphasized that the machines are not connected to the internet.

“There’s no way for them to have a modem, and they do not have Bluetooth capabilities,” Kloberdanz said. “It’s a good system, and they do a very good job.”

The service agreement is included, and it’s paid annually, which continues the pact already in place.

In the 26 minutes that the supervisors were in open session, they rubber stamped an agreement that handles information technology for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, while Catie Peterson will join the YSS Advisory Board. Peterson, who will take over for the Executive Director position of Social Services following the retirement of Patti Treibel Leeds, will join a board that consults YSS and provides social services organization with feedback and input from the community.

“It’s a good organization that serves people who didn’t have the opportunity to have a loving mother and tough love dad,” said supervisor Rick Young.

The board also passed a budget amendment, following a public hearing on the matter, which allows for the county’s budget to remain balanced.

In their original agenda, the supervisors were planning to discuss Wilson Brewer Park, the site dedicated to the history of Webster City and Hamilton County at 220 Ohio St., Webster City. However, a revised agenda took off the discussion on the park.