Commissioner Gary Hanks and Probate Judge MacDonald Russell introduced the issue of the McClain voting house at the workshop session of the Butler County Commission Thursday night.

Hanks said a 12-foot wide, 14-foot long cinderblock building currently being used has no restrooms and is in poor condition.

Russell said that more than 700 people are scheduled to use this building that is in poor' condition. "We have even had a woman fall inside it," said Russell. "We've been looking at this for several years and recommend that we move the house."

Hanks reported that he had been in contact with members

of a local church about using their fellowship hall.

Russell said, "There are several churches in the area and we don't want to cause problems with them. This is just an option under consideration. A fellowship hall would be so nice and handy, but we just don't want anything to dissuade someone from voting because it is a church."

Other alternatives to the current building included erecting a portable building. "It might cost the county as much as $7,000 for the building plus utilities," said Russell. The building would be too small to serve as a community center, however, and may lay vacant for much of the year. "We're going to do our best to follow through with this," concluded Russell.

Also introduced to before commission Thursday was a petition from residents in the Gravel Hill area. Residents presented the petition, signed by 86 area residents, requesting the county widen County Road 37 at Gravel Hill.

According to Hanks, this road is frequented by logging trucks and is dangerous, especially at a particularly sharp curve in the road. Hanks believes that widening the road to 24-feet would help ease the problem.

Drew Bass of Benefit Planners, Inc., presented a replacement income insurance plan to the commission. The plan, according to Bass, would allow employees of the county to purchase insurance up to 60 percent of their current income. This would allow a disabled, injured or sick individual some income while unable to work. Prior health problems would be covered after one year of enrollment in the plan, and long-term reimbursement could continue until the person reached age 65.

Bass also noted that the insurance could be transferred to another job should the employee leave the county. The plan is under a group policy, however, and cannot be sold to individuals. Payment for the plan must come in the form of payroll deduction administered by the county. "L.V. Stabler hospital, the City of Greenville and the Butler County Board of

Education are already on this plan," said Bass. "People will only be guaranteed enrollment during the open enrollment period."

The commission also discussed a letter it received from the E-911 board requesting the county pick up the cost to replace damaged or stolen street signs. Minutes from a 1998 meeting of the commission show that the E-911 board agreed to be responsible for replacing such signs, and the county would provide installation labor. The matter was set to be addressed at the Monday meeting.

Also before the commission was a request by Commissioner William Phillips on behalf of four families to have the county take over maintenance of a private road named Deep Wood Road. County Engineer Dennis McCall said that a resolution adopted in Butler County may prevent the county from taking over additional roads. The matter was set to be addressed after further research has been conducted.