GRF
New Ballot Drop Box is here
The Orange County Registrar of Voters installed a permanent ballot drop box Sept. 3 for the convenience of Leisure World voters. The drop box is located near the bus stop at the Amphitheater, next to the U.S. Mailbox. It is accessible to drivers, pedestrians and those in mobility vehicles.
Ballots will be mailed starting Oct. 5, the same day that the ballot box will be unlocked to receive votes, according to Espie Martinez, the vote center support lead for the Registrar’s Office. The Ballot Drop Box is a secure and locked receptacle where voters can drop off their vote-by-mail ballots in the same manner they would at a U.S. mailbox. Ballots will only be picked up by election officials from the Registrar of Voters.
Ballot drop boxes are one of many newer ways voters will be able to cast their ballots since the Orange County Registrar of Voters, the agency that oversees elections, has shifted to Vote Center elections.
Starting this year, LW voters will no longer report to clubhouse polling stations to cast ballots on Election Day. Instead, every one of the county’s roughly 1.6 million registered voters will receive a vote-by-mail ballot.
Voters will be able to mail in their ballots (no postage necessary), drop them off at any Vote Center located within the County, or place them inside a secure ballot drop box. These options offer more flexibility, access and convenience when casting votes.
The GRF approved placement of the ballot drop box to enhance voting choices, since voting in clubhouses is no longer an option.
Representative from the Registar’s Office will pick up ballots as needed, sometimes daily as Election Day draws near. Ballots will be delivered directly to their facility, an expedited process that uses no outside entities that might delay or otherwise compromise receipt of ballots.
As an additional voting choice for those who prefer to vote in person, GRF will be hosting a one-day Voting Popup Center on Oct. 30 at the circle between Clubhouses 3 and 4. Ballots are scheduled to be mailed on Oct. 5. People can also vote in person at Orange County Fire Station No. 48 on Northgate Road, and there is another permanent ballot drop box located at Mary Wilson Library, 707 Electric Ave, Seal Beach. For additional information, contact the Recreation Department at kathyt@lwsb.com.
GRF projects are underway around the community despite slowdowns attributed to the COVID-19 repercussions. This column will update residents on the progress of various construction projects. The information is provided by GRF Facilities Director Mark Weaver and Physical Property Manager David Rudge.
LW POOL
Progress on the pool project continues despite challenges posed by COVID-19 continue, which are hampering the coordination of plans from the architect and pool engineer.
Among the construction update highlights:
• The pool depth has been adjusted from five feet deep to four feet deep, an NCAA Rule 1 Short-Course Swimming race course standard, which reduces the volume of the pool by 16,832 gallons, water that will not that need to be heated, treated and circulated.
• The pool depth adjustment carries into the volleyball area that will be four feet at the west end to 3.5 feet at the east entry area.
• The architectural plans have been adjusted to open up the corner of the Pool Attendant space for a better view of the pool area.
• Door handing has been adjusted to open for easier access.
According to the pool engineer: • The spa depth will change from three feet, six inches, to three feet, three inches, to reduce volume and the filtration system, saving space in the equipment room.
• The bleach and acid rooms will be moved to avoid conflict with the existing electrical panel.
The finished facility will include a five-lane pool, a 30-by-30-foot activity area with a volleyball net, a 9-by-25-foot spa, new locker rooms and a lounge area in a reconfigured space to maximize its potential.
PAVING PROJECT
The 2020 Trust Street Paving project will run through September. The schedule began Aug. 18. Grind and overlay projects on Oakmont Road will start after Labor Day; Northwood Road from Del Monte to St. Andrews is underway.
Project Updates
From Physical Property Department
