A member of the public with a visual impairment tests a voting machine at the Smith County Elections Office in Tyler on May 9, 2018. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File)

Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved agreements for voting machines, grant applications, and road and bridge services .

“I needed to create more polling places,” Election Administrator Michelle Allcon said. “Because of that, I started looking into having more ballot marking devices, which we’re purchasing.”

Smith County approved purchasing voting equipment from Bosque County. The State of Texas certified the machines, and Allcon will test the equipment before the final purchase. The voting machines will not be ready for the March primary election and will be purchased early this summer.

“They are the same as what we have, same software, same year. Everything is the same as what we have,” Allcon said.

The commissioners approved an Office of the Governor, Public Safety Office Criminal Justice Division grant application for bullet-resistant shields.

“This is an item we do annually,” said Thomas Wilson, Smith County assistant district attorney. “It’s the beginning process for applying for these grants.”

The court approved multiple road and bridge projects, construction materials and road improvements, including agreements with;

Terracon Consultants, Inc. for providing construction materials testing and inspection services for road improvement projects, including County Road 1215.

ETTL Engineers and Consultants, Inc. for providing construction materials testing and inspection services for road improvement projects, including CR 3344.

Midcoast G and P (East Texas) L.P. for installing a steel encasement pipe to an existing gas pipeline in CR 3344.

Ro’Dameon Willis and Natasha Rule for acquiring .049 an acre right-of-way parcel for the roadway improvements to CR 1113.

Texana Land and Asphalt, Inc, for road improvements to CR 452, CR 445, CR 448, and CR 484.