The Monroe County commissioners commented on the large voter turnout during their meeting on Wednesday and thanked the Elections office for all the hard work they do.

“We had over a 61% participation in yesterday’s elections. That is a remarkable number. At a presidential (election), we usually have about an 80% participation,” said Commissioner John Christy, chairman. “We are blessed here in Monroe County having Sara May-Silfee, Penny Robson and the rest of the staff downstairs that do a fantastic job.”

Silfies is the director of Elections/Voter Registration, and Robson is the deputy director of Elections/Voter Registration.

Christy said some of the elections office staff started before 6 a.m., and they — he included — were not finished until around 11:30 p.m.

“It’s a very long day but it is very gratifying to see people come out and participate in the election process,” he said.

Commissioner Sharon Laverdure said she wanted to give a shout out to the people that man the polling stations.

Christy added that there are 55 polling places and these workers also start around 6 a.m. and work past 8 p.m.

“They have to close the polls, and they have to bring the equipment back here, so it does take an yeoman’s job to get that all done,” he said.

Commissioner David Parker thanked everybody who came out and voted yesterday.

“Turnout was excellent, so much so that we did run out of stickers at some locations,” he said.

Parker said if anyone wants a sticker, there are special ones commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country’s independence that will be available in the commissioners’ office in the Monroe County Administrative Building, One Quaker Plaza, Room 201, Stroudsburg.

Also during the meeting, the commissioners approved the following items:

• Request from Go Collaborative to use Courthouse Square on Nov. 27 for the annual tree lighting ceremony from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.;

• From opioid grants — Payment of $1,000 to Your Life Speaks for Oct. 15 presentation at Monroe County Correctional Facility; Memorandum of Understanding with NorthBound & Co. to implement the Recovery Accountability Program in collaboration with Monroe County Adult Probation/Parole, $48,686, and to sustain and further develop The Underscore Program, $100,000;

• Hotel Tax funds — City Spark Inc. for advertising for the 1776 production, $279.99; Gotta Go Potties for two handicap accessible porta potties for the tree lighting ceremony, $300, and;

• County list of approved vendors — Area Agency on Aging: Elaine M. Hernandez.