After losing a coin toss Monday morning to determine who would win the third commission seat from last weeks city elections, Salina City Commissioner Randall Hardy has requested a recount.

Hardy presented a letter to Saline County Clerk and Elections Officer Don Merriman Monday afternoon requesting a recount after losing the coin toss to Joe Hay Jr at the canvass of votes by Saline County Commissioners. After counting provisional ballots, both men wound up with 2,141 votes.

Merriman said that the recount would begin about 9 a.m. in the County Clerks office. A resolution board of three registered voters will count paper ballots, electronic ballots, and provisional ballots. Merriman expects the counting to take 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

The resolution board is at the County Clerks Office when ballots are counted during every election.  If the recount does not result in any changes, then Randall Hardy would be responsible for the cost of the recount. He left a check in the amount of $100 at the County Clerks Office Monday.

Merriam does not expect the cost of the recount to exceed $100.

Merriman is also checking with Saline County Counselor Mike Montoya to see if the results do not change, if there would be another coin toss, or if what occurred during the canvass Monday would stand.