STURGIS, S.D. – The Meade County Commission on Tuesday approved a public election to decide the formation of an ambulance that would serve the rural areas outside Sturgis currently served by the city owned ambulance service.
Meade County Auditor Lisa Schieffer says the election will be held March 23 with absentee voting beginning on February 6.
Eligible voters are those within the boundaries of the proposed district, excluding the city of Sturgis and Buffalo Chip.
The vote comes on the heels of the city of Sturgis announcing it would end its city owned service to the rural areas unless they found a way to help pay for it, which city residents do in their property taxes.
If voters approve the district, another election would be held to choose a board of directors, which would set annual fees to fund ambulance service within the district.
Rural residents could either contract with existing services or establish one of their own.
