STURGIS, S.D. – The Sturgis City Council took no action in a special meeting Monday night regarding a petition turned in to set an election regarding changing municipal government.
A group calling themselves Sturgis Citizens for Change circulated petitions to change the city form of government from the current aldermanic with a city manager form of government, to an aldermanic form of government without a city manager.
But, Sturgis City Attorney Mark Marshall says there are not only several irregularities with the petition, the question it posed is improper. He says South Dakota law authorizes to petition for a “change in form of municipal government.” However, he says according to South Dakota Codified Law, the employment of a city manager is not a “form of government” but is instead a special power granted to a municipality.
“It’s my opinion, that the question posed, in the petition is invalid, and there have been no valid signatures submitted for verification because of the invalidity of the question,” Marshall said Monday night.
However, an attorney representing the Citizens for Change group argued several merits, including the fact the petition hasn’t been declared valid or invalid yet and it’s been made public.
Marshall’s recommendation to the council was to add a third party to determine the validity of the petitions. The council took his advice and went into executive session to discuss the matter.
Before heading to executive session, Council President Beka Zerbst urged patience from both parties – sensing the tension that was in the room.
“A key word here is patience and that is what we all need to have,” Zerbst stated. “I would also like to add two words, and that’s due-diligence. As a council member, my responsibility is to move forward with what I believe is in the best interest of our community.”
The council took no action after their executive session and did not address any of the alleged irregularities reported. That includes 89 persons who signed the petition and were not registered to vote in Meade County.
