Voters in Grant County go to the polls to vote in a special referendum election on Tuesday, July 27. All voting locations remain open... Grant County Voters Go to the Polls on Tuesday, July 27

Voters in Grant County go to the polls to vote in a special referendum election on Tuesday, July 27. All voting locations remain open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Absentee ballots are also still available at the Grant County Courthouse during regular business hours until Monday, July 26, at 5 p.m. 
The special election was called to decide whether the actions of the Grant County Commission, which repealed the county drainage ordinance and established a hydrologic alteration development plan (HAP), will be overturned or will remain in place. Currently, members of the commission serve as the county’s drainage board.

Each voter will receive two ballots. Each ballot will contain one question. The first question asks if you prefer to uphold or overturn the county commissioners’ action to repeal the county drainage ordinance. A “Yes” vote will uphold the commissioner’s action to repeal the drainage ordinance.
The second question asks if you prefer to uphold or overturn the establishment of the HAP plan as an addition to the flood plain ordinance.  A “Yes” vote will secure the establishment of the HAP plan.

The dispute arose after county officials took action to remove their governing board from granting permission to landowners and agricultural operators who seek permission to drain water from their property. 
Commissioners previously cited the legal liability the county exposes itself to when granting permission for drainage. They assert the establishment of an HAP permit eliminates the county’s legal exposure and places it on the landowners. 

Those opposed to the HAP say the ordinance that was in place had functioned for many years. They suggest it wasn’t a broken system that precipitated the change, but only the possibility of lawsuits and no lawsuits have occurred. 

The subject has come to a public vote because 291 residents signed a referendum petition relating to the HAP plan, and 293 signed a referendum petition relating to the repeal of the drainage ordinance. Both totals exceeded the 252 signatures required to bring the decision to a vote. 

The commission certified the petitions at a special meeting on June 3  and scheduled the mandatory election for July 27. They also voted to combine voting precincts to reduce the number of election workers needed. 

Absentee voting began on June 11.  Because the commission has combined precincts for this special election, voters are reminded to check the list to find their polling place.
Polling Places for Grant County’s Special Election on July 27:
Precincts that include all of the City of Milbank (Wards One, Two and Three)  — Community room of the Milbank Visitor Center at 1001 E. 4th Ave. 
Adams and Vernon townships and the towns of Albee and Revillo  —  Revillo Community Center at  310 N. 2nd Ave. 
Alban and Big Stone townships and the City of Big Stone — Big Stone City offices at 400 Washington Street in Big Stone City. 
Town of LaBolt and the townships of Georgia and Madison — LaBolt Mini Mall at 140 Main Street in LaBolt. 
Grant Center and Melrose townships  — offices of Whetstone Valley Electric at 1101 E. 4th Ave. in Milbank. 
Town of Marvin and Mazeppa, Osceola, Blooming Valley, Farmington and Lura townships — Marvin Hall at 204 S. Church St. 
Towns of Stockholm and Strandburg and the townships of Stockholm and Troy — Stockholm Community Center at 400 E. Johnson Ave. 
Town of Twin Brooks and Twin Brooks and Kilborn townships — Twin Brooks Community Center at 502 Lasell St. 
The polls remain open on July 27 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
Don’t know your polling place?  Uncertain about your status as a registered voter? Contact the Grant County Auditor, Karen Layher, at 605.432.6711.   

Staff

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