Voters Say “No” to Repealing Drainage Ordinance

Grant County voters overwhelmingly rejected the action county commissioners had taken to repeal the county drainage ordinance and establish a hydrologic alteration development plan (HAP). 

The special referendum election held on Tuesday, July 27, included two ballots. Each ballot contained one question. 

Regarding the commissioners’ action to repeal the drainage ordinance, 487 voters said “No” to the action and 77 said “Yes.” 
The second was in regard to action the county commissioners had taken to establish an HAP. Voters also said “No” to this with 464 casting ballots against it and 82 casting ballots for it. The majority of votes opposing the action means the process which had been in place for landowners and agricultural operators who seek permission to drain water from their property in Grant County will not change.  

According to Grant County Auditor Karen Layher around 4952 voters were eligible to participate in the special election. The unofficial count suggests voter turnout for the special election was around 13 percent.

Unofficial results include: Drainage Ordinance Milbank Precinct 11 — 5 YES  24 NO Milbank Precinct 21 — 8 YES  30 NO Milbank Precinct 31 — 9 YES 57 NO Revillo Precinct 41 — 5 YES  99 NO Big Stone Precincts 43/42 — 19 YES  85 NO LaBolt Precinct 45 —  5 YES 50 NO WVEC Precincts 46/47 — 13 YES 72 NO Marvin Precincts 49/44 — 2 YES  20 NO Stockholm Precincts 52/53 — 1 YES  16 NO Twin Brooks Precinct 54 — 10 YES 34 NO Total — 77 YES  487 NO

Flood Prevention Ordinance Milbank Precinct 11 — 6 YES 20 NO Milbank Precinct 21 — 9 YES 28 NO Milbank Precinct 31 — 10 YES 53 NO Revillo Precinct 41 — 4 YES 99 NO Big Stone Precincts 43/42 — 20 YES 78 NO LaBolt Precinct 45 — 6 YES 49 NO WVEC Precincts 46/47 —12 YES 70 NO Marvin Precincts 49/44 —  2 YES  19 NO Stockholm Precincts 52/53 —  3 YES 14 NO Twin Brooks Precinct 54 — 10 YES 34 No Total — 82 YES  464 NO