By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — County Counselor Joe O' Sullivan clarified Tuesday that the division of the county commission districts into five pieces has to be done by the Board of County Commissioners as part of putting the question of expanding from three to five members on to the ballot.
"The resolution that you pass is dividing the county into five districts," O'Sullivan said. "Then, that's what's submitted to the voters. If the process is initiated by petition from the public then, just the general question is put forward on the ballot."
With that idea in mind, the commissioners are going to have several potential maps sent to them electronically, in an effort to narrow down their choices to three or fewer maps that they can discuss next week at their meeting in an effort to reach a consensus.
"If you did have the ballot language to me by August 10th, we could put it on the ballot," said Deputy Elections Clerk Jenna Fager. "If you were to pass it August 10th, we could still do that. When we do the programming, we'll know that it's coming. We'll be able to allot for that."
Commissioners still want to hear from the public on the idea in general, and though they have had some isolated comments on the idea, there has been no groundswell either for or against it as yet.