Residents of the four South Dakota townships looking at leaving Yankton County have two options under state codified law. Sioux Falls attorney Brian Donahoe detailed those at a meeting Saturday night in Irene. He says the contiguous townships in the northern part of the county could either merge with Turner County or start their own county.
Donahoe explained that to bring either action to a vote in the November election would require signatures from 15-percent of the townships, plus the county or counties. Then a majority is needed to pass the law change.
He says the same rules apply if the townships decide to form their own county.
If the townships merge with Turner County they would be subject to their livestock zoning ordinance, but if they create a new county they could write their own.
Donahoe says a new county would also have to form its own government and pick a county seat.
