Local nonprofit urges county to place senior service district question on 2026 ballot; commissioners weigh petition vs. resolution

Representatives of a local nonprofit asked Sheridan County commissioners on Nov. 10 to put a question before voters in August 2026 to create a senior citizen service district under statute 18-15-102. The presenter said the county has more seniors with diverse needs and that a special district could stabilize funding for services that rely on volunteers, state and federal grants, the county and city, and a local foundation.

The presenter explained two routes under the statute: the board can place the measure on the ballot by resolution or citizens can initiate the process via a petition that defines district boundaries. The presenters preferred a petition approach to let residents define service boundaries and to ensure citizen buy‑in; one commissioner agreed, saying a petition requiring signatures from 15% of voters would demonstrate public support.

Other commissioners said a countywide district via resolution would be the quickest route and acknowledged both approaches have tradeoffs. Commissioners asked procedural questions about timing and the clerk's role in verifying signatures. Clerk Thompson said petition verification and recent election‑law changes make earlier notification helpful so staff can work with petitioners.

No formal decision was made; commissioners said the matter will be discussed again when it appears on a formal agenda and asked staff to coordinate timing and petition verification.