Michael Hoyt has been seeking signatures of Bourbon County residents who would like to see the county move to a five-commissioner board instead of the current three commissioners.

He has 500 signatures as of today and believes he will get the required total of 621 in a month, however, the county election officer has a date of August 21 for getting the signatures in, so they can be validated before the November general election.

Hoyt will be asking the three commissioners to sign a resolution that he is presenting at this evening’s commission meeting that will help the petition move forward to be put on the November 5 election, which would not require the signatures.

He said there are 14,900 people in Bourbon County according to the 2020 census, and there are 12,500 people registered to vote.

He said this is a state-wide problem of the registered voters roll not being “cleaned up” when people die. He said there is no clear way to get deceased people off the roll.

If the resolution is put on the ballot this November, it would save the cost of a $10,000 special election later, Hoyt said.

The need for five commissioners is to bring better government to the county, he said.

“We seem to be stalled with three commissioners,” he said. “Two commissioners talking outside of an open meeting is an open meetings violation. It’s an unfair disadvantage with only three commissioners.”

“Out of 105 counties, 35 have gone to five commissioners, 30 are moving towards this,” he said.

The following is a press release Hoyt sent:

          A bi-partisan Bourbon County citizens group, aptly named The Three-to-Five Committee, has published and received preliminary sufficiency, on a petition to place a question on the November 2024 general election ballot; “Shall the current number of Bourbon County Commissioner Districts set forth in KSA 19-203(a)(b)(c)(d)&(e), be increased to five (5) Commissioner Districts?”

          As provided in the Kansas Statutes the Districts will be five districts “as compact and equal in population” as possible. The change will have no impact on the County budget. The additional Commissioners will allow better collaboration and focused representation on their respective districts. As the Commission is currently constructed, the group noted, “Even two Commissioners having conversations on any topic that may come before the Commission, is a violation of the Kansas Open Meeting Act (KOMA).”  Allowing an opportunity for collaboration and discussions with two Commissioners will improve the decision-making process and should provide improved transparency and accountability; since it is apparent the Chairman is reluctant to have material meetings that do not include all the Commissioners. That is why there is a quorum call; as long as two Commissions are present all business may go forward.

          Signatures have been collected by registered voters in Bourbon County over the last few weeks, and we have over 550 of the required 621 to place the question on the November ballot. This will prevent the need for a special election and the expense associated with such an election.  Further discussion on a Resolution by the County Commission to remove the risk of the special election fees will be discussed at Monday, August 19, 2024, meeting; only two Commissioner signatures are required, the resolution has been written for them, and a copy has been provided to the County Counselor over a week ago for review. Not to mention the time required by the clerk’s office to verify all signers of the petition. THE PETITION DECIDES NOTHING other than to place the question on a ballot. The people will have a voice to vote FOR or AGAINST the ballot question in the November election.

To view the resolution that Hoyt is asking the commissioners to sign:

RESOLUTION 24 for Petition question on a ballot 8-19-2024