Issue can be put on ballot by commission or petition
A request was made Monday by residents, asking Marion City Commission to change its form of government from a three-member commission (two commissioners and a mayor), to mayor-council (a mayor and four council members).
According to Kansas State Statute, the question can be placed on a ballot by the following means:
— The governing body can adopt a resolution to provide the submission of the question on the ballot; or
— A petition can be submitted with the question, signed by not less than 10 percent of the qualified electors of the city.
Specific deadlines and criteria, obtained from the county election clerk, must be followed for the question to be placed on the April ballot.
If the question should pass, the city council could divide the city into wards of equal population.
For example, Hillsboro has two wards with two councilmen representing each ward. The mayor is "at large."
The commission said they would take the request under advisement and confer with city attorney Dan Baldwin.
