Annexation of County Islands Addressed at Council Study Session

Annexation of county islands within the City of Sheridan was a topic of discussion at Monday night’s City Council study session. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

At a council study session on January 10, Sheridan County Clerk Eda Schunk Thompson informed the council and Mayor Rich Bridger about what she referred to as “county islands”, or areas of unincorporated property that is surrounded by city property, and the county islands could lead to split ballots in the upcoming election.  According to City Attorney Brendon Kerns, on February 8, Sheridan County sent a formal request to the City to address the county islands. Kerns, at a council study session Monday night, said none of the properties at issue are completely surrounded by city property, meaning there has been no violation of state statute. Kerns said the issue is that the 2020 Census has created election islands which result in split ballots.

Kerns laid out the process for addressing the county islands through annexation.

Kerns said if the council elects to move forward with the annexation process, there would be an annexation report hearing on April 18.

Kerns said the Sheridan County Clerk’s Office needs to have the final reading of the annexation ordinance to occur no later than April 29 in order to be able to meet primary election filing deadlines. First reading of the ordinance would have to take place April 18, with the second and third reading of the ordinance occurring April 25 and 29.