meetingdrawingJamestown (CSi) The South Central Dakota Regional Council has directed staff to send a letter to Stutsman County and the City of Jamestown to request a meeting to resolve the county’s action to withdraw from the nine-county regional body at its quarterly meeting Wednesday.

Stutsman County Auditor/Chief Operating Officer Casey Bradley sent the Regional Council a letter saying that the Stutsman County Commission voted not to pay dues and to not remain a Regional Council member.

Regional Council President Joseph Neis presented an email correspondence from Regional Council attorney Tim Ottmar, who opined the Regional Council’s bylaws control the Stutsman County situation. Stutsman County approved the bylaws and is obliged to be a dues-paying Regional Council member that cannot unilaterally withdraw.

Ottmar stated, “Stutsman County must be a member as the bylaws currently read.”

Ottmar continued that the Regional Council was formed as a political subdivision via a joint powers agreement. . It must take steps to either dissolve the Regional Council or to have the other eight members vote it out.