(STURGIS) – The Sturgis City Commission’s Organizational Meeting has been adjourned until Wednesday.

Normally, the Organizational Meeting is scheduled for the first Monday following Election Day. However, Sturgis City Clerk Ken Rhodes says there was not a quorum and the meeting will be rescheduled.

This is because of change in election law, due to a Statewide proposal that passed in November 2022, which allows overseas ballots to be received and counted provided they arrive within 6 days after election day. The deadline normally would be the Monday after the election, in this case November 11. But since that was Veterans Day, the deadline is extended to November 12.

Rhodes says because of the extended deadline, the County Board of Canvassers cannot certify the election results until after all votes are counted. Their delay means that newly elected and reelected City Commissioners cannot be sworn in until Wednesday.

Rhodes says the Organizational Meeting is now rescheduled for November 13 at 6 PM. At the Organizational Meeting, Rhodes says he will present the election results, swear in the Commissioners, then there will be a vote for Mayor and Vice Mayor among the Commissioners.

Once they have been selected, the Commission will then adjourn and call the regular meeting to order.