Signaturescome up short in bid for county switch

EPHRATA — A group of citizens seeking to have the current system of county government examined and studied for possible changes failed to collect the required number of petition signatures to have the measure placed on the November ballot.

Grant County Auditor Bill Varney said Monday night that unofficial numbers show the group remains more than 100 signatures short of the 1,965 needed to have a freeholder election this fall. That number is equal to 10 percent of voter turnout during the last general election.

The group, Voters for Council-Manager Form of Grant County Government, dropped off 2,272 petition signatures last week. Election officials began counting Thursday, finishing late Monday.

Group spokesman Ralph Kincaid did not return messages seeking comment in time to meet the Herald deadline.

Varney said official numbers are expected later this week. His office needs additional time to review signatures found to be invalid. He doesn't expect the outcome to change, he said.