A stack of signed petitions were delivered to the Coos County Clerk’s office this afternoon and if less than 1,600, just 1,521, of the signatures are valid the proposed home rule charter will be on the November ballot along with a competing ordinance. The charter calls for five full time paid commissioners instead of the current three and will only allow hiring an administrator if the voters approve. The ordinance proposed by the board of commissioners would ask for five volunteer commissioners and a paid, unelected administrator to run the county.

Because voters can vote “yes” or “no” for each measure it is possible that both may pass in November. If voters adopt a charter, however, the county then changes from a “general law” county to a “home rule” county and it is likely the charter will trump the ordinance.

ARRRG states that 27 volunteer petitioners worked from June 4 through August 4 excluding eleven rain days. Four paid signature gatherers collected signatures during the week of the county fair. ARRRG submitted 2,701 and the clerk’s office has 15 days to verify a total of 1,521 before the initiative is confirmed for the fall ballot. An additional 500 signatures or $1,200 is required by August 28 in order to place a statement in the voters’ pamphlet.