Adams County voters will decide whether to expand the Board of Commissioners from three members to five.

The commissioners agreed on the ballot language for the Nov. 6 general election during their regularly scheduled meeting on May 23. The language includes the question of how the commissioners should be elected if there are new members: by voters in specific districts or by voters in the entire county.

District 3 Commissioner Erik Hansen said he was a long-term supporter of taking a look at expanding the board.

“I think it’s important the citizens get a chance to weigh in on this and decide,” he said. “It’s been not without some controversy, and there will be some controversy. My guess is it will be a close vote.”

The county conducted a public survey last year and asked respondents if they wanted to see the commissioner question on the ballot. The majority answered yes. The ballot measure is part of the county’s reform efforts, and the commissioners approved two other resolutions at the meeting that extend those efforts.

One of the resolutions deals with establishing a training-orientation program for all newly elected officials and management-level employees that covers the county’s code, policies and

procedures.

“I think this is extremely important,” said Alice Nichol, District 2 commissioner. “We’re putting policies in place for the new commissioners who are going to come in, and this way they have something to follow as they are learning to be a commissioner and represent the people”

Hansen said it would be beneficial for newly elected officials to undergo training during the two months between the November election and their swearing-in in January.

“I think it’s important we have a program that allows people to make as easy a transition as possible,” he said.

The other resolution directs the county administrator and finance department to develop a countywide elected-official-vehicle policy and a policy regulating use of take-home vehicles.

“Of course as the resolution states, this will be a collaborative effort with the Adams County elected officials in developing these policies,” said Jim Robinson, county administrator.

Board Chair W.R. “Skip” Fischer, District 1, reiterated Robinson’s sentiment, saying that the resolution was merely a direction for staff to start the procedure.

“I assure you, there will be input from the elected officials before anything is adopted,” he said.