2016 North Dakota Century Code Title 58 Townships Chapter 58-05.1 Multitownship Officers
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CHAPTER 58-05.1
MULTITOWNSHIP OFFICERS
58-05.1-01. Definitions.
In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Adjoining townships" means two or more townships that have a common boundary or
touch at the corners and are in the same county.
2. "Multitownship board of officers" means a board of officers established for two or more
townships consisting of a multitownship board of supervisors, a multitownship clerk,
and a multitownship treasurer.
58-05.1-02. Consolidation of township officers - Petition - Membership.
The board of township supervisors of a township shall propose a plan for the consolidation
of the board of township officers with the officers of adjoining townships when three qualified
electors or five percent of the qualified electors of the township, as determined by the number of
qualified electors voting at the last annual township meeting, whichever is greater, petition the
board. The township clerk, within fourteen days of receiving a petition, shall notify the board of
township supervisors of each adjoining township of the proposal for consolidation and submit a
copy of the proposal to the county auditor. The boards of township supervisors of each adjoining
township shall respond to the proposal within thirty days.
If the response of a board of township supervisors of an adjoining township indicates that
the consolidation should be pursued, the clerk of the township proposing the consolidation shall
call a meeting, or meetings if necessary, at a time and place agreed upon by the boards of each
township. The chairman of the board of township supervisors of the township proposing the
consolidation shall preside at the meeting. If requested by the board of township supervisors of
the township proposing the consolidation, the board of township supervisors of each township
shall submit a report of the assets, liabilities, and overall financial condition of each township for
review by the other boards of township supervisors.
If one or more boards of the townships responding to the proposal agreed to further pursue
the proposed consolidation, the question of consolidation must be presented to the electors of
each of the townships. However, no more than five adjoining townships may consolidate. Notice
of the presentation of the question to the electors must be submitted to the county auditor by the
board of township supervisors of the township proposing the consolidation. Upon receiving that
notice, the county auditor shall assign an identifying number to the proposed multitownship
board and notify the board of supervisors of each township of that number.
58-05.1-03. Submission of consolidation plan to electors.
The board of township supervisors of each township that is involved in the proposed
consolidation shall call a special township meeting to consider and vote on the proposed
consolidation. The ballot used at the election must be in substantially the following form:
Shall the townships of ___________________ (name of townships to be consolidated)
consolidate township boards under one multitownship board of officers to be identified
as multitownship board number _______?
Yes ☐
No ☐
If a majority of all votes cast on the question in the township proposing the consolidation and in
any adjoining townships are in favor of the consolidation, the consolidation is approved for those
township boards of officers.
58-05.1-04. Equalization of assets and liabilities of townships.
The boards of township officers of each township voting in favor of the consolidation shall
meet at a place designated by the board of township supervisors of the township that proposed
the consolidation within thirty days following the election to equalize the property, funds, and
debts of the townships. In addition, the boards shall perform any other actions necessary to
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carry out the consolidation of the township, including conveying, selling, or disposing of property
that is not necessary for the operation of the townships except the township halls.
58-05.1-05. Settlement of disagreement.
If the boards of township officers of the consolidating townships are unable to equalize the
property, funds, and debts of the townships, the chairman of the board of township supervisors
of the township that proposed the consolidation shall immediately notify the board of county
commissioners of the disagreement. The chairman of the board of county commissioners shall
call a meeting of the boards of township officers of the consolidating townships, the county
commissioners, the state's attorney, and the county auditor to attempt to settle the disagreement
to the satisfaction of all the township boards. If the disagreement is not settled to the satisfaction
of all boards involved in the consolidation, the boards of the townships agreeing to the
equalization may proceed with the consolidation. The township board of officers of each
consolidating township shall meet at least once to review the final equalization of the assets and
liabilities of the township.
58-05.1-06. Transition board.
The board of township supervisors of each township involved in the consolidation shall
select one supervisor to be a member of a transition township board. If there are fewer than
three townships involved in the consolidation, each board of township supervisors may select
two supervisors to be members of the transition board. The clerk of the township that proposed
the consolidation shall act as clerk for the transition board. The transition board shall assume all
the powers and duties of the township officers of each township approving the consolidation on
the first of January following the election. The transition board shall continue in existence until
the first annual meeting of the consolidated townships and shall prepare a proposed budget for
the multitownship board.
58-05.1-07. Multitownship board - Election.
On the third Tuesday of March following the consolidation election, a multitownship meeting
must be held and the qualified electors shall elect a multitownship board of supervisors. If the
number of consolidated townships is five or fewer, the multitownship board of supervisors must
consist of one supervisor elected from each township. If the number of consolidated townships
is two or four, an additional township supervisor must be elected at large so the multitownship
board consists of three or five members. The length of the terms of the supervisors first elected
must be staggered so that the terms of an equal amount of supervisors, or as nearly as
practicable, expire each year. In addition, the qualified electors shall elect a multitownship clerk
and a multitownship treasurer. The multitownship officers elected at the annual meeting shall
assume all the powers and duties of the township officers of the townships approving the
consolidation.
58-05.1-08. General township laws applicable.
When applicable, all laws relating to a board of township supervisors apply to a
multitownship board of supervisors.
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