STANTON (AP) -- Mercer County will ask the federal government to switch from Mountain time to Central time and Stark County may have an option to vote on the same change.
The Mercer County Commission voted to make the request to the federal Transportation Department, which has the final say on time zone changes. State's Attorney Jim Johnson says public hearings will be held before a decision is made.
Several counties in southwestern North Dakota remain on Mountain time, including Stark.
Shirley Dukart, a proponent of moving Stark County to Central time, said she's pleased to hear the news that Mercer is taking the steps to move to Central.
"If Mercer's going ahead, good for them," Dukart said. "If Stark County goes, the other counties around us are going to experience the same thing we're experiencing right now with Bismarck and Watford City and Hebron."
ADVERTISEMENT
Dukart said she's sent letters to the auditors of the other counties in the region, asking for their participation as well, adding she was asked by residents to work on the issue.
The change would benefit many aspects, she added.
"Not just for sports and medical appointments -- and then education and also business -- we are always dealing pretty much the east more than the west," Dukart said.
Dukart said petitions will be circulated in January and she said she hopes it will get on June's ballot.
Mercer County voted in favor of moving to Central time in 2000, but the Transportation Department said the small majority that favored a change in the advisory vote did not support such a move.
-- Dickinson Press reporter Beth
Wischmeyer contributed to this story.
