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CITY, N.D. – (NewsDakota.com) A petition has been submitted to the city for approval to allow a sponsoring committee to gather signatures to ask Valley City voters to approve setting up an ordinance to revert the responsibilities of the Police Department to the Barnes County Sheriff. One of the sponsoring committee members is Bob Drake.

The City Auditor Avis Richter will submit a response to sponsoring committee members Tony Drake, Lloyd Nelson and Bob Drake. If approved the members would then gather the necessary signatures to place the measure on a citywide ballot.

Valley City Administrator David Schlelkoph said the city stopped its search for a new police chief due to the unknown outcome of the proposed petition.

Schelkoph says Police Chief Fred Thompson agreed to remain in on the job until further notice. Last year Thompson said he would resign to spend more time with his family in Nevada.