Notwithstanding the provisions of § 7-7-1.1, the board of county commissioners shall upon receiving a petition signed by not less than fifteen percent of the registered voters, based upon the total number of registered voters at the last preceding general election, submit to the voters of the county the question of whether to combine with one or more other counties a county office. That person shall be elected to and perform the duties of the combined offices. The board of county commissioners shall follow the procedure set forth in chapter 7-18A in submitting such question to the electors.
SDCL 7-7-1.6