Every summer, the town of Sturgis grows in population by the hundreds of thousands of bikers who roll in for the rally. Now city officials are hoping to grow in size by 1800 acres. A public hearing Tuesday night could determine whether the city will annex land along Highway 34 east of town.

Nestled in a valley of rough terrain, the city of Sturgis can't grow up anymore. That's why officials there are hoping to grow out.

"When you look at the topography we're surrounded by Black Hills on all sides, and the east side is where the flat, buildable prairie ground is. It's a logical area to annex," City Manager Dave Boone said.

The land the city wants to annex extends from its current city limit and encompasses Ft. Meade, the Full Throttle Saloon and campground, half of Glencoe's campground, the Thunderdome, the Kickstart gas station and agricultural land.

It's an area already receiving police and fire services from the Sturgis, as well as sewer and back-up water.

"That's why it's so attractive because the incremental cost to extend the city boundaries is not going to be that great because we're already providing services for the most part," Boone said.

Some question whether some parts of the land can be annexed without the approval of the county commission.

"I think they're trying to circumvent the regulation," Meade County Commissioner Bob Mallow said. 

Mallow says a lawsuit, which is expected to be decided by next month, should answer whether Fort Meade is 'platted' or 'unplatted'.

"If the property is platted, then they don't have to have the commissioners approval to annex it," Mallow said.

If it's ruled as unplatted, however, the county will have a say in annexation. Until then, he says, Sturgis should wait.