Fiscal Court Recap: First Reading of Voter District Reapportionment Approved

Map of reapportionment for voting districts, presented at the July 10, 2023 fiscal court.

Darren Doyle, story:
The Edmonson County Fiscal Court voted to approve the original recommendation of voter reapportionment at today's meeting that was first presented to the court on July 10, 2023. Reapportionment is required by state law, after the U.S. Census, every ten years. The purpose is to ensure the districts are spread as equally as possible, according to population.

A vote for the recommendation was called for at the July 25th fiscal court meeting but Magistrates voted to table the motion instead, in order to seek out other options.

Reapportionment changes to each district.

At today's meeting, magistrates agreed that the other options discussed since that time simply didn't work as well as the original recommendation. District 2 Magistrate T.J. Massey, who described some of the changes as "big changes," said he felt like the best option was to revert back to the first one.

Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey reminded the court that the changes are based on population, only and that each district can only have a 10% or less deviation from the largest district in the county to smallest.

District 4 Magistrate Mickey Johnson also spoke.

"I'd like to say something, since my district will change the most," he said "I love my district and always have. Losing part of Bee Spring is going to be difficult, and it's going to be a challenge to get some of them out and vote. I'm looking for some new precinct locations as a result of this, but I'll accept the ordinance and do what we need to do."

County Clerk Kevin Alexander said that when meeting with BRADD, who assisted in the constructing the possible scenarios, trying to juggle the numbers countywide is very difficult.

"We have grown in population quickly, but hopefully after these changes, we won’t have to have such a big change in another 9 years. Polling is something separate and can be discussed by the local election board, and will be a priority," he said.

He also noted that the magistrates had every right to seek other options and to do their due diligence.

"It’s not easy, change is not easy, but I appreciate the willingness for magistrates to work on this."

The first reading was approved unanimously in a vote by magistrates.

In an interview with Clerk Alexander on July 12th, he first explained how the changes would affect some districts with the presented option resulting in the most significant changes being in Districts 2, 4, and 5. 
 
“With the numbers we were using, it was decided that putting the entire city of Brownsville into one magisterial district was possible," he said, even though they realize the city expands on both sides of the Green River.

With new houses going up every day in the southern area of the county, including several new developments and apartment complexes, the committee also had to anticipate the change in population as best they can when presenting their recommended option. Alexander said this recommendation will allow for the anticipated growth in that area, which may keep future reapportionment from being as significant.
 
“No one likes to have to offer changes like this.  We’ve had some growth already in Chalybeate, and much more in coming.  It is just the numbers we were dealt with," he said back in July.

In other fiscal court news, Transportation Director for Edmonson County Schools Lannie Deweese spoke to the court about some dangerous road conditions that school buses are facing in the county.

He said tree branches and fallen limbs are scraping up against buses on some roads. He said in order to avoid them, drivers would have to veer over too far into the other lane, which is not safe. He presented a list of roads to the court and asked the county to clean them up.

Road Supervisor Joe Montgomery said the mow/trim crew has that responsibility and they are behind, as there is only one crew for the entire county, but Deweese asked for these roads to be prioritized. Montgomery said he would do what he could.

Judge Lindsey also announced that A.B. Webb has officially stepped down as the County Parks Director. He asked for a committee to look at seeing if it was feasible to combine the Park Director position and the Park Program Director position, which was also recently vacated by John Kiernan. Kiernan was asked to be on the committee as Lindsey also asked for magistrate members, where T.J. Massey and Mickey Johnson both volunteered.

The court also voted to:

• Approve Edmonson County Public Library 2023 Tax Rates
• Approve Jailer Bond #4636442
• Approve August Cash Transfers
• Acknowledge City of Brownsville 2023 Tax Rates
• Approve Sheriff Vehicle Purchase

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2023 at 9AM.