Census forces county districting change
Logan County Board decides to stay at six districts and modify border lines

 

[November 03, 2021] 

Due to a change in population, and one of Logan County’s six districts out of proportion in numbers to the others, by law the county had to consider options to fix the problem. Two changes with variations in each were considered. One option was to redraw the district lines and the other was to change the number of districts from six to four.

At the Logan County Board’s October voting session, board members present moved on the Reapportionment Plan.

Planning and Zoning Committee Chairman David Hepler brought forward the Reapportionment Plan motions.

Option 1 of the Reapportionment Plan

In option 1, Lincoln would be split into east and west districts. The other two districts would be in the northern and southern parts of the county that include some of the more rural areas.

There was discussion from board members about reducing the districts from six to four as option 1 would do.

Schaffenacker said reducing the number of districts to four did not prioritize syncing them up with townships and school districts. With four districts, Districts 1 and 2 would represent many school districts and Districts 3 and 4 just a few.

Some members asked about just moving boundaries.

Six districts allow for more diversity by geographical location. Therefore, Leesman said he was not in favor of moving to four districts.

If keeping six districts, Davenport said there would still be seven or eight Lincoln people on the board. Option 1 means just six would be from Lincoln.

Because more than six could still have a Lincoln address with option 1, Wessbecher does not see it as solving a problem.

The motion was amended to keep six districts.

There are a couple of adjustments to these districts because the 2020 Census data does not meet the standard for existing district boundaries. With just 3,913 residents in District 4, this population does not comply. The number falls below the 10 percent variation between districts, which would be 4,117 residents.

In last month’s Zoning Officer’s report, Will D’Andrea said the easiest adjustment is to move the boundaries of District 2 and District 4. Right now, the existing District 4 boundaries are College, Kickapoo and State Street. The proposal is to move the boundary west to follow Third Street, Lincoln Parkway and Broadwell Drive, which have been part of District 2.

Adjusting the boundaries this way would reduce the size of District 2 and increase the size of District 4. It would mean the numbers for each would fall in the required population range. Each district would still have two members even if the boundaries were moved.

The main motion as amended to keep six districts passed 8-4. Davenport, Hepler, Jenness and Nelson voted no.

Road and Bridge Committee update

The board reconsidered a prior request made by Logan County Highway Engineer Bret Aukamp to contract to Goodman Excavating to install two entrance culverts along Primm Road near Salt Creek.

To do the work in house would not only require renting equipment, but there are overhead power lines impeding the area.

The county decided it best to pay Goodman $14,681.50 to do the job.

Board members present and voting were Chairman Emily Davenport, Vice Chairman Scott Schaffenacker, David Blankenship, Janet Estill, Bob Farmer, David Hepler, Steve Jenness, Keenan Leesman, Dale Nelson, Bob Sanders, Annette Welch and Jim Wessbecher.

[Angela Reiners]