County to undergo redistricting to remain compliant
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This current district map of Coosa County shows the population deviations, reflecting that District 1 needs to lose at least nine people in order to fall within the 5% population deviation.
By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
Coosa County will undergo the redistricting process at some point in the near future in order to stay in compliance with population requirements.
Following the 2020 Census, the County Commission previously discussed and approved looking into whether the county would need to have district lines redrawn based on population changes as reported by the census data.
During Tuesday morning’s meeting, Commissioner Unzell Kelley reviewed the past information regarding redistricting. Each district must comply with a plus or minus 5% deviation in population, using population data from the census.
Kelley reported that District 1 was found to be the only district that fell outside of that required deviation limit. That district would have to lose at least nine people in order to fall back within the 5% deviation.
Kelley further explained that Louis Hines, a demographer with Alabama State University, offered three solutions involving districts 1 and 2 to make the needed adjustment in population deviation. Those three proposed solutions were presented to the commission, along with the overall county district map reflecting the various deviation percentages.
Hines’ three options would get District 1 below the required 5%. One option would be to move portions of Clay Street and Hackneyville into District 2, which would move about 52 people into District 2 from District 1.
Another option he proposed is moving an area between Winn Street and Clay Street up to Old Ashland Road to District 2, which would move 11 people into that district.
The third proposed option presented to the commission was to move two census blocks between transmission lines on the east side of Alabama Highway 9. That would move 18 people from District 1 into District 2.
Commissioner Kelley said that was the preliminary redistricting plan for the county, adding that all the other districts are fine since they fall within the 5% deviation.
Based on the information presented by Hines, District 1 has a 5.39% population deviation, District 2 has a negative 3.03% deviation, District 3 has a negative 2.17%, District 4 has a negative 4.96%, and District 5 has a 4.86% population deviation.
Based on the 2020 Census data, the county’s total population is 10,387. That means that ideally each of the county’s five districts should have a population of approximately 2,077 to keep the districts relatively equal.
The preliminary data before redistricting reflects that District 1 has a population of 2,189; District 2 has a population of 2,014; District 3 has a population of 2,032; District 4 has a population of 1,974; and District 5 has a population of 2,178.
Those population numbers are what was used to help determine each district’s deviation percentage from the ideal population of 2,077.
During discussion, county attorney John K. Johnson said that the whole commission must decide how to handle the redistricting process so that each district will remain within the 5% deviation requirement. He further stated that the commissioners have to look at it overall to bring the districts into compliance.
After some discussion, the commission tabled the matter to further review options and look into the redistricting process further.
In other business, Commissioner Bertha K. McElrath presented the commission with a request from Goodwater Fire Chief Elmore Unbehant for an appropriation of $23,000 to Goodwater EMS for medical equipment in an ambulance.
McElrath said that she felt the commission should appropriate those funds as requested and let Unbehant use the funds however he would like. In discussion she explained that this was to be a one-time appropriation for equipment for Goodwater’s ambulances and that it was not related to the previous grant for the county-wide ambulance.
In further discussion, Commissioner Kelley said that grant is “over and done with,” adding that this was a new request for a single appropriation for the commission to consider.
Commission Chair Randall Dunham said that Goodwater “does a lot” for the county and that he was not saying he was against the appropriation. However, he said that he would like to table the matter so that he could talk to Unbehant himself.
Commissioner Lamar Daugherty asked Kelley if he had talked to Unbehant directly about the requests and if the estimated costs were in line with what he needed. Kelley said that yes, he had talked with Unbehant and clarified the request.
Kelley further stated that Goodwater responds when no one else does, adding that they “do a lot for the county” and that he thinks this would be fair.
After further discussion, Daugherty stated that he was going to vote for it in light of its importance.
The commission approved the requested appropriation of $23,000 to Goodwater EMS by a majority vote. Commissioners McElrath, Kelley and Daugherty voted in favor of it; Commissioner Ronnie Joiner opposed, and Chair Dunham abstained.
Also during the meeting, the commission heard from Chad Odom, executive director of Lake Martin Area Economic Development Alliance, who presented commissioners with amendment documents regarding Alabama Graphite.
He explained that he had good news for the county, adding that Alabama Graphite will be spending $80 million more than originally planned.
“They’re showing more commitment, not less, which is a good thing,” Odom said.
He added that the company is making more of an investment in the community. He further stated that they are including more buildings in their scope of work, adding two existing buildings at the industrial park in Kellyton.
Following his presentation, the commission unanimously approved for Chair Dunham to sign all Alabama Graphite amendment documents.
In other business, the County Commission unanimously approved:
- Joining the IAC, or Investing in Alabama Counties, program and adopting the Maintenance and Support Membership Agreement for American Recovery Plan Act funds, with the county paying $62,000 from its ARPA funds toward that program to ensure the county is compliant with spending its funds.
- Hiring two part-time litter abatement officers at 20 hours per week, utilizing money already in the budget for that purpose.
- Appropriating approximately $1,500 for the professional installation of eight car camera systems for the Sheriff’s Office.
- Having the remainder of the body camera and in-car camera systems money, approximately $22,000, be appropriated for mobile data terminals that will sync to the camera systems.
- Having the Board of Education obtain estimates for replacing the carpet flooring of its facility and partitioning the entry into the Board of Education office.
Also on the agenda was the 6 mill ad valorem tax resolution Commissioner Kelley mentioned at the last meeting. However, he said that he did not want that to be a “political football” with an election year coming up and had the item withdrawn from Tuesday’s agenda.
The commission also heard presentations from Wade Brown and Demetrius Griffin with road concerns and issues regarding County roads 29, 37, 14, and 111.
Saleta Heath was also on the agenda under public comment regarding road conditions and missing signs on Tate Road. However, Chair Dunham said that he already took care of those issues on his personal time and in his personal vehicle, so she was not present to discuss the matter as it had already been addressed.
The commission also heard from Kevin Adair regarding the new “upscale business” he plans to open on U.S. Highway 280 called The Lounge. He said it is where the former Ropes business was located.
Adair reviewed some of his plans for the business, including security measures he intends to have in place. He said that he has his business license and is looking to get his liquor license.
The matter was under public comment and not on the agenda for official business, so no action was taken.
During staff reports, EMA Director Sheldon Hutcherson mentioned the county reapplying for the ambulance grant for the previously discussed county-wide ambulance service. He explained that he is working on the paperwork to that end and that he hopes to have the plan ready to present at the next commission meeting for review.
Hutcherson also reminded everyone that this is the second severe weather season, which he said is November and December in Alabama.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Coosa County Commission will be held at 6:30 p.m. December 28.
