Oktibbeha County will delay redistricting yet again.
After hearing three possible designs for redrawing district lines, the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors decided it wanted to hear another plan, in addition to the three already presented, before making decisions.
According to the 2020 census, Oktibbeha County’s population stands at 51,728, increasing by roughly 4,000 residents since the 2010 census. While the county population has risen, it has not increased evenly across all five districts, meaning the county will have to redraw its district lines in the coming months.
Golden Triangle Planning and Development District Geographic Information Systems Director Toby Sanford presented the third possible plan to the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors at its regular board meeting Monday.
The plan is similar to the second. It would move the area south of East Garrard Road between North Jackson and North Montgomery streets and the apartment complex near Clements Avenue and Tomlinson Drive into different districts. The areas consisting of Rolling Hills Developmental Center and Starkville Manor Health Care and Rehab would stay in their original districts unlike the second plan had proposed.
“It’s hard to create these maps,” Sanford said. “If (the supervisors) have any suggestions, that would be great because it’s hard to display this information.”
District 2 currently has the largest number of residents with 11,362, while Districts 3 and 4 have the lowest numbers with 9,844 and 9,836, respectively.
In order to determine if county lines needed to be redrawn, Sanford took the total population and divided that by the five districts, creating an “ideal number,” and then determined a deviation, which is the difference from that ideal number. The deviation is then multiplied by 100 and divided by the ideal number to get a population percentage. The highest and lowest population percentages are subtracted from each other, and if that number is higher than 10 percent, redistricting is required.
Sanford’s first proposed plan, which he presented at the Oct. 4 board meeting, moved one area, Aspen Heights Starkville apartment complex, from District 2 to District 5. While this would be the simplest solution, it would decrease District 5’s minority percentage. Mississippi law requires that at least one district have mostly minority citizens, which in Oktibbeha County has always been District 5.
The board leaned toward Sanford’s first plan because plans 2 and 3 could possibly cause a voting precinct to shift and asked for some minor adjustments to plan 1. Board President Joe Williams, who represents District 5, said he was hesitant about taking an area which is predominantly filled with students.
“Someone else could take some of those students too,” Williams said. “I don’t have to take all of them… I don’t mind taking Aspen Heights, but I think it should be split down the middle.”
The board agreed it would like to hear another option rather than making a decision Monday. District 3 Supervisor Marvell Howard said he wants to see the best possible plan, one that is easier for the voters and cleans up district lines.
“We know we’re not going to be able to please (all of the supervisors),” Howard said. “We’ve got to come up with a good plan that’s as close as it can be and move forward.”
LINK appointment
Supervisors appointed former state representative Tyrone Ellis to the Golden Triangle Development LINK Board of Directors.
After conducting interviews with both Ellis and former OCH Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees member Bob Daniels, by a vote of 3-2, the supervisors decided Ellis was the best candidate.
Through his experience in state government, Ellis said he has had immense knowledge of development and is excited to serve on the LINK board.
“The LINK and I have a past,” Ellis said. “… it’s something that’s in my DNA that I have a passion for… I think my former colleagues can attest to the work that’s been done by myself and my colleagues over the years to get the development of the Golden Triangle.”
Ellis said although his experience with the LINK has primarily been with Lowndes County, he knows he has the contacts and relationships to bring industry and development to Oktibbeha County.
“My concentration with this appointment would be to focus on Oktibbeha County, more specifically because we need Northstar to be filled,” Ellis said. “It needs to be handled and right now it’s not being handled. Someone needs to put some ideas here to bring industry to Oktibbeha County.”
Daniels also showcased his history of development, specifically in forestry. He cited a current project he is working on with a group of Christian individuals who are wanting to erect a 120-foot cross somewhere in the county called “The Cross of Christ for Starkville.”
“The Cross of Christ for Starkville is a 501c3 from the IRS,” Daniels said. “We are raising money and looking for a location for the cross. Similar to ones you’ve maybe seen. The closest one is Eupora… There’s a committed group of Christians that are in the process of bringing this to fruition. We’ve been at this for about two years.”
District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller, who voted in opposition of Ellis, said she wanted to see a candidate concerned with finding employees for the Golden Triangle Infinity Megasite.
“The issue now could be that we don’t have the job forces here to support a 200-person job, so that’s very concerning for me when the taxpayers have invested all of this money for this megasite,” Miller said. “It is a competition to get jobs here and industry here. My concern is that we put somebody on the board that knows that (industry) needs to come here.”
Williams said he believes Ellis was the best choice because of his development experience and knowledge.
“He has a genuine concern for Oktibbeha County,” Williams said. “He has a proven track record.”
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