OKTIBBEHA COUNTY — The Oktibbeha County board of supervisors approved a plan Monday to redraw district lines to create a more even population across supervisor and justice court districts.
According to the 2020 census, Oktibbeha County has a population of 51,788, growing roughly 4,000 people since the last census, but not evenly across all five districts. After several potential presented plans over the last few months, the board accepted a design that not only properly redistributes residents, but also creates smoother district lines.
The plan, created by Golden Triangle Planning and Development District Geographic Information Systems Director Toby Sanford, gives District 1 10,691 residents, District 2 10,161 residents, District 3 10,472 residents, District 4 9,766 residents and District 5 10,698 residents.
The highest and lowest population percentages subtracted from each other determine if a county needs redistricting, with the maximum percentage allowed being only 10 percent. Because District 2 had a percentage of 9.7 over and District 5 had a percentage of 5.04 under, the percentage was 14.73. With the new plan, the population percentage is 9 percent.
The area west of the Oktibbeha County Community Safe Room in Starkville will move from District 4 to District 1, giving District 1 a new voting precinct at the Safe Room but not affecting any residents.
“The (Mississippi National Guard Armory) they had been voting at had been voting at had bad parking,” Sanford said. “It was hard to get in, and it was hard to leave. We’re going to move District 1’s precinct area to the storm shelter.”
South of Lynn Lane and east of Spruill Industrial Park Road’s area will move from District 4 to District 5, cleaning up its boundary line but also not affecting any residents.
The area south of Highway 182 near Clements Avenue and Tomlinson and Guest Drives is an apartment complex that has been previously split into two districts — Districts 1 and 3 — confusing voters on where to vote, Sanford said. That entire area will now reside in District 1, making cleaner lines and an easier process for those residents, Sanford said.
“The way we had it was hard to deal with,” Sanford said. “The lines were jagged. People didn’t know what district they were in in that area. This will clean that up.”
The area west of West Line Road, a zero-populated area, will move from District 4 to District 5, creating the district line between Starkville and Mississippi State University. Also on campus, the area west of George Perry Street, which includes roughly 700 students, will move from District 2 to District 3 to give District 3 more residents and clean up the boundary line.
The Rolling Hills neighborhood has previously been split between Districts 2 and 3. All of Rolling Hills will now reside in District 3. Near Rolling Hills, the area between Catherine Drive and Mae Street will also move into District 3.
New Light Road, the only area not within city limits affected, used to have a section line, causing confusion on which district residents were in based on where they were located along the street, Sanford said. The boundary line now moves to the road, with District 1 taking the northern side and District 4 the southern side.
“This makes it easy now,” Sanford said. “If you’re on the south side (of New Light Road) you’re in District 4, and if you have an odd number you’re in District 1.”
Based on population, the three justice court districts did not need to be redistricted, but Sanford said he wants the districts to align with the supervisors’ district and clean up boundary lines.
Only two areas will be affected. The area south of Lynn Lane and west of Spruill Industrial Park Road will move from District 2 to District 3, and the New Line Road boundary line for the supervisors will be the new line for justice court as well.
District 4 Supervisor Bricklee Miller asked Sanford after the new redistricting plan is officially enacted, if the board can have a definite update on road miles throughout the county according to each district.
“I know it says that I have the least amount of voters, but I have the most amount of miles — a lot more than some,” Miller said.
Oktibbeha County Election Commissioner Steven “Greg” Fulgham said he likes the redistricting plan much better than how it has been in the past because not as many districts are split, giving less confusion to the voters.
“New Light Road, 182, they were all split and portions of apartment complexes were in different districts,” Fulgham said. “It was really a mess, but it’s much better now as far as we’re concerned.”
Garrard returns to the county
Former County Administrator Emily Garrard will return to work for the county under the road department.
Garrard retired in June 2020 after 18 years of service to the county and seven years as county administrator. Oktibbeha County Road Manager Hal Baggett announced Monday Garrard will work part time in his department, helping in the office.
The board approved this hire, allowing Garrard access to budgeting, capitalizing, payroll and any other documents necessary to perform her job in the road department. District 2 Supervisor Orlando Trainer was the only supervisor who opposed.
“It was a surprise to me,” Trainer said. “I just didn’t have any prior knowledge of her being hired. I didn’t understand the job description and I thought some current employees in the road department were the ones already doing those jobs, so I’m curious to see what she will be doing in this position.”
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