Census not expected to greatly change boundaries

<b>By Libby Cluett</b><br><a href="mailto:lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com">lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com</a>

PALO PINTO – David Mendez of Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado & Acosta LLP informed Palo Pinto County Commissioners about their potential role in redistricting related to the 2010 Census.

Mendez said the census would take place on April 1, but the data will not be released until early 2011.

“We’re not going to perform any work until 2011,” he said.

Once the census numbers are available, the county would need to complete some redistricting tasks. Mendez informed commissioners they would have three obligations:

• Determining whether the population in the four county precincts is balanced – within 10 percent of each of the other precincts.

• Modifying Justice of the Peace precincts, but he said population does not have to be equal between precincts.

• Adjusting county election precincts – the distribution of the number of voters.

The work would be done during the summer of 2011. This would include helping the community to understand “why we have to redistrict, [so that] by filing deadlines in January 2012, everybody will be clear.” said Mendez.

He also shared a CD of maps generated by the Census Bureau and suggested that commissioners examine them so the county can fix any discrepancies so the federal maps match the city and county maps.

In 2001, after the 2000 Census, he said the county spent $30,000 and they drew the maps four different times, which was “time consuming and travel oriented.” He said the last redistricting process included drawing a 20-foot wide strip as a land bridge running from Precinct 3 in southwestern Palo Pinto County to Mineral Wells.

“Technology has changed,” he said as he explained how the map drawing process works today.

With an Internet connection, commissioners could view the map via the company’s Web site and discuss changes over speaker phone and could draw these with him and his colleagues “from our office. It’s fairly straightforward.”

Mendez said his stats indicate there has been a “low amount of growth in the county” and didn’t expect much to change.

“I don’t think there will be any shifting at all,” said Precinct 2 Commissioner Ed Laney echoed about the county’s population distribution.

In other business, commissioners:

• Opted to delay installing a burn ban, perhaps until the next meeting.

“Each frost takes more moisture out of the vegetation,” noted Laney, adding that he thinks the county is OK for now, “at least until next meeting.”

• Appointed a committee comprised of Precinct 1 Commissioner Beth Ray and County Judge Mike Smiddy to coordinate courthouse and county landscaping projects with the Palo Pinto County Master Gardeners Association.

• Approved a plan for a plaque marking the bicentennial time capsule.

• Tabled approval of the treasurer’s monthly report, delayed from last month. County Treasurer Mary Motley said she has been busy working on Internal Revenue Service 1099 income forms.

• Approved purchasing a trailer for Precinct 2, which Laney said would be used for a zero-turn mower and when prisoners pick up trash and brush for his precinct. He told commissioners that an employee of the precinct is selling the trailer and said it was “well worth” the asking price of $750.

• Authorized Precinct 3 Commissioner Mike Pierce to continue negotiating the purchase of a used motor grader, which he estimated to be valued at $7,000. Pierce said he would come back to commissioners only if he can work out a trade in on the equipment.

• Approved a re-plat of lots 161 and 162 in Phase I, L of The Cliffs Subdivision.

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