Officials begin redistricting process

The redrawing of congressional and legislative district boundaries by a state court has squeezed the time lines local officials must follow as they proceed to redraw new or reestablish existing local boundaries.

“This should’ve been done last year,” Teresa Jaksa, Koochiching County administration administrator, told commissioners Monday when they met in committee to discuss how commissioner district boundaries will be impacted.

County auditor/treasurer Bob Peterson also met Monday with the board and Jaksa to review the plan.

Under federal law, redistricting must follow the U.S. Census taken every 10 years to count the nation’s population. The redrawing of boundaries in federal, state and local districts, wards and precincts is an attempt to equalize population shifts.

Bills approved by the House in 2011 were vetoed by Gov. Mark Dayton. As a result, a court panel decided the issue in February, leaving little time for local officials to meet deadlines set by the state for redrawing local boundaries.

Should drastic changes in boundaries be approved, some commissioners impacted could be forced to seek election prior to the end of the current term.

Last week, the county board scheduled a public hearing for 5 p.m. April 17 to take public comment on the county’s plan. Members of the public may also submit plans for the commissioner districts at that time. The board must approve the plan with redraws or reestablish existing districts by May 1.

For now, minor changes in the boundaries of commissioner districts are proposed.

One change involves District 2, now represented by Commissioner Kevin Adee, and District 3, now represented by Brian McBride. Commissioners Monday discussed moving the boundary between the two districts to shift 50 people out of District 3 and into District 2, which would allow the commissioner of District 2 to represent residents on both sides of County Road 24, also known as the Van Lynn Road.

“We were lucky the population drop was proportionate across districts,” Peterson said.

A change in District 2 and 3 boundary lines in Ranier has been proposed by Peterson. From 24 to 50 people will be shifted from District 3 into District 2, which would eliminate the Koochiching Poll 3 precinct.

Peterson met with Ranier officials Monday to discuss how it will proceed. Jaksa said it is expected that the Ranier City Council will need to fill council positions in an “at-large” capacity this November because there is no time to plan for ward elections, which would call for the city to be split into wards.

However, the county has proposed creation of an east and west precinct for Ranier, which would allow the current commissioner districts, District 3 and District 1, now represented by Wade Pavleck, to represent the city. However, the creation of two precincts in Ranier will also slightly change boundaries between Districts 1 and 2.

Ranier, county officials said, in its long-term planning should consider ward creation in the next redistricting process.

Jaksa and Peterson reported that it appears the city of International Falls will establish existing wards because the census showed very minor population shifts.

Other issues

In related business, Peterson recommended establishing more mail ballot precincts.

Precincts in southwest Koochiching County would be combined to create one large mail ballot precinct, which Peterson said would save money and likely increase voter participation.

Peterson also reported to commissioners that proposals at the Minnesota Legislature that would call for a November vote on a Constitutional amendment requiring photo identification by voters would exempt absentee and mail ballots. Koochiching County now has 770 registered voters who cast ballots through the mail.