Leaders meet with map maker

Dove returned from Atlanta with three potential district maps for county commissioners to consider. Two map proposals are on the table for the school board.

Dove said board members will review the maps. If they are displeased, the state’s map specialist will be asked to draw more proposals. When the boards vote to present the maps to the public, hearings will be scheduled for citizens for review of both county commission and school board district maps.

Each of the BOC district maps strongly resembles the current map. However, the highest population growth was in districts 3 and 5 over the past decade, meaning those two districts will have a slightly smaller geographic area when the maps are redrawn.

The Georgia General Assembly has scheduled a special session for August to tackle redistricting. New county district proposals are expected to be approved at that time. Those maps will then be reviewed by the federal Justice Department before being used in the 2012 elections.