Public hearings have been scheduled across Richmond County to collect input on how to redistrict the county. Members of the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee selected four dates and locations, beginning Oct. 18 at the Belair K-8 School on Harper Franklin Avenue.
Subsequent hearings will be held on Oct. 25 at Richmond Academy on Russell Street and Wheeless Road Elementary on Oct. 27.
The plan initially called for a session on Oct. 20 at Hephzibah High School, but the location was met with some resistance.
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“I would hope that we would re-consider and take a look at pulling Hephzibah, which is deep, deep south,” said District 4 Commissioner Alvin Mason. “I’m thinking Diamond Lakes Elementary would be more central to four, six, eight and five, for that matter.”
Elections Director Lynn Bailey, who is helping the ad hoc committee navigate the process, said they worked with the Richmond County Board of Education to select the schools. The selection was based on the facility’s Wi-Fi capabilities to support the livestream, which will include taking testimony from citizens speaking virtually.
School Board member Jimmy Atkins explained, “With Belair K-8 and Wheeless Road, I feel certain that they were chosen because they are two of our newest buildings, therefore being the most up to date with the technology. We just did a huge renovation over at Richmond Academy so that issue was probably addressed there and the same at Hephzibah High School.”
By Thursday afternoon, Bailey said the question was resolved and the hearing on Oct. 20 will be held at Diamond Lakes Elementary School.
Committee members also got an update on the redistricting webpage set up on the city’s website.
There are added links, including one to the citizen submission form for anyone who cannot attend one of the public meetings.
There is now also an interactive map.
“This map was created by the redistricting office in Atlanta. Although we start to receive feedback from the community, just want to let everyone know the map has not been developed,” said District 7 Commissioner Sean Frantom, who is chairman of the ad hoc committee. ”There is lots of work still to be done and this is just a start. This entire process that this committee has agreed to do is going to take time.”
Following the series of public meetings, the ad hoc committee will hold its next meeting on Nov. 10. That meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m., will be held at the Board of Education Office on Broad Street.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
