The final public meeting of the Richmond County Ad Hoc Redistricting meeting was held Oct. 27 at Wheeless Road Elementary School.
The 12-member committee, made up of four members each from the Augusta Commission, Richmond County Board of Education and the local legislative delegation, listened to what citizens want when the county is redistricted to align with 2020 census numbers.
The 2020 census shows Richmond County population grew by just 3% to 206,607 residents. Divided by the eight districts in the county means the ideal number for a balanced district is 25,825 people. However, District 3 population grew by 21% and now has 31,316 residents.
MORE: Richmond County Committee Wraps Up Second Redistricting Public Session
Of the eight people who spoke to the committee, several were from District 3, including Charles Rollins of Summerville.
“District 3 has to lose people and it has to lose them to certain districts. This is basically going to have to happen,” said Rollins. “My proposed solution, because I don’t see a way around this redistricting, is to create a municipal village of Summerville. A municipal entity inside Richmond County that would include basically Forest Hills and Summerville and a few other areas contiguous to it. It would allow for Summerville and the areas incorporated with it to negotiate with the city as a block.”
[adrotate banner=”51″]
Former Mayor Bob Young offered a similar suggestion at the Oct. 25 meeting.
“We are in an area that’s governed by a city ordinance for historic preservation. It is a defined area of this city. And it shouldn’t be split up,” he said. “My plea would be that you look at the map and where you’re going to put people. You look at Summerville as a unique entity in this city that has defined boundaries under city law and you use that as a guiding principle to keep Summerville together, regardless of what district you put it in.”
Monique Braswell said she clearly understands some changes need to be made.
“Some of us don’t want to make changes out there but some of us need to take a look around and see what’s really in District 3,” she said. “When I moved into District 3, the population out there was probably about 20% African-American. District 3 right now is about, in my mind, where I live in Elderberry, probably about 90% African-American. So, what are you going to do, eventually move us out of District 3?”
With the public hearings completed, 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. It will be livestreamed for those unable to attend.
There is a website for citizens to get additional information on the process and view videos of all the previous meetings.
There is also an interactive map.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
