Johnson County adopts new district commissioner boundaries for 2008

The Johnson County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution on Thursday, December 13, to reapportion the six commissioner districts effective in 2008.

The most notable change in the new redistricting plan was enlargement of the Third District by including both the city of Spring Hill and Spring Hill Township. The township area, involving a 35-square-mile area of southern Johnson County from 175th Street to the Miami-Johnson County line between Clare and Lackman roads, had been a part of the Sixth District.

Each of the other commissioner districts was changed to a lesser extent, including:

The First District, represented by Commissioner Ed Peterson, adding a little more of southern Leawood;
The Second District, represented by Commissioner John Segale, losing a small sliver of area in northern Lenexa for inclusion in the Fifth District represented by Commissioner Doug Wood;
The Third District adding northern and western portions of southeast Olathe surrounding Executive Airport. The area, including the airport, previously was in the Fifth District;
The Fourth District, represented by Commissioner Ed Eilert, serving more of Overland Park in an area once a part of the northern boundary of the Third District; and,
The Fifth District being enlarged slightly in west Olathe in the vicinity K-10 Highway and South Woodland-Lone Elm roads; and south Olathe, in the area of I-35 from Sheridan to 151st streets. The areas previously were in the northeastern edge of the Sixth District.
The county’s redistricting plan has not been changed since 2002 when the Board created boundaries for six commissioner districts with approval of the county’s new Home Rule Charter. The charter expanded the Board from five to seven commissioners, including a sixth district commissioner and a publicly-elected, at-large chairman.

By state law, the Board is required to review the districts at least once every three years. When reviewed in 2005, it was determined that no changes were needed at that time.

Since the last redistricting process, Johnson County’s population has increased by more than 50,000 people. The estimated population in 2002 was 476,009. The current estimated population is approximately 527,000, resulting in disproportionate population representation amongst the six commissioner districts.

In establishing district boundaries, the Board had to consider many factors, including population, ward and precinct configurations, city and school district affiliations, and prior changes.

Based upon projected populations, Don Jarrett, Chief Counsel, advised the Board that the new district commissioner plan will have equal population for the year 2008 and is projected to be within acceptable deviation limits for 2012.

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Johnson County prepares to redraw commission district boundaries by end of 2007

Johnson County is preparing to redraw the boundaries for the six commissioner districts of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.

On Thursday, October 25, the Board met as a Committee of the Whole to review and discuss possible changes to the boundaries of the six commissioner districts. The Board reviewed three proposals developed by staff for the Board’s consideration. During discussion, the Board indicated its preference for two of the proposals, subject to further refinements based on comments from Board members.

The Board took no action Thursday, but scheduled another Committee of the Whole meeting at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, November 29, for further review of the two proposals.

By state law, the Board is required to review the districts at least once every three years, and when necessary, to reapportion those districts. The goal of redistricting is to ensure commission districts are “as compact and equal in populations as possible,” according to Don Jarrett, Chief Counsel for the Board.

The current district commissioner districts were approved in early 2002. When reviewed in 2005, it was determined that no changes were needed at that time.

Since the last redistricting process, Johnson County’s population has increased by more than 50,000 people. The estimated population in 2002 was 476,009. The current estimated population is approximately 527,000, resulting in disproportionate population representation amongst the six commissioner districts.

The boundaries of all six commission districts are expected to have some changes in the redistricting process.

To provide information about the 2007 redistricting process, the county has established a special website, accessible through an icon, on the county’s main website www.jocogov.org or by the link: http://redistricting.jocogov.org/.

Features of the website include:

• Explaining the redistricting process;
• Answering frequently-asked questions about redistricting; and,
• Posting the current map of Johnson County commissioner districts along with proposed maps indicating changes in the six districts.

In establishing district boundaries, the Board must consider many factors, including population, ward and precinct configurations, city and school district affiliations, and prior changes.

The county plans to approve the new commission district boundaries by the end of the year, and upon approval will be effective in 2008. The Board of County Commissioners will consider the proposed reapportionment during a future public weekly business session in the Johnson County Administration Building, 111 South Cherry Street, in downtown Olathe. The date of when the Board will vote on the redistricting plan will be announced later.

The Johnson County Election Office will provide information to voters affected by the redistricting plan concerning changes in their county commission district.

The first countywide election to be affected by the new redistricting plan will be the 2008 Primary Elections on August 5.