Adjustment
will even population in districts
Switching
of precincts creates similar numbers
by Kim
Fickett
Landmark reporter
After the results of the 2000 Census, the data showed
an imbalance in the two commission districts in Platte
County.
At Thursday's meeting, county commissioners voted to
approve the redistricting of District 1 and District 2
to correct the imbalance of representation in the districts.
State statute says that "Each county shall be districted
by the commissions thereof into two districts, of contiguous
territory, as nearly equal in population as practicable,
without dividing municipal townships."
The Attorney General of the State of Missouri issued
an opinion stating county commission districts should
be drawn based on data from the last preceding decennial
United States census report for that county.
The 2000 census concluded that District 1 in Platte County
contained 35,553 persons compared to District 2, which
contained 38,228 persons.
After a couple of options, the county commission decided
to switch two precincts between the districts, which they
stated would be less disruptive and easier to implement.
Precinct No. 36 (Park Hill South) contains 2,326 persons
and Precinct No. 9 (Lake Waukomis) contains 917 persons.
The Park Hill South precinct has been moved out of the
second district into the first, while the Lake Waukomis
precinct has been moved from the first district to the
second district.
The new districts approved will now leave the first district
with 36,962 persons and the second district with 36,819
persons. This narrows the difference between the districts
from 2,675 persons to 143 persons.
In other business, Cheryl Thorp, director of the Platte
County-KCI Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, spoke
regarding the fiscal year 2003 cooperative marketing program.
Thorp reported that this year the Kansas City Convention
and Tourism Bureau would be contributing $55,500 to the
cooperative marketing program, while Platte County-KCI
Convention and Tourism Bureau will contribute 54,500,
for a grand total of $110,000. Thorp continued that the
state will match the contributions from Platte County
and Kansas City with a donation of $110,000, to bring
the total campaign to $220,000.
The Kansas City Convention and Tourism Bureau portion
will be used to draw conventions to the KCI Expo Center,
with the Platte County funds to be used for research and
advertising to help draw visitors to Platte County.
Presiding County Commissioner Betty Knight told Thorp
the commission is glad to see Platte County and Kansas
City work together.
"We're very pleased to see cooperation between our
own convention and visitors bureau and Kansas City's Convention
and Visitor's Bureau," stated Knight.
The commission approved a $93,139.37 bid for the River
Road Bridge project to GC Construction Company of Blue
Springs, Mo. The project hopes to begin by March 1, with
a completion date by the end of March.
Commissioners also approved the condemnation for the
136th Street Cemetery following last week's request by
Frank Offutt, secretary of the Platte City Benefit Assessment
Special Road District. The cemetery will be condemned
to acquire additional right-of-way along 136th Street
for the straightening and re-grading of the road.
The commission also approved a $10,000 contract for services
with the Northland Health Care Access and appointed Dick
Stephens as a representative of the Platte County Parks
and Recreation Commission for a five-year term expiring
Jan. 19, 2007.
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