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Growing population changes ward boundaries in Brandon
By By Alica P. Thiele
Challenger reporter
Challenger reporter
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EmailFebruary 10. 2012 6:00AM
Some Brandon residents have different representation on the Brandon City Council since ward boundaries have changed.
For example, Richland Park, which is southeast of South Sioux and Aspen boulevards, now is entirely in Ward 3. Before the change, the neighborhood was divided between Ward 1 and Ward 3.
“We base our wards on what the census says,” Assistant City Administrator Dennis Olson said. So every 10 years, after the national census, the city redraws the boundaries of the city’s three wards.
“All the wards have to be within 5 percent of the population of each other,” Olson said. The Richland Park change is probably the most dramatic boundary move, he said.
Another big change is between Wards 1 and 2 from Holly Boulevard on the north to Aspen Boulevard on the south. The line used to go from south on First Avenue to Cedar Street, then west to Main Avenue then south again. “Now, we moved that line from First Street to Main Street, so everything west of Main is in Ward 1, and everything east of Main Street is in Ward 2,” Olson said.
One minor change is North Heritage Road and Frontier Street, both north of Holly Boulevard, which went from Ward 2 into Ward 1. It made sense to put all of that section of the city into the same ward, Olson said. The change affects only one resident.
Coincidentally, the boundary changes make things easier, Olson said. “Ward 1 is west of Sioux, west of Main and south of Holly. Period.” he said.
Also coincidentally, all six city council members still are located in their same wards.
The next city election is scheduled for April 10. Two terms are ending: Blaine Jones’ seat in Ward 1 and Roger Brooks’ seat in Ward 3. Each is a four-year term. Brooks has picked up a petition, city clerk Bonnie Nelson said, and Jones has notified City Hall of his intention to pick up a petition. Nelson said she hasn’t received inquiries from anyone else.
Filing deadline is Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. for petitions, which can be picked up at City Hall or downloaded from the state website.
People who are not registered to vote must do so by March 26 to vote in the city election. Nelson said registered voters who have been reassigned to a different ward do not need to re-register.
For example, Richland Park, which is southeast of South Sioux and Aspen boulevards, now is entirely in Ward 3. Before the change, the neighborhood was divided between Ward 1 and Ward 3.
“We base our wards on what the census says,” Assistant City Administrator Dennis Olson said. So every 10 years, after the national census, the city redraws the boundaries of the city’s three wards.
“All the wards have to be within 5 percent of the population of each other,” Olson said. The Richland Park change is probably the most dramatic boundary move, he said.
Another big change is between Wards 1 and 2 from Holly Boulevard on the north to Aspen Boulevard on the south. The line used to go from south on First Avenue to Cedar Street, then west to Main Avenue then south again. “Now, we moved that line from First Street to Main Street, so everything west of Main is in Ward 1, and everything east of Main Street is in Ward 2,” Olson said.
One minor change is North Heritage Road and Frontier Street, both north of Holly Boulevard, which went from Ward 2 into Ward 1. It made sense to put all of that section of the city into the same ward, Olson said. The change affects only one resident.
Coincidentally, the boundary changes make things easier, Olson said. “Ward 1 is west of Sioux, west of Main and south of Holly. Period.” he said.
Also coincidentally, all six city council members still are located in their same wards.
The next city election is scheduled for April 10. Two terms are ending: Blaine Jones’ seat in Ward 1 and Roger Brooks’ seat in Ward 3. Each is a four-year term. Brooks has picked up a petition, city clerk Bonnie Nelson said, and Jones has notified City Hall of his intention to pick up a petition. Nelson said she hasn’t received inquiries from anyone else.
Filing deadline is Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. for petitions, which can be picked up at City Hall or downloaded from the state website.
People who are not registered to vote must do so by March 26 to vote in the city election. Nelson said registered voters who have been reassigned to a different ward do not need to re-register.
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