INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Board of Commissioners have tentatively picked a redistricting plan that would shift boundaries for the commission. Commissioners selected Plan 1, which smoothes out some jagged district boundaries.
The plan makes borders run along main roads and evens out the number of people in each district.
Because of uneven growth, commission districts had become lopsided over the past 10 years with 12,000 more people in District 1, represented by Commissioner Wesley Davis, than in District 5, represented by Commission Chairman Bob Solari.
Under the new plan, all five districts will be similar in size. District 1 will still be the largest, with a population 28,262, while district 5 remains the smallest with a population 27,042, but the differential is now only about 1,200.
This was the Commission’s fourth public hearing on the redistricting plan. The meeting was held in the Sebastian City Council Chambers so that Sebastian and north county residents could attend and comment on the plan.
When redistricting was first discussed by the commission in July, Sebastian residents objected to the idea of redrawing boundaries to include cities in a single district, fearing a loss of influence.
That redistricting criteria was dropped and Sebastian continues to be represented by both Davis and Commissioner Joe Flescher.
All commissioners are elected at large and represent all citizens of the county, so Sebastian did not gain representation in any real sense, but the approved plan apparently met the objections expressed by city residents in July.
When Solari asked for public comment, no one stepped up to the podium to make any objection.
Sebastian City Councilman Richard Gilmor made the only public comment.
He thanked commissioners for their efforts and said the people of Sebastian were “well-satisfied” with the plan selected.
