By Sara Strong
The once-every-10-years project of redistricting is almost done in Rock County.
Based on census figures, the city of Luverne has drawn its precinct lines and the county will discuss its districts May 7.
But the discussions on districts and precincts has been ongoing for some time.
When the city of Luverne drew its new precinct lines last week, the population balance within the lines was such that the Rock County Board of Commissioners would be forced to run against each other, and city residents would be all or a majority of three commissioner districts. (Those have to run against each other would likely have been what are now the districts of Ken Hoime and Ron Boyenga.)
Some in rural Rock County didn't like that balance of power, so with the help of Commissioner Boyenga and county staff, Luverne Township stepped in.
Township representatives met Monday to form their own precincts, which the county could use for flexibility in drawing its districts, with the hope of swinging power away from the city of Luverne.
Counties have to follow city and township precincts in drawing district lines. Luverne Township is the first to draw precincts in Rock County.
Luverne Township Board member Geff Fitzer said, "It's for the whole county and all the townships that we're doing this."
County Commissioner Ron Boyenga said of the township's vote, "It's the lesser of a couple different evils."
Luverne City Councilman Keith Erickson admits the cityÕs lines were drawn to increase its representation on the County Board.
But he said that's only fair. "In our relationship to the county, the city does have about 50 percent of the population," Erickson said.
Luverne Township's vote came after a message was delivered by Erickson. He said that if the township divided in just two precincts, instead of the previously discussed four, that the city wouldn't hold the scheduled special meeting to adjust its lines accordingly.
Some of the interesting aspects of the redistricting were the "what-ifs."
In theory, if the township hadn't adjourned its meeting Monday, after voting the pre-arranged precincts, the City Council would have met Tuesday. Then the township would reconvene in reaction to whatever changes the city of Luverne made to its precincts.
That could have gone back and forth until the midnight deadline for redistricting.
Erickson calls the final precinct lines and where they will leave both the county and the city "a fair and proper settlement."
Luverne Township and Boyenga agreed. Luverne Township board members are Chairman Lowell Fick, Melvin Fick, Eldon Walker and Fitzer. Eldon Ehlers is township clerk.
County lines
Even though the county's districts aren't drawn, population guidelines mean they are forced into few options.
The good news from the County Board's standpoint is that the balance isn't too far in favor of the city of Luverne or the townships.
The County Board will apparently be made up of two city representatives, two township representatives and one thatÕs almost split.
It's likely that the current districts of Wendell Erickson, Bob Jarchow and Ken Hoime will stay the same.
Jane Wildung, who now represents only city residents, will probably take on about 200 township residents. Ron Boyenga will likely pick up 300 more city residents than before, meaning that his district is made up of about half city and half township residents.
With Boyenga's district seeing an increase in constituents, there is more opportunity for city residents to run for office. Erickson said, "It depends on who runs now and how people want to vote."
The county's guidelines for drawing districts is based on population. Its districts must contain 10 percent more or less than 1,944 individuals.
Wildung and Erickson were up for election anyway, but the rest of the commissioners will probably have to run because of the new districts.
At the city level, Mayor Glen Gust, Erickson and Councilman Jim Kirchhofer's terms end this year, but none are ending because of redistricting changes.