Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd (Dist. 8) will hold a community meeting tonight in East Ridge concerning the redistricting of the county commission.
The meeting is slated for Thursday evening at the East Ridge Community Center from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
A second meeting is scheduled for the following Monday, Oct. 25 at the Justice Center located at Eastgate next to the Brainerd Mission Cemetery.
In a text to East Ridge News Online, Boyd said the meetings will give constituents two opportunities to learn about the district boundaries and the increased number of districts from the current nine to the option of having 11.
In recent weeks, the Hamilton County Commission has taken up the issue of increasing the number of districts represented by commissioners in the county. By state law, the minimum number of districts was set at nine, like Hamilton County. Other large municipalities in the state have as many as 25 districts, records show.
The “option” the Hamilton County Commission is considering would add two districts. One would be comprised of Lookout Valley, St. Elmo and Lookout Mountain. The second would be a district unto itself in north Ooltewah, an area experiencing large growth.
With the exception of Chattanooga, the 11-district option would allow municipalities within the county to be in their own district, not split in some instances as the current districts are drawn.
The county has experienced a nine percent growth in population since the 2010 census. By adding two districts, it would allow county commissioners to better represent their constituents.
