Cole County Commission approves new district boundaries

Steve Korsmeyer, poses for this Sept. 21, 2018 photo in his office of Cole County Clerk.
Steve Korsmeyer, poses for this Sept. 21, 2018 photo in his office of Cole County Clerk.

Small changes were made Tuesday to district maps dividing which side of the county residents would be represented on the Cole County Commission.

District maps are redrawn every 10 years after final Census figures are received. The latest maps were approved Tuesday at the commission's meeting.

The total Cole County population according to the 2020 Census was 77,279. The county dividing line between the eastern and western districts is U.S. 54.

The goal is to divide the population as evenly as possible.

Cole County GIS Manager Melissa Johnson worked with Western District Commissioner Harry Otto to come up with the maps which have the Western District with 36,442 residents and the Eastern District with 37,567 residents. That's a difference of 1,125.

Johnson said they worked to make sure the maps followed ward districts in Jefferson City, where the changes were made.

They moved Ward 2, Precinct 2, from the western to the eastern district. That area includes Hayselton Drive, Beverly Street, Allen Drive and Allen Circle. Also going into the eastern district is an area bounded to the north by Stadium Boulevard, to the west by Southwest Boulevard which becomes Route C, then turns south to follow a portion of Route CC and then back east toward the eastern boarder of U.S. 54. Some of the streets in this area include Bluebird Drive, Starling Drive, Meadowlark Lane, Flamingo Roa, Idlewood Road, Southridge Drive, Sunset Lake Road and Southgate Lane.

Otto said they tried to help County Clerk Steve Korsmeyer when they set the boundary lines as he gets ready to prepare ballots for the upcoming elections this year. Korsmeyer said what he saw followed the proper boundaries so it shouldn't present any problems for his office.

See also:

Cole County Commission vacating portion of Murphy Ford Road

Cole County to seek bids for new ambulances