Commissioners map plans to get precincts in shape

Published: Sunday, April 01, 2001

Lubbock County will need to redraw precinct lines to balance out the county's southwestern growth pattern and ensure more equal representation in county government.

Balancing the population in Precincts 1 and 3, the county's most and least populated areas, won't be a simple give and take because they don't share boundaries.

Ideally, each of the four county precincts would hold 60,657 residents.

Getting close, though, counts when redistricting.

Federal law allows the largest and smallest precincts to deviate from that mean by 10 percent. Communities whose precincts have larger deviations must redistrict.

Precincts 1 and 3 currently have a 19 percent deviation from each other a difference of 11,310 residents, according to an A-J analysis.

Lines must be redrawn, but where they go will be a topic of conversation for months to come.

Commissioner James Kitten said most of the lines to be redrawn likely will be inside Lubbock city limits.

''When you start moving the lines outside the city limits, then you start dealing with road miles and a lot of issues,'' he said.

Adding more roads to a precinct could restrict road crews, each with the same budget, from maintaining all county roads equally.

Commissioner Gilbert Flores said he believes adding an area between University Avenue and Avenue Q and 19th and 27th streets, currently in Precinct 2, would help Precinct 3 reach the desired population range. That area was once part of Precinct 3, he said.

Changes to Precinct 1's northernmost boundary might shift farther south, possibly to Texas 114 forming its northernmost border, Commissioner Kenny Maines said. That would have several benefits, he said.

''I think it's more definite to voters and maintenance,'' Maines said. It would help voters by giving a distinct precinct boundary. It also makes sense to have as precinct boundaries roads that the county doesn't maintain because it clears up jurisdictional confusion among road crews, he said.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Patti Jones said she's discussed with Maines the possibility of moving their shared boundary southward from near Ursuline Street.

Precinct shapes should also change if possible, she said.

''The one thing I would like to see is if there are some ways for us to square up some areas,'' Jones said. ''I think that it could be done.''

County Judge Tom Head is putting together a committee to decide if the county needs outside help to complete the task.

Flores said he thinks it can be done in-house.

''I'm very optimistic about doing this within the (commissioners) court,'' he said.

Precinct changes will affect county commissioners, justices of the peace and constables.

The county should receive the official Census 2000 data early this month. The data likely will indicate that the county won't have many options in resolving the population disparities, Kitten said.

''You won't have a lot of leeway,'' he said.

Dirk Fillpot can be contacted at 766-8727 or