Douglas County commissioners approve redistricting boundaries

DOUGLAS COUNTY – Residents may be voting for a different county commissioner this November depending on where they live.

With changes made in both the legislative and Alexandria city ward boundaries, Douglas County has followed suit and approved the redistricting of existing county commissioner districts at the regular board meeting Tuesday, April 5.

These changes take place because every 10 years following the census, all levels of government where district elections are held are required to review their voting districts for the purpose of equalizing the population representation.

The changes were approved by a vote of 4-1 with Commissioner Charlie Meyer being the “no” vote. When asked why he voted against the changes, Meyer simply said, “I am a little disappointed I didn’t have any input.”

The changes to Meyer’s district didn’t have any impact on elections this fall as his seat is up for reelection anyway.

Here is a look at the changes to each of the district’s and who will now represent what area of the county.

• Commissioner District 1 (Keith Englund) does not change and his district has a total population of 7,446 following the census. District 1 will still represent the cities of Brandon, Evansville, Garfield, Kensington, Millerville and the townships of Brandon, Evansville, Holmes City, Ida, Leaf Valley, Lund, Millerville, Moe, Solem and Urness. District 1 will not be on the ballot this fall. 
  

  

• Commissioner District 2 (Tim Kalina) will lose former Alexandria City Ward 1-Precinct 1, Ward 5-Precinct 1, Forada City and Hudson Township. This district will gain all of redistricted Ward 5 of the city of Alexandria. The new total population of Commissioner District 2 will be 8,182. District 2 will now represent Alexandria Ward 5 and the townships of LaGrand and Lake Mary. This district will be up for reelection this fall.  
  

  

• Commissioner District 3 (Jerry Rapp) will experience a population shift of 182 people out of the district, which is from the city of Nelson. The new total population of District 3 will be 7,536. District 3 still represents the cities of Carlos, Miltona and Osakis and the townships of Belle River, Carlos, Miltona, Orange, Osakis and Spruce Hill. District 3 will not be on the ballot this fall. 
  

  

• Commissioner District 4 (Charlie Meyer) will lose former Alexandria City Ward 1-Precinct 2 and gain the cities of Nelson and Forada, and Hudson Township. The new total population of Commissioner District 4 will be 7,271. District 4 will now represent Alexandria City Ward 2, cities of Forada and Nelson and townships of Alexandria and Hudson. District 4 is up for reelection this fall. 
  

  

• Commissioner District 5 (Heather Larson) will lose former Alexandria City Ward 5-Precinct 2 and will gain all of the redistricted Ward 1 for the city of Alexandria. The new total population of Commissioner District 5 will be 8,571. District 5 will now represent Wards 1, 3 and 4 in the city of Alexandria. District 5 is up for reelection this fall. 
  

  

There were no public comments made during Tuesday’s public hearing on the county’s redistricting plan.