Beech Tree News Network

131 people to move from the First District to the Third District; 22 people from the Second to the Third District 

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Butler County Fiscal Court met in regular session on Monday, July 10, at the courthouse. All magistrates attended: Stevie Givens, Kevin Phelps, Allen Smith, David Whittinghill, and Dillon Bryant.

Under new business, the county's Reapportionment Board (to redraw magisterial districts) gave their report and the court approved the first reading of the ordinance of the newly-drawn districts. The board consists of Butler County  Clerk Sherry Johnson, Dr. Todd Cohron, Shane Wells, and Carl Daugherty. Kentucky counties must go through reapportionment every ten years after the  census. The process was delayed about two years due to Covid-19. Each district has to have roughly the same population, usually within 5 percent more or less than the others.

The board's recommendation moved 131 people from the First District to the Third District.  According to Sherry Johnson, the area is " From City limits just pass Gardner Lane runs with Hwy 70 to Creek just pass Hatcher Road, up Creek to Old Youngtown Voting House on Hwy 79 (Russellville Road) back to City limits."

The second part of the plan is to move 22 people from the Second to the Third District, which was described by Johnson as the " Right side of Sandy Creek Road from South Hill Union Road continuing to Berry Lick Road."

The changes go into effect on November 8. Current magistrates are not impacted.

The following are new numbers based on population:

1st District - 2,576

2nd District -2,581

3rd District - 2,497

4th District - 2,351

5th District - 2,366

Total population - 12,371

Clerk Sherry Johnson informed the court that the Board of Election had also met and planned to ask the state to approve going from 12 precincts in the county down to five. According to Johnson, this will lower the cost of elections.  

"There will be two voting centers in Morgantown - the county barn drive-thru and Morgantown Elementary -  where anyone can vote, and precincts at Second District VFD, Third District VFD, Fifth District VFD, and North Butler Elementary," said Johnson.

The state will have to approve the plan.

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Additional reporting from the July 10 Fiscal Court meeting will be posted in separate articles.