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FROM STAFF REPORTS

Members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee will vote Tuesday on a proposal to redraw lines for the county’s districts and to change the number of elected commissioners to 16.

The meeting takes place at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Commissioners seek to complete any redistricting – which is required after completion of a U.S. Census – in time to allow qualifying for the 2022 commission elections. The Carter County Commission currently is composed of 24 members, with three elected from each of eight districts.

This proposal is a result of five workshops held over the past weeks. Rules and Bylaws Chairman Randal Jenkins said the newest map “was well received” as well as suggestions to change the commission from 24 to 16 members.

“There was lots of discussion on downsizing (the commission),” Jenkins said, adding that he feels committee members support a reduction in commission size, while some non-committee members may oppose it.

“One major concern was the commissioner workload, even though we presented a plan that had the committee work layout evenly,” he said.

Some of the extra 15 committees only meet one to two times per year, he said, while others meet monthly.

If the proposal is approved by the committee, it will go to the full commission during a special called session at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, where the item will be the only agenda item.