Ward boundaries expected to change

DECATUR — Ward boundaries in Decatur could be changing once 2010 U.S. Census data is examined, Mayor Charles Linam said Monday.

“There is a very great possibility the wards will change,” he said.

Linam explained that, according to the 2010 Census, thepopulation in Decatur increased from 1,314 to 1,699 over the past 10 years. All three of the wards are required to be within 10 percent of the population of each other.

“I would be very surprised if Ward I is not very overpopulated,” Linam said.

Jeff Hawkins, of the Regional Planning Authority, will be examining Decatur's census data in the next several weeks to see if changes will need to be made,Linam said. Hawkins is currently working on Gentry's ward boundaries. There is not any rush to change the boundaries since it is not an election year for the Decatur council, Linam explained.

Linam speculated that Hawkins will probably present the city council with several alternatives from which to choose. He said Hawkins usually tries to make the ward boundaries work with where current aldermen live.

Linam also announced that the council will have the opportunity to appoint a new alderman to Ward 3, Position 1, at the Aug. 16 council meeting. Ward 3, Position 1, was left vacant last January when it was discovered that alderman David Sutton was appointed and then elected to the wrong ward. The council voted to appoint Sutton to the position left open by Trip Lapham's resignation in January.