Linn County hosting public hearing on redistricting plan

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County residents are asked to give input on a proposed map for a new three-district Linn County.

Residents also can submit their own map ideas during a public hearing set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Jean Oxley Public Service Center, 935 Second St. SW, Cedar Rapids.

Linn County's five-member temporary redistricting committee earlier this month selected draft plan No. 2 - in a 3-2 vote - as the preferred option. That plan divides Cedar Rapids with the south half in one district and the north half grouped with Hiawatha and Robins into a second district. Marion is in a third district with the rest of the outlying rural areas and townships of Linn County.

The other three plans considered are:

l Draft plan No. 1 - The west side of Cedar Rapids is merged into a district with Hiawatha, Robins and Fairfax, while the east side of Cedar Rapids is its own district, and Marion is in a district that includes much of the outlying rural areas and townships.

l Draft plan No. 3 - The north half of Cedar Rapids is in a district on its own, the south half of Cedar Rapids is in a district with Fairfax and southern rural areas and townships, and Marion is paired with Hiawatha, Robins and northern rural areas and townships.

l Draft plan No. 4 - The west side of Cedar Rapids in its own district, the east half of Cedar Rapids is in a district with southern and eastern rural areas and townships, and Marion, Hiawatha and Robins are in a district with rural areas and townships to the north.

The committee is scheduled to meet again Friday, Oct. 6, at the Jean Oxley Public Service Center to make any necessary adjustments before formally submitting a recommended plan to the Linn County Board of Supervisors. The county board eventually must send a plan to the Iowa Secretary of State for final approval.

The board will be reduced from five members to three in 2019, following a public vote last November.

l Comments: (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com