Gage County Board finalizes new district map, based on census numbers

BEATRICE – The Gage County Board Wednesday approved a new supervisor district map, turning back a proposal to table the subject for public input.
The Board voted 6-1 for a redistricting proposal that shifts the southeast District 6 area into Logan Township and into the far southern part of Filley Township.
It was one of two proposals offered by a consulting firm that suggested the plans to meet new population figures.

District 6 Supervisor, Don Schuller of Wymore…sought to table the subject to give time to look at possible other options.
"Has this been presented to the public? Have they seen these lines? We put the wind regulations on the website, is this on the website? I think we should wait until its on the website so the public has a chance to see this."

Schuller received no support from other board members to delay action, and the map that shifts Schuller’s District to include more area, was approved. It also shifts 1st District Supervisor Eddie Dorn’s district to include less area.

Gage County Board Chairman Erich Tiemann said that option represented the least disruptive regarding changes in boundaries.

Supervisor Gary Lytle said the plan adopted was the simplest.  "Townships are a community, of sorts. And, you're going to split up five different townships in half, and have half of them go one way, half going the other.....where you have two, in proposal one. I just don't see any conversation that's going to be had in the next two weeks, that this needs to be delayed."

A second option would have included the southern half of Logan Township in District 6….and moved half of Sicily and Paddock Townships in the southwest part of the county, into District 6.

In the new census, Gage County’s total population is 21,704. Under the new supervisor district map, District 6 in southeast Gage County would include the fewest people, at 2,965….while the largest would be Dorn’s District 1 in the northeast part of the county….at 3,249 people.