By Billy Davis

Competing plans for updating Panola County’s supervisor boundaries shrank from two proposals to one Wednesday.

Supervisors unanimously agreed to back Alternative 1 and rename it “Proposed Plan” for a pair of public hearings next week.

Alternative 1 shows fewer boundary changes than its sister plan, Alternative 2, which caused some supervisors to immediately cheer for Alternative 1.

“I’ve talked to Kelly and we like Alternative 1,” board president Gary Thompson said early on during the recessed meeting in Batesville.

Both redistricting maps would move the Enid Shores subdivision to Thompson’s District 3, out of Kelly Morris’s District 4.

The current supervisor boundary, approved in 2000, makes a conspicuous fishhook around Enid Shores to keep it in District 4.

Alternative 2 would have moved District 3 farther east, taking in Plum Point and Hubbard Creek roads, and use similar-named Hubbard Road as a boundary with District 4. Those plans are now scrapped.

Fellow supervisor Vernice Avant was also cool to Alternative 2, pointing out that the black population in her district shows a decrease under Alternative 2.  

The black voting population increases from 61.98 percent, its current total, to 62.05 percent under Alternative 1. It shrinks to 60.87 under Alternative 2.

“That is called retrogression,” said Avant, who is black. “Retrogression” means a reversal to the past, usually a worse situation.

Summarizing the Alternative 1 redistricting plan, Avant said Panola County would have two minority supervisor districts, two “other” supervisor districts, and a “swing district.”

Redistricting consultant Mike Slaughter pointed out that population figures show three of five supervisor districts remain predominantly black under Alternative 1 and Alternative 2.  

“I’m looking at the voting age population,” Avant responded.

Slaughter and other supervisors were paying close attention to Avant’s opinions, since her opinion of the proposed redistricting plan becomes a factor when the U.S. Justice Department reviews the plan.

“It will go a long way if you’re supportive of it,” Slaughter told Avant at one point.

Avant and District 1 Supervisor James Birge also studied a boundary change in Sardis, where a city block moves from District 2 to District 1 under Alternative 1.

Birge said the changing boundary lines would affect from Main Street east to Butler Street, and from East McClaurin north to East Lee Street.

A larger swath of city streets would have moved to District 1 under Alternative 2.

The public hearings, set for Tuesday and Thursday next week, mark a final hurdle before Slaughter and Associates prepares a finished version. Oxford law firm Butler-Snow is also helping prepare the plan.

The redistricting plan will then be sent to the Justice Department for approval, completing Panola County government’s changes following the 2010 Census.

The Tuesday public hearing in Sardis will be held at the county courthouse at 6 p.m.

The Thursday public hearing will be held in Batesville at the county courthouse, also at 6 p.m.