By John Howell Sr.

Batesville city officials will seek public comment on proposed new ward boundaries at a public hearing September 4 at 5 p.m.

Aldermen during August 21 meeting approved ward lines newly revised by Meg Crockett, urban planner for Slaughter and Associates, PLLC, consultants hired by the city for redistricting following the 2010 Census.

Crockett has met with aldermen over the last two months, seeking their input on revisions that will equalize populations within each of the city’s four wards as required by the Voting Rights Act.

“The plan that you have in front of you is 7.6 percent,” Crockett told aldermen, referring to the overall deviation of population among the wards.

Under the plan, Wards One, Three and Four are slightly affected.

Ward Four gains on its east side all of Dettor Street and Hope Lane from Ward One.

One its west side, Ward Four loses to Ward Three residents of Tubbs Road to Martin Luther King Street, Martin Luther King Street to Van Voris Street, the south side of Van Voris Street to Hays Street, the west sides of Hays and Ozbirn Streets, and the south side of Jefferies.

On the south end of the city, Ward One loses Pine Place, Dogwood Heights and a portion of the Eureka Road as well as a portion of Pine Lodge Road east of I-55 to Ward Three .

Bill Dugger serves as alderman from Ward One; Ted Stewart from Ward Two; Stan Harrison from Ward Three and Eddie Nabors from Ward Four. Alderman-at-Large Teddy Morrow is elected from the entire city.

Following final adoption by the city, the new ward lines will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice for preclearance to make sure that the lines comply with the Voting Rights Act. The new lines will become effective for next year’s municipal elections.