Kankakee Times

Kankakee County Board Redistricting Committee Met April 26.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

Members Present

Mr. Hess, Mr. Payton, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Ms. Polk, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Collins

Members Absent

None

In Attendance

• Board Members

Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Liehr and Mr. Kerkstra

• Department Heads

Jim Rowe, Delbert Skimerhorn, Dan Hendrickson, Anita Speckman, John Coghlan and Theresa Goudie

Media

None

1. Call to Order/Roll Call

The meeting was call to order by the committee chairman, Mr. Hess at 9:00am. Quorum present

2. Minutes from April 19, 2021 and April 26, 2021

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to combine and approve the minutes, and Mr. Hunter seconded it. Motion carried with a roll call vote of 9 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Hess, Mr. Payton, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Ms. Polk, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Collins

3. Presentation of Draft County Board Maps A-E

Mr. Hess reminded the committee of the map requirements by law.

Mr. Hess stated a goal that is set for today should be reviewing all the maps and discussing them. If there are maps that could be eliminated today, then we should do that. The committee can come back at the next meeting to decide on the map.

Mr. Wheeler reviewed each map with the committee. The committee each had a large printout of each map, presentation boards were displayed in the board room and the maps were also displayed on the screens in the board room.

Mr. Wheeler used District 16 on Map A as an example to demonstrate how population can quickly change the variation between districts.

This map is largely what we currently have with a little “street cleanup” to keep boundaries in line. Mr. Hunter asked if there could be a narrative describing the boundary lines.

Mr. Hendrickson advised that none of these maps will cause an issue with coding for elections.

Mr. Hendrickson complimented the committee on their transparent process and this should be the standard for everyone.

Mr. Wheeler advised that it will create a legal description of the boundary lines.

Mr. Wheeler continued to discuss each map with the committee and explained any differences between the maps and what the reasoning was behind that.

Mr. Collins stated that Map B leaves him no longer living in his district.

Mr. Wheeler stated that in 2 years everyone is up for election, so this is a remap for what you will run in going forward in 2 years. You would need to run for the district that you currently live in.

Mr. Wheeler noted that there are some areas that must be grouped together by law and that every action has a reaction when drawing a map.

Mr. Rowe commented on the uniqueness of our county and how we have a rural majority minority community, so that acts as an anchor for the map. Mr. Rowe referred to the public comment of Shirley Bird regarding Sun River Terrace.

Mr. Wheeler continued to review the maps with the committee.

Mr. Wheeler noted that Map E takes a different approach with the Momence area. Mr. Wheeler reminded the committee that the maps could also be adjusted. For example, if you like what Map E did with Momence, but you like the rest of Map B, then it could be looked at to see what is possible. The committee could have hybrid instructions to have maps created and brought back to committee.

The Maps could be adjusted quickly and ready for the Friday meeting or Tuesday meeting if needed.

Mr. Wheeler stated that a map was submitted form the public by Mr. Ciaccio. He had very specific instructions for his submitted map. This drawing changed District 10 to be +16% and District 14 went to -15% and District 13 went to +17% and District 19 went to -24%.

Mr. Rowe stated that this specific map would not pass as a viable map. The deviations dilute the voting weight of individuals in those districts. This map has significant deviations of population by district. With the numbers the way they are, Mr. Rowe couldn’t see that map passing any type of court scrutiny.

Ms. Parker asked to go back to Map E and zoom in between 5 and 2 to see which district would cover the Whitaker/Sumner area by Diversatech.

Mr. Wheeler confirmed that Whitaker would be in District 5.

The committee continued to discuss how slight shifts will affect the population numbers dramatically.

Ms. Webber asked if the only map that puts all of Momence into 1 area was to run the district east-west, which was Map D.

Mr. Wheeler confirmed.

Ms. Parker stated that she appreciated the straight lines with boundaries.

4. Discussion

Mr. Hess asked if there were any more discussion on the maps as presented.

There were no more questions or comments.

5. Elimination or Adoption of Proposed Maps

Map A

Map B

Map C

Map D

Map E

Ciaccio Map (Map F)

Mr. Sirois made a motion to eliminate Map F for the variances in population, and Mr. Fetherling seconded it.

Mr. Rowe detailed the analysis of Map F to support why it is not a viable map.

Motion carried with a roll call vote of 9 ayes and 0 nays. Voting aye were: Mr. Hess, Mr. Payton, Mr. Sirois, Ms. Webber, Ms. Parker, Ms. Polk, Mr. Fetherling, Mr. Hunter and Mr. Collins

Mr. Rowe stated that the State’s Attorney’s Office doesn’t tell the committee or board to approve a map or not to approve a map. When asked for a legal opinion as to whether a map is viable to the extent that a court would look at it and say that’s a fair map. Mr. Rowe’s analysis of that map would be that it is not viable because of that significant deviation in population. That is the basis of his opinion. However, the board could choose to approve that map and go forward with that map, but we would have to likely defend it in court and probably not successfully. The State’s Attorney’s Office doesn’t tell you to approve or not, we just give our best legal opinion.

Mr. Hess asked if there were any other maps that the committee would like to eliminate. Mr. Fetherling asked if Map A was the closest map to what we have currently.

Mr. Wheeler stated that these are about 4 different concepts and the concepts could be hybrid instructions.

Mr. Hunter asked Mr. Wheeler to rank the maps.

Mr. Wheeler stated that all the presented Maps A-E are viable maps and he doesn’t have a ranking to offer.

Mr. Rowe referred Mr. Hunter to the deviation chart for each map.

Mr. Liehr stated that he is not a member of the committee, but of the county board and there is a tremendous amount of detail presented. Mr. Liehr urged the committee to take a little time to research and look more closely before a decision is made.

Mr. Fetherling stated that he likes Map E, you truly can’t get any closer in deviations than that.

Mr. Hunter stated that he had overlooked the deviation charts and that will be helpful for him in determining the differences in maps.

Mr. Hess stated that the goal was to eliminate maps that were not viable, and one map was eliminated today. We could review more and come back at a future meeting.

Mr. Wheeler stated that the maps will be available online and the boards will be up for other board members to review as well.

6. Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Mr. Hess read the future meeting dates to the committee as outlined below.

• May 28, 2021

• June 1, 2021 (Tentative)

• June 4, 2021 (Tentative)

• June 7, 2021 (Tentative)

Mr. Wheeler stated that we don’t want to be in there voting on June 7th, the day before the county board meeting. The ultimate goal would be to wind up on June 4th. Mr. Wheeler suggested getting thru Friday and having a few choices to select from on Tuesday, June 1.

Another option could be requesting a map that encompasses this part of Momence and this part of the city.

Mr. Rowe suggested not going into the full board meeting with only 1 map. When it goes to full board, it is beneficial to have more than 1 available.

Mr. Collins suggested that the committee submit a ranked voting. Where each committee member ranks the maps in order of preference and then compare them to each other to see where we are going with this.

7. Adjournment

Mr. Fetherling made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:58 a.m., and Mr. Hunter seconded it.

Meeting adjourned.

https://www.k3county.net/files/committees/redistricting_524211.pdf