Council proceeds with new ward boundaries

The Washington City Council passed the second reading of an ordinance to adopt new ward boundaries at a special session Wednesday night.

Under the proposed ordinance, the dividing line between Ward 1, which covers the northwest part of town, and Ward 2, which covers the northeast, would begin at the north end of town at the intersection of 18

^th

Street and North Marion Avenue. The boundary line would go south one block until it meets 17

^th

Street and then turn east for two blocks until Second Avenue. The line would go south on Second Avenue all the way to Fifth Street where it would turn east for two blocks once again. It would go south on Fourth Avenue until Jefferson Street, which would mark the southeast edge of Ward 1.

The southern edge of Ward 1, which separates it from Ward 4 in the southwest corner, would begin on Main Street west of Highway 1. It would run east until Avenue H, where it would turn south for a block, then turn east for a block on Washington Street, and then turn south again onto Avenue G and then east once more onto Jefferson Street until Fourth Avenue.

The line separating Wards 3 and 4 would begin at Jefferson and Fourth Avenue, run south two blocks until Monroe Street, go west a block onto Third Avenue, run south until Polk Street, west two blocks onto Iowa Avenue and then south on Iowa Avenue until it reaches the city limits at the intersection with Lincoln Street.

The dividing line between Ward 2 and Ward 3 is a straight line that would run east along Washington Street from Fourth Avenue until the city limits just east of Wiley Avenue.

Under the proposed map, Ward 1 would have 1,828 residents. Ward 2 would be the smallest with 1,769 residents. Ward 3 would be the biggest with 1,840 residents and Ward 4 would have the same as Ward 1 with 1,828 residents. The State Auditor requires that no ward be 10 percent larger than the smallest ward.

Mayor Sandra Johnson said Ward 2 was made small intentionally because the city expects growth in that ward. She said the city also expects growth in Ward 4.

Councilor Bob Shepherd represents Ward 1. Councilor Russ Zieglowsky represents Ward 2. Councilor Mike Roth represents Ward 3. Councilor Fred Stark represents Ward 4. Councilors Karen Wilson-Johnson and Merlin Hagie are elected ?at large,? meaning by the entire city and thus do not have wards.

In other news, the council passed an election precinct agreement with the Washington County Temporary Redistricting Commission whereby the county would be allowed to use the city?s polling places.

The council approved a request from Washington County Relay for Life to hold next year?s Relay Saturday, June 23. The inside lane plus the inside half of parking in the median will be closed on all four sides of the square that day.

Johnson said she and City Attorney Craig Arbuckle discussed the employment agreement with city administrator candidate Brent Hinson. Johnson said they also discussed it with Karl Nollenberger, vice president of the executive search firm Voorhees Associates LLC, which the council employed to whittle its candidate pool from 91 to five. Johnson said she, Arbuckle, Nollenberger and Hinson tweaked the agreement and that by the time they were done they were all satisfied with the finished product. The council voted to approve the agreement with Hinson.

The council also authorized Johnson to enter into a contract with RDG Planning and Design to create a comprehensive plan for the city.