Partial split of districts sore idea with county fathers

The idea that two or three of Oconee’s five districts may have to trade voters to accede to balance the populations doesn’t sit well with the council; nevertheless, the council directed the county attorney to draft ordinances in time for its second January meeting.  District One’s John Elliott, council chairman, called again last night to switch 747 residents from his district to the adjoining District Two, as a way to comply with the principle of one-man, one-vote and allow the 747 northern District One residents to move to District Two—a district that Elliott believes will be more compatible to them than the lakeside communities in District One.  But Elliott’s preference drew reaction from Matthew Durham, the District Two councilman.  Durham complained that there are many Oconeeans who don’t know which district they live in, and further he believes that, so far, there has been insufficient public notice of the changes that could affect all five districts, and he urged his colleagues to schedule community meetings as a better way to get the word out.  The task the council assigned last night to David Root, county attorney, includes a request to come up with maps showing the proposed changes.  Later in the meeting Root gave Walhalla area resident Berry Nichols a copy of the draft of a color-coded map, and Nichols said he believes a map should be sent to all Oconee County residents.