Update: the agenda for the 3 Jan 2011 special session is posted on the county webpages.
Lowndes County staff have an update about the recent vote for adding two new superdistricts:

COMMISSION EXPANSION

On Monday, January 3, 2011, the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners held a special called meeting during which the adoption of a resolution expressing the county’s desire to move forward with the expansion of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, as previously directed by the voters of Lowndes County, was unanimously approved.

This is on the county’s front page, with links to

• the resolution that was approved,
• a county-wide map of the new districts, which seems to answer my question about which map was correct: the one in the VDT, or the one then on the county’s own website. Looks like the VDT map was correct, and the one now on the county’s website matches it.
• a map of the parts of the superdistricts within Valdosta.

I suppose this explains why I didn’t hear back about this same information in response to my open records request: they put it on the county web pages. That’s fine with me.

What is not included is the demographic information that is supposed to demonstrate that the east district is a majority-minority district. I will ask for that tomorrow morning at the work session, or file another open records request if necessary.

Meanwhile, here’s the rest of the relevant text from the county’s front page:

Since, the resolution has been forwarded to the county attorney for the drafting of a proposed bill amending the Local Act to provide for expansion of the Commission. Once drafted the bill must be sent to the Office of Legislative Counsel in Atlanta and with the consent of a member of Lowndes County’s local legislative delegation, the Office of Legislative Counsel will prepare an official bill.

Once the bill is prepared, a Notice of Intent to Introduce Local Legislation will be published in the Valdosta Daily Times in accordance with O.C.G.A. 28-1-14(a). After publication, a member of the local legislative delegation may introduce the bill.

Pending no other obstacles during the current session of the General Assembly, the legislation will pass the House and Senate.

Once signed by the Governor, a Section 5 submission must be presented to the Department of Justice.

For more information regarding expansion of the Lowndes County Board of Commissioners, citizens may call 229-671-2400. Thank you for your interest in your local government.

-jsq

Short Link: