BAMBERG – The first reading of an ordinance to adopt new voting district lines was approved by Bamberg City Council Monday night.

The council, after hearing the concerns of some residents about the proposed redistricting at a Nov. 20 special called meeting, compromised with a decision announced Monday not to allow the new ordinance to take effect until the next fiscal year which begins July 2007.

Mayor Alton McCollum said the purpose of the proposed redrawn district lines is to bring the number of voters for each district closer in line with each other.

During the public comments portion of a special called meeting on Nov. 20 for the council to vote on whether or not to move forward with redistricting, several residents expressed dissatisfaction at the fast pace with which the city council appeared to be moving to redraw and enforce the new voting lines. Some attending the Nov. 20 meeting asked why only one map was presented for consideration.

Resident Craig Walker said at that meeting, “I would like to see what didn’t make the cut and made it to the trash instead.”

On Monday night, City Clerk Bruce Watson cautioned council members about what might happen if they moved too quickly to enforce new voting line districts.

“I know the final decision is up to council. But, we have an election coming up in April 2007, and the filing period for that election is January 2007. If we try to use the proposed voting lines with that upcoming election, I see where a lot of people could be confused,” Watson said.

“Just looking at my calendar and what I’ll need to do, I’ll have to start the process by having a notice in the paper next week,” he added. “With everything that needs to be done, we might not be ready until January.”

Watson went on to explain how crucial it is that voters have enough time to understand where they must vote and what district they must file in to run for an open seat on the city council.

While the council members are now referring to a second map as “Plan B,” that plan is actually the original map with a slight variation. During the Nov. 20 meeting, Watson said there was a mistake with the original map.

“We discovered that we had Councilwoman Nancy Foster in the wrong district, so we had to go back and put her in her current elected district,” Watson said at that meeting.

Also Monday, Councilman Alex Boykin announced that he is resigning from Bamberg City Council effective Dec. 31. Boykin said he was resigning because he purchased a house in another district and would no longer be able to serve in the district where he is currently serving.

In other business, Boykin, reporting for the Public Buildings, Parks and Franchises Commission, said the bleachers had been purchased and erected for the basketball courts at the Ness Sports Complex and that repairs to the basketball goals and other related repairs had been made.

Council approved Boykin’s request to move forward with placing a memorial bench in Foster Park in memory of the late Coach Al Ramsey who served on the Bamberg Recreation Committee for many years.

Reporting for the insurance commission, Councilwoman Betty Mack said the municipal insurance premiums for 2007 increased.

“But, overall, the city will save approximately $4,000 due to minimal claims files,” she noted.

During the meeting, Watson updated council about the efforts to rezone Cricket Brook Drive from R1 to R3. He said a public hearing concerning the matter will be held at the next regular council meeting.

“I have sent certified letters to inform those who own property in the area about the matter,” Watson said.

He also announced that the Bamberg Planning Commission will meet on Dec. 18.

“After the Planning Commission meets, they well send us their recommendation,” Watson said.

Also during the meeting:

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