Johnson County Redistricting Part 2

The Joshua City Council convened last night in special session for a couple items including the current Johnson County redistricting issue.  Prior to the meeting Joshua City Manager, Paulette Hartman, was able to obtain a more recent version of the redistricting map as you can see below.  Since a street level view has still not been made public by the county that map didn't help the discussion much last night although I was able to tell that the Precinct 4 area had increased to the east over what I was allowed to see last week.

I still have mixed feelings on this version of the map.  On one hand I would prefer Joshua remain wholly in Precinct 2.  On the other hand I'm glad that a larger portion of the city is now in Precinct 4 if any of it has to be there.  The greater the numbers in any one precinct the better the representation should be.

What infuriates me still is the blatant disregard for openness in this process and even seemingly an effort to conceal.  As of this writing, Friday morning, September 1st, the Commissioners Court will convene a special session at 9am Tuesday, September 6th, one business day from now.  At that time they are to discuss what would have to be a final map.  That map should be in their hands now and if it is then it should also be available to the public.  Yesterday's Joshua Star quotes Precinct 4 Commissioner, Don Beeson, as saying "We're trying to get a map printed that will show streets".  None of this work is even possible without street level maps.  It all stems from rooftops and occupants.  That's the point of the entire exercise.  Why now just days before decisions are to made do the decision makers not have access to the information?  If they do have access to the information then the public should have access to it as well?

I'm guessing they have the information since I do...now.  After inquiring about the maps from one of the consultants hired by the county he supplied me with the image below.  Amazingly it is a street level map.  The bold line running down Hwy 174 designates Precinct 2 on the west side and Precinct 4 on the east side.  From there you can follow it around to see how the city is split.

So it turns out the information is not really that hard to come by.  That makes me wonder why it's not on the county website for everyone to see or available to see in detail at the court house.  That may be a question you want to ask at the public hearings next Wednesday.  I know I will.

A.J.