Proposed map would bring change to each Aiken City Council district

Mar. 5—The boundaries of the six single-member Aiken City Council districts could soon change.

The Aiken City Council is expected to hold the second of two public input sessions for its proposed map realigning the council districts to comply with the one person, one vote principle from 6-7 p.m. Monday at the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center located at 416 Kershaw St. N.E.

Aiken City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh said recently each of the city council districts would change if the proposed map is approved by the city council.

District 1

He said District 1 (northeast Aiken; Democrat Gail Diggs) was one of two districts that needed to lose people — i.e. the growth in the district is faster than in other areas of the city. — in order to comply with the one person, one vote principle.

Bedenbaugh said the district's boundary with District 2 currently follows York Street until the road crosses the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks at which point it follows the railroad tracks to the city's boundary. He said under the proposed map the boundary would continue to follow York Street.

He said the district would also lose part of the Gatewood and Millbrook subdivisions to District 6.

If the new districts are adopted by the Aiken City Council, the district would have 5,256 people (16.41% of the city). The population of the district would be 61.97% Black, 29.11% white, 4.47% Hispanic and 4.45% other.

District 2

Bedenbaugh said District 2 (northwest Aiken; Democrat Lessie Price) had to gain several hundred voters — i.e. the population growth in this district is slower than some of the other areas of the city. — in order to comply with the one person, one vote principle.

The district would gain the roughly triangular area between York Street and the railroad tracks from District 1. It would also gain a roughly rectangular area bounded by Richland Avenue, Hayne Avenue and Union Street and part of the Kalmia Hill area from District 3.

Bedenbaugh said he called the roughly rectangular area the Hayne Avenue Corridor and added the area was part of District 2 from 2003 until 2013.

The district also gains a square-shaped area bounded by Laurens Street, South Boundary Avenue, York Street and the railroad tracks from District 6.

Bedenbaugh said the square area was the area around the Willcox.

The district would have 5,354 people (16.72% of the city). And the population would be 58.05% Black, 35.11% white, 3.34% Hispanic and 3.49% other.

District 3

Bedenbaugh said District 3 (central western Aiken; Republican Kay Brohl) needed to gain approximately 200 voters.

The district would gain the subdivisions on the western side of Silver Bluff Road from Pine Log Road (near the Food Lion) to Town Creek Road from District 4. It would also add the Charleston Row subdivision, a portion pf the River Bluff subdivision and a part of another subdivision to the east bounded by Sandstone Boulevard from District 5.

The district loses the Hayne Avenue Corridor to District 2.

The district would contain 5,248 people (16.39% of the city) and the population would be 77.99% white, 13.76% Black, 3.24% Hispanic and 5.01% other.

District 4

Bedenbaugh said District 4 (southwest Aiken; Republican Ed Girardeau) was the fastest growing district in the city and needed to lose around 1,200 voters.

In addition to the loss of the subdivisions west of Silver Bluff Road to District 3, the district would also lose a portion of Woodside including the area around the main entrance on Silver Bluff Road and homes to the west of Burden Lake Road until the road crosses the golf course to District 5.

The district would also lose the Kensington subdivision and an area near the Target shopping center to District 5.

The district would have a population of 5,339 people (16.67% of the city) with a population that's 83.39% white, 7.25% Black, 3.54% Hispanic and 5.83% other.

District 5

Bedenbaugh did not mention if District 5 (southeast Aiken, Republican Andrea Gregory) needed to lose or gain population.

The district picks up the portion of Woodside, the Kensington subdivision and the area around Target from District 4.

It loses a portion of River Bluff and a portion of another subdivision to the east bounded by Sandstone Boulevard to District 3 and most of the Virginia Acres subdivision to District 6.

The district's population would be 5,382 people (16.81% of the city) and it would be 71.79% white, 17% Black, 3.94% Hispanic and 7.26% other.

District 6

Bedenbaugh said District 6 (central eastern Aiken; Republican Ed Woltz) needed to gain voters.

The district gains Gatewood and Millbrook subdivisions from District 1 and the Virginia Acres subdivision from District 5. It loses the square-shaped area bounded by Laurens Street, South Boundary Avenue, York Street and the railroad tracks to District 2.

The district's population would be 5,446 people (17.01% of the city). It would be 72.31% white, 18.93% Black, 4.26% Hispanic and 4.5% other.

Next steps

After the public hearing Monday, the city council can consider an ordinance amending the district boundaries. The council would need to consider and approve the ordinance twice.

The next city council meeting after the public hearing is scheduled for March 13.