Wright Co. Alters Districts, Moves St. Michael, Albertville Precincts

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN — Two voting precincts in St. Michael are set to swap districts with two precincts in Albertville after the Wright County Board of Commissioners approved a new map last month.

Officials said in August that they would not have to redraw the county’s five commissioner districts after the 2020 Census, as population figures “fell well within the limits that won’t require redistricting.”

The 2020 Census showed Wright County had 141,337 residents, meaning each of the five commissioner districts was required to have a population between 25,440 and 31,094. Officials provided data in August that showed the population in all five districts was within that range.

Trump 2020 Flag Can Fly High In Wright County: Appeals Court

Officials said it was the first time in 50 years that the county did not have to redraw its districts after a census, calling the redistricting process “laborious, expensive and often contentious.”

The board revisited the idea of redistricting earlier this year after residents proposed swapping two precincts in St. Michael — the only Wright County municipality split between two districts — with two precincts in Albertville.

Residents proposed the swap because the 2020 Census showed the county’s largest district had almost 4,000 more residents than the smallest district, officials said.

Average Rent Up 16% In Wright County Since Pandemic Started: Report

Steve Bot, who serves as St. Michael’s city administrator and director of public works, urged the board at a public hearing April 19 to not make any changes to the map.

The Wright County Board of Commissioners reviewed 11 redistricting options a decade ago following the 2010 Census, and St. Michael was split between districts in each option, Bot said.

Making no changes to the county’s commissioners districts and keeping the city split “was fine with the City of St. Michael,” Bot said.

The board then listened to residents for about 30 minutes before considering several redistricting options.

STMA Teen Drafted By Sioux Falls Stampede In US Hockey League

Commissioner Mark Daleiden made a motion to keep the current map. His motion was seconded by Commissioner Mary Wetter, but the board voted it down 3-2.

Commissioner Darek Vetsch then made a motion for the board to approve the new map that would swap St. Michael and Albertville districts. The board approved that motion by a 3-2 vote after Board Chair Christine Husom handed her gavel to Vetsch, who serves as vice chair, and seconded the motion herself.

Commissioner Mike Kaczmarek then joined Vetsch and Husom in voting to approve the revised map, while Daleiden and Wetter voted against them.

Husom and Daleiden are both set to retire at the end of 2022 as their terms expire.

The difference in population between Wright County’s largest and smallest districts under the new map is just 806 residents, officials said.

Wright County’s New Commissioner Districts By Precinct

District 1

• Buffalo 1, 2, 3; Buffalo Township; Chatham Township 1, 2; Albion Township; Annandale; Corinna Township; South Haven; Southside Township

District 2

• Monticello 1, 2, 3, 4; Monticello Township; Maple Lake; Maple Lake Township; Silver Creek Township; Clearwater 1; Clearwater Township

District 3

• Otsego 1A, 2A, 3B, 4B; Albertville 1, 2; Dayton

District 4

• St. Michael 1, 2, 3, 4; Hanover 2; Rockford; Rockford Township 1, 2

District 5

• Delano; Franklin Township; Montrose; Waverly; Marysville Township; Woodland Township; Howard Lake; Victor Township; Middleville Township; Cokato; Cokato Township; Stockholm Township

REGIONAL NEWS:

• Fire Killed Woman, Injured Husband In Maple Grove Home: Chief
• ‘Dangerous Erosion Of Freedom’: Phillips Pans SCOTUS’ Roe v. Wade Plan
• Cleveland Browns To Sign Former STMA Star As Undrafted Free Agent
• Wright County To Close, ‘Mothball’ Old Government Center In Buffalo