Commission creates citizen group to help with redistricting after voters approve expansion to five commissioners

The Bourbon County Commission voted to allow a community involvement group to assist with redistricting after voters approved a ballot initiative changing the commission from three to five seats. Speaker 3 moved to create the group, and Speaker 1 seconded the motion; the commission approved the motion by voice vote.

Michael Hoyt told the commission he believes voters want the new five‑commissioner districts and volunteered to recruit two or three community members to serve on the group. Commissioners asked Matt Quick and Shane Walker to accept the group's assistance as an oversight resource; the commission emphasized that the citizen group would not make final decisions—the commission retains authority to adopt the map and must submit any proposed map to the state for review.

Staff noted the redistricting work must use 2020 census data and that a house bill referenced at the meeting includes a January 31 deadline that could shift responsibility to the courts if the commission does not act in time. Commission staff said they are working on map drafts and will send them to the state for confirmation; the meeting record did not show a final map or a scheduled special election date, only that the process is underway.