A discussion about redistricting continued April 2 at the Macon County Planning Board’s first meeting in a year.
The board’s last meeting was April 9, 2025, since which the board was reduced from 11 to five members by the Macon County Board of Commissioners in an attempt to make the board better able to reach a quorum at its meetings.
David Culpepper, recently appointed by the Macon County Board of Commissioners, was sworn in at the beginning of the meeting and promptly made the board’s chair. Luke Jakushev was elected as the board’s vice-chair.
Three public commenters attended the meeting to speak in favor of Commissioner John Shearl’s redistricting plan.
Jim Gaston said the current system was outdated and the county’s growing population would require it to change.
“If there were simple changes to the election process and restructuring district lines for equal representation to include at-large seats or district-only voting, Maconians would have much better consistency and fairness,” he said. “For example, with three equal-sized districts and two at-large seats, Highlands would have the potential to have three seats on the Board of Commissioners, as would everybody else. Everyone in the county would have that same opportunity to run as a candidate every two years instead of four years. I’m from District 3 and would like to have the same benefits as District 2 enjoy.”
Bill Trick echoed Gaston’s comments, saying “I think that the proposal under consideration – with a District 1 rep, a District 2 rep, a District 3 rep and then two at large – does indeed help to not disenfranchise voters in different districts … so I urge you to adopt a resolution to the county commission urging them to implement that plan.”
Jimmy Goodman also supported correcting the electoral system but said “I don’t care how y’all do it, five districts, two districts … just make it fair to every single citizen that lives in Macon County.”
The conversation around redistricting restarted in December 2025, eventually being moved from the Board of Commissioners to the Planning Board in March as commissioners wanted to see more details and public input on a specific redistricting plan.
Shearl, a liaison to the Planning Board, has been pushing for a three-district system with two at-large seats. He has argued this system will be fairest for those interested in running for commissioners’ seats by giving each individual the option to run every two years, either for their district or, during the off-years, for an at-large seat.
The board briefly discussed options, deciding to discuss the measure further as well as different redistricting plans at the May 7 meeting. They also will take questions about the redistricting from the public at that meeting.
“Everything’s up for debate here, let’s just make it the best decision possible that does represent our county,” Culpepper said. “It’s geographically diverse and population diverse.”
Impervious surfaces variance request
Franklin Town Manager Amie Owens requested the county’s impervious surface variance up to the maximum (70%) to allow for the town to make improvements to the water treatment plant.
The water treatment plant currently uses a 56,000 well to store treated water, but Owens said the town is looking to add a larger well of 250,000 gallons with potential for another tank to be added later.
“What that does is actually give us storage capacity of treated water so that we’re not having to run the plant as often, we’re more efficient that way,” she said. “In the event of, heaven forbid, an emergency we’re going to have at least a million gallons of potable water that’s available that we could get out to citizens even if there’s an issue in the system as a whole.”
Impervious surface ordinances typically exist to protect the watershed as rainwater falling on “impervious surfaces” like concrete no longer soaks into the ground and could potentially cause local flooding. Owens said protecting the watershed would continue to be a priority for Franklin. The total area of the property is 8.8 acres.
The board voted to hold a public hearing on the matter at the Planning Board’s May 7 meeting at 5 p.m. at the Human Services building.