GF council approves new ward map

The Grand Forks council has approved a map that redraws ward lines in light of the recent U.S. Census count.

Members gave the green light to a plan dubbed Ponderosa with one minor change.  The idea is to have each ward maintain a balanced headcount – yet not displace any current council members.

Prior to the final vote member Ken Vien expressed concerns that three of the wards seem to meet downtown.  Vien says he would have preferred to have an option that provides better neighborhood alignment.

Council President Dana Sande says he doesn’t see that as a negative.  “Because our wards butt up against each other you will always have somebody on one side of the street representing one group and someone on the other side of the street representing someone else.  The potential for three council members that close (downtown) could give them a benefit.”

The council approved the new ward map on a 5 to 1 vote.