BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

INEZ — Martin County’s five magisterial districts will retain their current boundaries following a recent reapportionment study. The news was confirmed Thursday by Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty during a Martin County Fiscal Court meeting.

“The reapportionment plan makes no changes,” Lafferty stated before carrying out the initial reading of an ordinance adopting the final report of the reapportionment commissioners.

The Reapportionment Commission, responsible for the report, consists of James Ayer, Kayla May and Garry Gauze. Each member will be compensated $75 by the county for their contributions.

Martin County Clerk Susie Skyles, although a nonvoting participant on the Commission, presented district population data to the Fiscal Court. Skyles noted the Commission deducted the federal prison population of 1,337 from District 2.

The updated population statistics for the districts are as follows:

• District 1: 1,992 residents

• District 2: 2,029 residents (after the amendment)

• District 3: 2,102 residents

• District 4: 1,928 residents

• District 5: 1,899 residents

The Fiscal Court will conduct the final reading of the ordinance in their upcoming session Oct. 12.