Boyle County will be going through reapportionment starting in May, which will change magisterial districts to account for a growing population.

Kentucky counties must go through reapportionment every 10 years after the decennial census is complete. This time, the process was delayed about two years due to Covid-19.

According to the Census Bureau, Boyle County’s population increased from 28,432 in 2010 to 30,747 in 2021.

The Fiscal Court agreed to work with the Bluegrass Area Development District on reapportionment at their meeting on March 14. Boyle County Clerk Casey McCoy said he believes the large task of reapportionment merits working with a professional team.

Shane New with Bluegrass ADD said that jails, prisons, and Centre College have the potential to change the demographics of Boyle County. He made a presentation about what the county needs to do for the project.

The county will need to form a Reapportionment Committee. They will appoint three competent citizens of the county over 21 years of age who reside in different districts to serve on the committee.

Once they appoint a committee, they have 60 days to complete the process. BGADD will help the committee through the process, and will act as a professional mapping consultant.

According to the agreement, BGADD will correct the LRC coverage to match current census TIGER files. They will then run a proprietor to combine the census population data with the precinct boundaries, providing population per precinct.

Each of the six districts has to have roughly the same population, usually within 5% more or less than the others.

They’ll meet with the committee and use the same proprietor software moving areas of high population from one magisterial district to another.

BGADD will create all maps and database files needed for the Fiscal Court to adopt new magisterial boundaries. The Fiscal Court will be able to review a draft map, and if they believe it needs changes they can work with BGADD to make changes for the final map.

Reapportionment will also change voting precincts, and BGADD will help in getting voter data and mapping any changes. New said this can be a longer wait time, as they need to wait for the state to make its precinct changes.

BGADD will also create a web based mapping program that will allow users to find their voting precinct, and other datasets provided by the county. It will be an interactive online mapping program available for one year after project completion.

The county agreed to pay $7,000 to BGADD for reapportionment work.

In other business, the court:

• Passed the first reading of amendments to the Animal Control Ordinance 842.1. Amendments include that the county will do yearly visits to each kennel in the county to make sure they are operating within regulations. Language about noise has also been taken out.

County Administrator Julie Wagner said that the ordinance amendments are in response to complaints about kennels, and requests from the Humane Society. Magistrate Jason Cullen asked if veterinarian office kennels are included in the ordinance, and if those are state-regulated or need to be added to this ordinance. Judge Trille Bottom said they would look into it and have more information at the next meeting. Cullen voted against the first reading.

• Reappointed James Hunn to the Birthplace of Kentucky Committee. His term will end on March 1, 2026.

• Appointed Lauren Clontz to the Birthplace of Kentucky Committee. Her term will end on March 1, 2026.