The newly annexed residents from Northern Township were placed into Bemidji’s Ward 3, despite a previous plan to split the newly annexed area between Wards 2 and 3.
According to a letter in city documents, the new Bemidji residents were placed into Ward 3 after the Public Affairs Committee met last week with the City Attorney and Beltrami County Auditor-Treasurer, and followed recommendations from the Secretary of State’s office.
Ward 3 already has two precincts due to a congressional district boundary, and the newly annexed properties must go into Ward 3 Precinct 2 since it’s the only existing immediately adjacent precinct that would not cross a congressional district boundary.
During the redistricting process after the 2020 Census, the city will likely look at modifying ward boundaries at the same time as modifying precinct boundaries.
