Lincoln County’s redistricting process took another step forward Tuesday night, as supervisors sought citizen input at a public hearing in the circuit courtroom.

Although 23 persons signed an official roll taken by redistricting consultant Bill Rigby, only three citizens made remarks to be taken down by a court reporter.

The county redistricting is required to equalize the population after the 2010 census indicated shifts between the five supervisors’ districts.

A court order requires that at least one of the supervisor districts have a minimum black population of 65 percent, according to county attorney Bob Allen.

However, District One, which is the current minority population district, has decreased below 60 percent, based on the recent census.

Rigby handed out pamphlets detailing the current distribution and post-2010 census population and minority percentages in the county and each district.

Rigby said every effort will be made to change only the supervisors’ lines and not the justice court districts.

During the public input period, Roy Smith took the podium to ask if the numbers included the city of Brookhaven’s approximately 55 percent minority population.

Rigby said the city population was included, but “what is on the census database is not necessarily correct on county lines. I’ve seen that in nearly every one I’ve checked,” he said.

“The census bureau relies on the governmental bodies to turn that (data) in,” he continued.

Allen suggested the county obtain the data used by the city during its recent redistricting process to ensure the most up-to-date information.

Carl Brown came to the podium to ask if deceased voters had been removed from the new totals, and Rigby pointed out that he obtained the current data and it is up to the circuit clerk’s office to correct that information each year.

Dorothy Alexander of District One was concerned whether voters would be added to or taken away from her district during the equalization process.

Rigby said that in all likelihood, population would be need to be added from other districts.

District One’s total decreased from 6,277 to 5,446 persons in the 2010 census, and the minority percentage dropped to 58.13 percent.

During the same period, the county’s population as a whole rose from 33,166 to 34,869, with an increase in the overall minority percentage from 27.6 to 28.71.

In the next stage in the redistricting process, the supervisors will work on drawing up new district lines.

“When the board comes to agreement on a plan, we’ll schedule another public hearing to receive comments,” Rigby said.

Once determined, the date will be advertised in the newspaper, he told the group.