County Needs To Redistrict Areas

With the eastern end of Roosevelt County growing as far as population, county officials need to address redistricting the county’s three commissioner districts.

Commissioner Gordon Oelkers says his District I now has about 400 more people than each of the other two districts. District I features the Culbertson, Bainville and Froid areas.

District II, represented by Commissioner Gary Macdonald, includes Poplar and some of Wolf Point. District III, represented by commissioner Robert Toavs, features most of Wolf Point and west Wolf Point.

County officials will soon begin having working sessions to address how to slightly change the districts.

Commissioners say the district can only be 10 percent, or about 200 people, apart in size.

“We’re working on that,” Oelkers said.

Macdonald’s seat is up for election in 2024.

Macdonald, who recently turned 81 years old, says that he will definitely not seek re-election. When he completes his term, Macdonald would have served for 25.5 years in the position.

On another note, commissioners continue working on the county road project in order to establish public access.

Two more meetings are being planned in the Culbertson area. After that, meetings will cover roads on the Fort Peck Reservation.