By Brad Gaskins / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – The Shelby County Commission on Monday passed a resolution approving the redistricting plan for the county’s nine commission districts, despite continued opposition from the city of Alabaster.

Prior to the vote Monday morning, three Alabaster officials spoke against the plan, all voicing concerns with Alabaster being split among six commission districts.

During an Aug. 1 meeting, the Alabaster City Council voted unanimously to condemn the redistricting plan, claiming it would “fragment and dilute” the city’s representation on future commissions.

“It’s just a matter of concentrated representation,” Alabaster City Administrator George Henry told commissioners.

“We ask that if at all possible you not vote to approve this this morning so that we can continue to work on this,” Henry added. “I believe that other cities that are in the west-central part of our county have very similar concerns with how they are represented at the commission level, maybe for different reasons, but certainly based upon the concentrated portions of their populations.”

Alabaster City Council President Jim McClain and City Councilman Rick Walters also voiced opposition to the plan, and also asked the county to postpone the vote.

County Attorney Butch Ellis said the redistricting plan has to be in the hands of the Department of Justice for review no later than August 15.

County Manager Alex Dudchock said the county’s Department of Development Services, which was responsible for the plan, did the job it was asked to do.

“It was developed consistently with the County Commission’s protocols and wishes” Dudchock said.

“The 17 municipalities that have jurisdiction within our county were extended the same approach and due diligence that development services personnel has historically done,” he added. “I feel very comfortable and confident that development services personnel up until today’s vote did due justice relative to how it was calculated and performed.”

In other actions, the council:

— appointed Corlette Stewart, Tim Nelson and Butch Burbage to the Shelby County Parks and Recreation Authority, and reappointed Vance Williamson and Shannon Ealy to another term.

— appointed Chief Assistant District Attorney Jill Lee to the Shelby County Community Corrections Board to serve the remainder of the term vacated by Bill Bostick.