El Paso County’s population continues to creep outside of the city, as evidenced in two proposed plans to redraw boundaries of county commission districts.Both plans would result in the urban District 5 gaining more population and voters than any of the other four districts. That indicates the county’s population is growing more rapidly in the outlying districts, requiring the county to add voters and population to District 5, which lies in the core area of Colorado Springs.”The population continues to grow to the northeast,” Clerk and Recorder Bob Balink said.Redistricting is done every two years, if necessary, to balance populations in all five commission districts.This year, the districts’ populations range from 117,600 in District 5, the seat held by Commission Chairman Jim Bensberg, to 123,000 in District 2, which begins on the eastern side of Colorado Springs and extends to the county line. It’s held by Amy Lathen.Balink noted that as boundaries shift to accommodate growth in the east and northeast, the eastern boundary of District 5 is inching eastward.”Amy Lathen is on the edge, just off Academy (Boulevard) near Carefree Circle,” he said. “She’s within blocks (of District 5’s boundary).” Lathen lives in Village Seven subdivision.But both 2009 proposals drafted by Balink’s office keep her in District 2, a seat she won in November after being appointed a year earlier to fill the unexpired term of Douglas Bruce.Balink said the changes are minor. One proposal calls for changing six precincts in four districts. District 4, the Fountain Valley district, wouldn’t be affected.The other proposal would affect all five districts by shifting seven precincts.Both proposals would even out the population in each to 120,000.About 3,600 to 3,900 voters would be affected.”It’s not hugely significant at all,” Balink said. “It’s just part of our responsibility to do so, they can even it up and pick one of the two.”Commissioners will open a 30-day public comment period Tuesday. A new map must be adopted by June 30.Commissioners meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at 27 E. Vermijo St.

See the plans at the El Paso County Web site.

Call the writer at 636-0238 

Palmer High School’s Maurice Blackledge won the long jump Saturday with an effort of 21 feet, 9 3/4 inches. Photo by KIRK SPEER, THE GAZETTE