Lowe said the public hearing is not required but the city wants to provide a platform for any concerned citizens. He said that according to the city’s legal counsel, the Department of Justice could require that the city hold a public hearing to ensure that all interested persons have the opportunity to review the proposed changes.

“Allowing everyone the chance to understand and voice opinions on matters that affect them before those changes take place is always a good idea,” Mayor Lowe said.

The city contracted with Shelby County Development Services to create a district map that complies with current state and federal laws. Erick Womack, a senior planner with development services, said precedence may exist to exempt the inmate figures from the district calculations, but the city would have to pursue that possibility through legal channels.