Legislative Redistricting Could Bring Significant Changes to Inver Grove Heights

For the first time in decades, Inver Grove Heights could span not one, but two legislative districts.

On Monday, State Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-District 43A) of Plymouth, released her plan, HF1425, to redraw the state's legislative boundaries, an exercise that occurs every decade after each Census. If approved, the plan could bring some significant changes to Inver Grove's House and Senate legislative districts.

Since 1982, the boundaries of Senate District 39 and House District 39B have encompassed the city limits of Inver Grove Heights, according to historic legislative maps. Anderson's plan, however, would divide the community into two legislative districts by splitting the city along Concord Boulevard in the east and Hwy. 55 in the west.

Under the plan, the northern portion of the city (above Hwy. 55 and Concord), would merge with Sunfish Lake and Mendota Heights to form House District 50A. The lower third of the city — including the Marcott Lakes area and neighborhoods along Rich Valley Boulevard and Inver Grove Trail — would become part of House District 56B, sharing a representative with residents from Rosemount and portions of Eagan. House District 39B is currently represented by Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL).

Anderson's plan also calls for significant alterations to Senate District 39, which is  represented by Sen. Jim Metzen (DFL). District 39 currently spans all of Inver Grove, South and West St. Paul, Mendota Heights and Sunfish Lake. The new plan, however, would extend the southern border of the district north to Hwy. 55 and Concord Boulevard. Residents living south of that line would become part of Senate District 56, which encompasses Rosemount and Eagan.

The House Redistricting Committee will discuss and likely move the proposal out of committee Tuesday night. The House would then have to approve the plan and pair it with a Senate plan, which has not been released yet.

If Gov. Mark Dayton vetoes the maps, the courts will redraw the lines after Feb. 21, 2012.

The current plan has 20 House members and their districts being merged. That would mean 10 House representatives would lose seats. Five of those match-ups are between two Democratic representatives, four match-ups feature a Democrat and a Republican and just one match-up is between two Republicans.

Correction: This story has been changed to reflect an inaccuracy. The article incorrectly identified the number of the redistricting bill, and contained a link to the incorrect bill.