WOODVILLE &045; Appearing before the Wilkinson County Board of Supervisors for the second time in a week, Jackson consultant Derrick Johnson said Monday he would send the county’s proposed supervisor district and precinct line changes to the U. S. Justice Department for clearance on May 20.

Johnson, who was hired to guide the county through the redistricting process in July 2001, said the current plan will eliminate the need for split precinct boxes and allow residents to vote in the same locations as before.

Supervisors are concerned that the district line changes they adopted nine months ago may not be cleared before the Aug. 5 primary elections. That uncertainty may also delay the printing of absentee ballots, which by law must be made available to voters within 45 days of the election.

On May 12, Johnson told the board that he had erroneously sent Wilkinson County’s redistricting plan to the Justice Department in a package with a redistricting plan for Tallahatchie County.

Johnson said the Wilkinson County plan would have to be resubmitted.

At that meeting, supervisors also learned that new precinct lines would be needed to avoid splitting precinct boxes. The board voted then to redraw the precinct lines to conform with the new district lines.

At Monday’s meeting, Johnson provided the board with charts and maps of the proposed new precinct lines, which the board voted 4-0 to adopt.

Fifth District Supervisor W.G. Johnson was absent from Monday’s meeting.

In an effort to prevent any further delays, Board Attorney Ron Senko and Chancery Clerk Thomas Tolliver provided Johnson Monday with certified copies of board orders he requested to include in his submission package. Johnson previously assured the board that Justice Department officials have said they will attempt to expedite their clearance once they receive the plan.

In other action, the board agreed to settle a lawsuit involving the county’s Department of Human Services building and Mike Rozier Construction Co. of Greenwood.

Under the terms of the settlement, Rozier will be paid $21,499.74 from residuals of grant monies used to construct the building.

The county will retain the remaining $20,898.75 in the grant fund, of which $7,600 will be used to pay attorney fees.