Garrett Neese/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton County Apportionment Commission members William Keith, Dan Holcomb, Brittany Bulleit and Lisa Mattila look at a proposed map during the commission’s final meeting Thursday.

HOUGHTON — Houghton County has potentially found its district map for the next decade.

The county Reapportionment Commission unanimously approved Treasurer Lisa Mattila’s five-district map during its final meeting Thursday.

Residents, officials and even the creators of rival maps endorsed Mattila’s, which they said would be the fairest map and come closest to the current boundaries.

Mattila’s plan keeps the board at five commissioners, which has been the case since 1982. At 10%, it also has the lowest variance between the lowest- and highest-population districts.

Growth in Houghton, which had been its own district, meant the population variance between it and the smallest district would be beyond federal standards. Mattila’s plan split off about 800 residents on the west side of Houghton into District 3, which includes Adams Township and Hancock. Quincy Township, which has 375 residents, would move from District 2 to District 1, which now consists of Calumet and Hancock townships.

In the public comments submitted to the commission, everyone who had a first choice named Mattila’s plan.

“The map is least disruptive to the residents, meets legislative requirements and keeps townships whole,” said county resident David Halonen.

Several people also endorsed Hancock Mayor Pro Tem John Haeussler’s six-district plan if Mattila’s was not approved.

Haeussler pointed out that his six-district plan would violate the fewest state guidelines, by allowing districts that kept townships and cities separate. He said the two plans drawn by the political representatives — Republican Party chair Dan Holcomb and Democratic Party chair William Keith — would likely face legal challenges. He had the most criticism for Keith’s plan, which he thought was drawn for partisan effect.

If Haeussler had a vote, he said, he would choose Mattila’s plan.

“I think it’s common sense to try to be as least disruptive as possible to what we’ve had in place, and we’ve had in place for quite a while,” he said.

Keith said he had drawn a six-district map after talking with Commissioners Glenn Anderson and Gretchen Janssen about the number of boards and committees being split between five members. He also said Houghton County residents share similar interests, and shouldn’t be afraid of an even-numbered board that would require consensus or a district that combines cities and nearby townships. However, he admitted the clear preference for Mattila’s plan, which he motioned to accept.

“It’s quite clear that almost all the comments we’ve received .. have said they’re not really fond of adding a sixth commissioner, and they’re not really fond of more than necessary combining cities and townships,” he said.

Prosecutor Brittany Bulleit identified one potential stumbling block Thursday — a sliver of Quincy Township cut off from the rest of the township near Quincy Hill. In District 2, that hadn’t mattered. In District 1, it means the district is not contiguous, as required by the state.

“It might not be an issue if we didn’t get appealed, but it is not technically contiguous,” Bulleit said.

Commissioners decided to address the issue in their memo to the state.

Moving two non-populated census areas of Hancock into District 1 would be a quick fix, though that would add another case of putting cities and townships in the same district, Bulleit said. Commissioners decided not to suggest a specific remedy to the state.