Until corrected information from the Census Bureau arrives, the redistricting plan to alter DeKalb’s wards still is on hold.

“[The city] is obviously held in a short time frame,” Mayor Greg Sparrow said.

Elections for odd-numbered wards are in April, but circulation of petitions for the seats begins Oct. 23.

Census information has been available for almost a year; however, certain areas showing population growth were inaccurate and required the city to challenge the results.

“The census records had population allocated in the wrong areas,” City Clerk Donna Johnson said.

Two specific mistakes in the census report were that the football stadium held 3,000 residents, and that the DeKalb Nursing Home did not have any residents, Johnson said. As soon as the Census Bureau sends these corrected numbers to the city, a redrawing of the districts can begin.

First Ward Alderman Andy Small stressed the importance of having the redistricting plan completed soon.

Possible candidates need to know which district they live in if there is a change, Small said.

“It helps people in making a decision about running,” Small said.

The 2000 Census data shows that the population of DeKalb has increased to 39,018 residents, which resulted in disproportionate amounts of voters in the wards. This will require the city council to approve a plan adjusting the borders for certain districts.

“Things will be moved around a little bit,” said City Clerk Donna Johnson. “But we are not looking at any major changes.”

Concern about the effect of redistricting on student representation in the city council surfaced during the summer.

Second Ward Alderman Kris Povlsen said that he hopes there will not be any major changes, but still wants more students in traditionally non-student wards.

“I would like to see more wards to include more students, since I view them not as just students but as citizens,” he said.