LaGrange City Council has been asked to consider consolidating some of the city’s eight voting districts in time for the November municipal elections

Council discussed the request by Elections Superintendent Donald Boyd at its meeting Tuesday.

Council looked at immediate and future implications of combining the Lee’s Crossing voting precinct with the Hollis Hand precinct and the Highland precinct with the Griggs Recreation Center precinct before or after the November elections.

“The city has not agreed on this,” City Manager Tom Hall said. “Right now, it’s just speculation based on the request.”

Boyd’s request would mean Lee’s Crossing voters would vote at Hollis Hand Elementary School instead of Ethel Kight Magnet School, while Highland area voters would go to the recreation center instead of Troup High School.

“This will save the city money and I believe the change can be handled relatively smoothly,” Boyd wrote in a letter to council and Mayor Jeff Lukken. “I can get more specific if the council thinks this is a viable solution.”

After discussing various concerns, Lukken said he, City Manager Tom Hall and Deputy City Manager Meg Kelsey will meet with Boyd within the next few weeks to further discuss the issue.

“We don’t want to throw a curve ball right before the election,” Kelsey said. “Some people might not find out about it in time or might have transportation issues.”

The city’s other voting locations include Gardner Newman Middle School on Shannon Drive off Hogansville Road, Griggs Recreation Center on Glenn Robertson Drive, Faith Baptist Church on Hammett Road, the Troup County Board of Education building on North Davis Road, the former Administration Building on Dallis Street and Ethel Kight Magnet School on North Kight Drive.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting:

n Council toured the Troup County Senior Center’s new health and fitness building on Ragland Street;

n Council agreed to fund $10,000 to the Troup County Board of Health for its Senior Corps Program and its Foster Grandparent Program; and

n City Manger Tom Hall said because of the recent reduction of natural gas rates, there could be a $12.5 million drop this fiscal year of what residents pay to the city for gas compared to 2008. The average gas customer in the city would see a 40 percent reduction in monthly gas billing if natural gas rates remain the same.

Kenneth Thompson can be reached at kethompson@ lagrangenews.com or at (706) 616-3717.