The clock continues to tick as Brookhaven aldermen appear to be taking a step backward on the road toward a ward line redistricting plan for the city.

     During an April work session in Jackson with planners who could map out line changes on a computer and show how each alteration impacted the overall redistricting picture, aldermen appeared to have agreed on a proposed plan for the city. The supposedly agreed-upon plan appeared to meet all population, racial makeup and other requirements.

     However, at this past Tuesday’s board meeting, aldermen opted to hold another work session to further discuss city redistricting. What specific questions or objections there may be haven’t been revealed, as board members were mum on their concerns.

     Whatever the issues are, aldermen would do well to address them quickly since the new city ward plan must be approved by the U.S. Department of Justice before the qualifying for next year’s city elections begins in January.

     The justice department may take 60 days to review the city’s submitted plan. If additional information is needed, the department could take another 60 days.

     That’s a four-month window that could be taken up during the approval process, meaning August would be the latest the board could submit a plan. And that timeframe leaves the possibility of potential candidates not knowing where new lines are and in which ward they could run for office.

     Another factor in the lingering issue is cost. The city’s consultant warned Tuesday that his agency may have to charge more for its services if the matter goes much further.

     If board members still have legitimate concerns, then they should be addressed.

     But that action needs to be done quickly. Tick tock.