For people who would like to take part in public policy decisions but have no desire to run for elected office, serving on a county board can be a way to make a valuable contribution while helping steer Rowan’s course on issues ranging from fire safety to tourism.
You don’t have to set up a campaign committee, kiss a lot of babies or canvass the county looking for votes. You do have to volunteer some time and effort to work in collaboration with other board members who usually get little public recognition for their efforts.
Currently, the county has more than 20 vacancies on eight boards. They are: County Planning Board, Adult Care Home Advisory Committee, Criminal Justice Crime Prevention Council, Rowan County Landmarks Commission, Nursing Home Advisory Committee and the Public Library Board. As you can see, county boards cover a range of issues. If you’re not interested in serving on any of those, the county has additional panels that pertain to Social Services, housing, transportation and economic development, as well as other areas.
Because of a chronic shortage of applicants, county officials often have trouble filling board vacancies. The Planning Board, for instance, has already been reduced from 11 to nine members, and commissioners may contemplate another cut if more applicants don’t surface. That’s one solution, but not the ideal one. Small boards may operate more efficiently, but that also means that fewer perspectives are being represented.
If you have an interest in serving on one of these boards, county officials would love to hear from you.
For more information about serving on a county board, visit Rowan County’s Web site www.co.rowan.nc.us (click on “Commission”) or call 704-216-8180.