Letter to Editor: Responses to Boards

We recieved three letters regarding the article on supervisory boards.

To the Editor:

 

Public oversight Boards are formed to oversee primarily governmental and non-profit organizations. Their charge is to make sure everything is done correctly within the organization their board is affiliated with. The problem is getting local citizens to serve on these Boards, especially females. Who wants to have something else to worry about, meetings to attend and with little or no compensation? School Boards are radically different. In small rural communities it is worst. Most folks already have some duties associated their church. Most just don’t have time. Who is really concerned about how a fire department or sewer district works as long as the house doesn’t burn down and you toilet flushes. Who wants to make the decision about ordinances, variances, cemetery plots or a medical facility? I would like to believe that here are many people who have a sincere desire to give back to the community fairly but they are few and far between.
 

My following statements are only directed at a few individuals in our area and not toward Boards in general who with a strong Chairman do a good job. Some Board members come with their own agenda and have no business being there. Things like personal conflicts with employees, personal philosophies on growth, serving because someone talked them into it but above all lack of creditable information about the organization are some of the reasons Boards fail. Unfortunately being on a Board gives some individuals a “sense of power” over the organization and the rest of us. It is human nature. Board member jobs are thankless and luckily the vast majority of our people are great. Unfortunately, they are sometimes intimidated by other aggressive members who act like they know it all but rarely do.
 

I believe accurate reporting and public information is the best way to maintain good Boards. I would suggest that the RCT acquaint the public with all the Boards as a series. Who is on them, how long have they served and why are they there? It doesn’t have to be long but there should be an individual picture of each board member along with the information so if you want to talk to them later you can. Links or contacts for all the public meeting minutes should be provided so one can actually see what went on.
 

The most important thing is if you know someone who is on a Board, thank them for all their hard work for the rest of us. Apply for vacancies if you have the time and desire to learn something new. This is the way our government works. 

 

Bnryce Neilson

 

 

To the Editor:

 

While regulation or oversight has its good sides, there are also many drawbacks, namely big brother whether federal, state , county or local likes to get his nose in everything.

 

It usually starts out with simple intention but quickly ends up with job justification and individuals seeing the need to regulate the way they see it should operate instead of overseer with no authority to regulate. I see the federal government moving this way big time and individual rights are being erroded. That is my two cents on this idea.

 

Lynn Davis


To The Editor:                                                        
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                            
Subject: How to monitor the Boards
From: James Wise

Conversation: How to monitor the Boards
You at RCT are on the right track by raising the issue---I know it is difficult in a small town to not make enemies by “telling it as it is”, but the press has been doing just that for years---The Boards should realize beforehand that the press is going to report the personal agendas of the few that transgress---These Boards all exist because some government entity (City or County) created them---These creators are elected, and step #1 is to insure that these elected officials all subscribe to RCT---Then when they read of the unvarnished facts reported by RCT, they will pay attention, and maybe even remove the bad apples---Keep up the good reporting and you will even surprise yourself at how quickly the personal agendas disappear, especially when names of the bad apples appear in print--- Jim Wise---and you can use my name !!!