If you’ve been thinking about having a hand in local government, now is your chance.
Several county boards have open seats that need to be filled, from the plan commission and drainage board, to the hospital board of trustees and board of health, to seven different fire protection boards and more.
Applications for all positions are due to the county commissioners by Dec. 7. The three-member board of commissioners will review the applications and appoint members for 1- to 4-year terms.
Some of the posts come with small monthly stipends.
Some positions require that you have expertise in a certain field. Some require that you’re a member of a certain political party. Others simply require that you live in Johnson County.
The boards tackle a variety of tasks.
For example, the plan commission reviews development proposals, such as subdivisions and rezoning requests, and conducts comprehensive land use planning for the county.
The drainage board reviews and approves the construction, maintenance and reconstruction of regulated drains throughout the county.
Johnson Memorial Health’s board of trustees make decisions regarding hospital administration, including its budget, and all of the network’s satellite offices.
Members of the Board of Health, which oversees the county’s health needs and develops policies and programs designed to promote public health, must also be members of the Democratic Party and a medical professional, social worker, attorney that focuses on health matters, a school superintendent, an engineer or an environmental scientist.
Here is a list of boards with open seats and the requirements:
Plan commission. Interested individuals must be a resident of or own real property in an unincorporated area of the county and be a member of the Republican Party.
Drainage board. You must be a resident of the county and be knowledgeable in drainage matters.
Town of Edinburgh buffer zone plan commission. You must live in the buffer zone.
Alcohol beverage commission board. You must have lived in Johnson County for at least five years, be at least 21 years old and never been convicted of a felony.
Board of health. Potential candidates must be a resident of Johnson County, a member of the Democratic Party and one of the following: registered nurse, registered pharmacist, licensed dentist, hospital administrator, social worker, attorney with expertise in health matters, school superintendent, professional engineer or environmental scientist.
Johnson County Public Library. You must live in the district for at least two years immediately preceding your appointment to the board.
The following boards have no requirements beyond being a resident of the county.
Convention, tourism and visitor board.
Community corrections advisory board.
Johnson Memorial board of trustees.
Jail building corporation.
Property tax assessment board of appeals.
For the following fire protection boards, members must live within that fire protection district. In some cases, additional residency requirements apply. For all the boards, interested residents should have some knowledge or experience in fire protection.
White River fire protection board. Potential members must also live in the city of Greenwood.
Nineveh fire protection board.
Hensley fire protection board. Potential board members must also live in the town of Trafalgar.
Needham fire protection district. You must also live in Franklin Township.
Bargersville fire protection board. You must also live in White River Township.
Amity fire protection board. Interested candidates must also live in Franklin Township.
Whiteland fire protection board. You must also live in the town of Whiteland.
To apply for an open seat, visit www.co.johnson.in.us to download the Board Appointment Interest Form. Complete the form and email it to [email protected] by Dec. 7.
