The Board of Harvey County Commissioners is requesting interested persons to apply for serving on citizen advisory boards. The citizen advisory boards provide important input for deciding policy. Applications for participation in the citizen advisory boards will be kept on file for a period of time, and the Board of Harvey County Commissioners will review this file to appoint a person each time an opening occurs on a particular board. Applications may be obtained at the County Clerk’s office or the County Administrator’s Office at the Harvey County Courthouse, or call 316-284-6806 to obtain an application. The following citizen advisory boards have appointments of citizens eligible from the general population, and may be of interest:
HARVEY COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
This board provides information and assistance to existing and prospective businesses, and promotes economic development. The Council meets every fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m., and three members are appointed by Harvey County to the board.
SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
This organization provides assistance and loans to businesses in a fourteen county region in South Central Kansas. The Board meets in Wichita at 3:00 p.m., on the fourth Thursday of each month. Harvey County appoints one person and an alternate to this board.
HARVEY COUNTY PARK ADVISORY BOARD
The board advises the County on planning and park policies at Harvey County East Park, West Park, and Camp Hawk. This 12-member board meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION
This seven member board advises the Board of Harvey County Commissioners about community mental health needs and issues. The board meets at 7:30 p.m., on the fourth Thursday of each month.
HARVEY COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
This nine-member board advises or decides issues of zoning, special uses, and variances in the unincorporated areas of Harvey County. The board meets at 7:00 p.m., on the first Tuesday of each month.
NEWTON CITY/COUNTY AVIATION COMMISSION
This seven member joint board with the City of Newton advises the Board of Harvey County Commissioners and the City of Newton Commissioners about airport planning, airport improvement projects and other aviation issues. The Aviation Commission meets at noon, on the third Monday of each month. (Meaning January, April, July, October)
HARVEY COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING
This eight member board advises the Board of Harvey County Commissioners on issues and needs of the elderly population and develops plans and programs to satisfy those needs. The Council on Aging meets at 9:00 a.m., on the second Thursday of each month or at specially scheduled meetings.
RETIRED SENIOR VOLUNTEER ADVISORY BOARD
This 15-member board assists and advises the County in providing meaningful activities for senior citizens as volunteers to non-profit agencies in Harvey County. The board meets at noon on the third Friday of each month.
If you have an interest in serving on one of these boards, please submit an application to the County Administrator’s Office at the Harvey County Courthouse or call 284-6806.
HARVEY COUNTY FOOD & FARM COUNCIL
The Harvey County Food & Farm Council is made up of 18 individuals who will 1) Improve access to locally grown, healthy foods; 2) Develop strategies in ensure community residents are able to obtain safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance; and 3) Provide a forum to bring together stakeholders from diverse food-related sectors for discussion and coordination for community wide efforts to improve access to local food, examine how food systems operate, and to develop solutions to improve it.