County searching for volunteers

Colusa County is looking for and is in need of a few good men — and women.

The county's April ordinance that created community advisory committees to relay information to the board of supervisors has gotten few interested takers, according to local officials.

"The county really needs people to volunteer," said Supervisor Denise Carter. "Citizens have a vested interest in this community."

The ordinance created advisory committees to represent the unincorporated areas of Arbuckle, Grimes, Princeton, Stonyford, and Maxwell, the area surrounding Colusa and Williams and other communities as the board designates.

Carter said the committees would serve as a forum for gathering and communicating community input to the board.

"Volunteers are needed more now during tough budget years than ever before," Carter said.

Carter said the committees would make non-biding recommendations and issue reports reflecting community sentiment on matters of interest to the board, the county planning commission, departments and other entities as needed.

"The committee serves in an advisory capacity only," Carter said.

Carter said the county wants to start with just five members on each committee, but may increase the number if interest escalates. One member from each committee will also sit on the General Plan advisory committee.

Members must be registered voters in the area they represent.

Carter said interest in serving on committees and elected district boards has waned in recent years, leaving supervisors at a loss for advisors.

"People are busy," Carter said, "but we really need folks to step up."

The Nov. 3 ballot will reflect 13 unchallenged seats on various Colusa County boards, including Stonyford Recreation and Park District, Colusa County Water District, parks and public utility districts in Arbuckle, Maxwell Irrigation District, Westside Water District and Colusa Basin Drainage District.

Five other boards have no candidates, leaving it up to the supervisors to make appointments.

Open boards are Bear Valley-Indian Valley Fire District, Glenn Valley Water District, Holhouse Water District, LaGrande Water District and Maxwell Recreation and Park District.

"We have to go out and find people first," Carter said. "Then we can make the appointments."

Colusa officials are also asking the public to serve as volunteers.

The Colusa City Council wants to implement a new "Volunteers for Colusa" program, according to City Manager Jan McClintock.

The program will provide a means for members of the community to help improve the city, McClintock said. Projects could include anything from weeding and fund raising to graffiti removal and filing documents. The city is also looking for volunteers to form a neighborhood watch.

McClintock said the idea for the new program grew out of the graffiti patrol that community volunteers ran for several years.

"I've heard so much about the great work they did that I'm excited to see what could happen if the program was expanded," McClintock said in a news release. "The City of Colusa already has a great spirit of volunteerism with groups such as the volunteer firefighters, Rotary, Lions, Soroptimists and numerous churches."

Both county and city officials say when the economy and state budget challenges create significant revenue shortfalls for all local governments, governments begin looking towards community volunteers as an alternative to seeking tax increases.

"The city of Colusa is no exception," McClintock said. "Americans have always been a giving people. The city is hoping that more of that giving spirit can be directed towards maintaining and improving the city."

The city's organizational meeting for volunteers will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at city hall. The county has extended its deadline for appointing advisory committee members to September.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.

Volunteers needed

WHAT: Community Advisory Committee
APPLICATION: Colusa County Board of Supervisors, 547 Market St., Colusa.
ONLINE: www.colusacountyclerk.com/board of supervisors
CONTACT: 458-0508 or dcarter@countyofcolusa.org
WHAT: Volunteers for Colusa Program
APPLICATIONS: 425 Webster St., Colusa
CONTACT: 458-4740, ext. 106
MEETING: 6 P.M. Thursday, Colusa City Hall, 425 Webster St.