Volunteers sought for 3 Catoosa County boards
The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners is seeking volunteers for three panels focusing on issues including growth, property taxes and health care.
Catoosa County announced last week there are three vacancies on the county’s planning commission and one vacancy on its tax assessor board. The county is also looking to make an appointment to the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Region 1 planning board. Region 1 is made up of 31 counties, including Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Murray, Walker and Whitfield counties.
“Nobody comes in with a pedigree at tax assessor or zoning,” County Commissioner Chuck Harris said of the boards in a phone call. “So what we look for is people who are really plugged into the community and people who do a lot of things in the community — work to have a better Catoosa County.”
John Pless, county public information officer, said in a phone call there’s no deadline for applications, but commissioners would like to get the applications as soon as possible. Several applications have already been submitted, he said.
After the county clerk makes sure candidates meet the qualifications for the positions sought, their applications will be sent to the commissioners. Discussions about candidates and a vote by the board will take place at a County Commission meeting some time in January, Pless said.
Three members of the six-person planning commission are completing their three-year terms at the end of the year: Matt Farmer, Richard Johnson and Jerry Hawthorne. The four-year term of tax assessor board member Ben Scott expires at the end of the year as well.
Harris said the incumbents could ask to be reappointed, but he hasn’t seen any applications yet. Both boards meet monthly.
Planning commission members make recommendations about planning and hear zoning amendments,
Harris said. Members of the panel must be residents of Catoosa County, 18 years old and and a registered voter, according to a post on the county’s website. Preference is given to those with land-use planning or property transaction experience.
Though the County Commission makes the final decision on planning issues, Pless said commissioners want people who will be independent thinkers and do their due diligence.
Pless said the fiveperson tax assessor board assesses property value rates and hears appeals from property owners.
The post said the applicant must be at least 21 years old; a resident of Catoosa County within six months of being sworn in; hold a high school diploma or or its equivalent; and have appraisal-related work experience. Applicants without the work experience can still qualify by completing 40 hours of approved appraisal courses and pass an exam within a year of appointment.
“An individual who has held an equivalent responsible position of employment for a period of five years shall not be required to meet the high school education requirement,” the post said.
“This is the type of thing that would really be good for someone with some knowledge or background dealing with real estate type of issues,” Pless said.
Catoosa County is able to appoint one person to the regional board of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Region 1 planning board, Pless said.
Pless said the ideal applicant would have experience with people living with physical and mental behavioral health and development disabilities. The board member would advocate for people with those challenges, he said, overseeing the resources and support systems available for them in the region.
Harris said the health and disabilities board spot has been unfilled for a while because it requires driving to Calhoun, Georgia, for the board’s monthly meetings.
Service on those boards is good experience in public service, Pless said, and in some of the county’s cities, service on local boards had preceded service in elected positions.
Applicants can send their resume to Melissa Hannah, county clerk, by email at commissioners@ catoosa.com or mail at Board of Commissioners, 800 LaFayette St., Ringgold, GA 30736. Applicants may be asked for an interview as part of the appointment process.