Editor, Gazette-Journal:

To be a board member of the planning commission or board of supervisors (and school board) is a very prestigious and respected position in this county and all are working much better together than a few years ago. They seem to actually like each other and share mutual respect. The pay, long hours, and time it takes talking and visiting their constituents to understand their problems—probably comes to about a $1 an hour or free.

Real estate decisions concerning locating a housing development where sewer and water services are provided and paid for by taxpayers and not making them hook up, allowing an industrial business on farmland, zoning Rural Conservation land to Business/Industrial, putting a mile long sewer line to a low-income housing area, and housing density decisions are all very important decisions they must face regarding the well-being of this county.

Within their tiny pay scale—they are faced every day with decisions that can make cit...