Jaime Koerner

    He said in a letter to the Seward County commissioners board that he hopes he's given as much as he's received.
     Seward County Commissioner Ron Minchow resigned from the board for health reasons Aug. 7, making his last day Friday, Aug. 31, in order to stay long enough to help the board finish the 2008 budget.
     "You don't take [the position of a commissioner] as a job," Minchow said in an interview Aug. 24. "You take the position to give back."
     Minchow said that he has enjoyed his seven years as commissioner, but is sad to leave the board.
     "I wish things would have worked out differently, but it is advisable for me to cut back on my hours," Minchow said.
     Minchow said that he decided to run for commissioner because of two reasons – the suggestion from a community member and retiring from IBM left him with more free time.
     He said that his persistence to give back to the community, which has always been important to Minchow, was greatly supported by his family.
     "I have a great family who supports everything I do," Minchow said. "My wife, Susan, four kids and 11 grandchildren. They are my stabilizing force, help to keep me on the straight and narrow and keep me wanting to do good things."
     Public service is important to help run a successful community, Minchow said.
     "Seward County is a great place where people volunteer," Minchow said. "It has great people who tend to step up and give their time and you need that. There is not enough money to run [many] organizations if you don't have volunteers."
     Community members need to step up, he said, in running and choosing a new commissioner that will fill the open position on the board. The position covers district four and includes precincts A, B, C, D, H, I and P, which is the areas of Staplehurst, Bee, Garland and Pleasant Dale.
     He said that working as a commissioner is a fulfilling role, but requires time not only at the Tuesday commissioners' meetings, but sitting on other boards, doing research, attending meetings and talking with and being available to community members.
     "You have to be willing to put the time in to understand what can benefit your community," Minchow said. "That means you have to be willing to read and research and be smart enough to know when you don't know."
     He said then, as a commissioner, you have to ask questions, be a student and be willing to do new things.
     When a board is balanced between different areas of expertise, it is helpful, Minchow said, but not a requirement.
     "Everyone comes to the board with different backgrounds," Minchow said. "It is not what you know, it is what you are willing to learn."
     Minchow said that during commissioners' meetings, open debate between all commissioners can be beneficial because it helps to derive more sound conclusions to issues that are brought to the board.
     "No one has the corner on knowledge," Minchow said. "You don't know until you speak up, but it does need to be done in a factual point of view and not an emotional point of view."
     Minchow said he spends about 16 hours per week working as a commissioner, but that can vary especially during budget season. He said commissioners receive phone calls at home, good and bad, and that is a part of the job.
     "It really comes down to do you have the desire to [be a commissioner]," Minchow said.
     County Attorney Wendy Elston said that Minchow's position must be filled within 45 days after his final day, and the county attorney, treasurer and clerk will hold a public hearing to receive applications and hear comments from the public.