MONROE - There's more to service on the Green County Board than one meeting every month.
County board members say they spend a lot of time at various county committees and in preparation before their meetings.
Every month the board gets together to discuss countywide issues. When a topic generates interest, people from the public might come to hear what supervisors say and to see how they vote.
Visitors from the public, once an issue is decided, are free to get up and leave.
That's not the case for the supervisors who have to stay for the entire meeting.
There are 30 supervisors on the Green County Board. One spot has remained open since Gary Keegan resigned his position late last year after he moved out of his district. His position will be filled in the April election.
There are more than 25 committees that require representation of county board members. Each of the supervisors serve on at least one committee.
Herb Hanson has been a county board supervisor since 1998. He said it's difficult to determine how much time he spends every month on county work.
Hanson serves on the Zoning, Pleasant View Nursing Home, Human Services and Personnel committees. There are also subcommittees such as the Long-term Support Committee.
It's easy for a committee meeting to last for at least an hour and half, he said. Some of the committees meet a couple times a month.
"It's more than just committee meetings," he said.
There are phone calls from constituents and plenty of reading to be familiar with the issues that come before the county board.
"People will call to tell you they agree with you or that you did something wrong, but you always want to talk to them," he said.
Supervisor Jeff Thomm, who serves on the Justice Center Committee, has been a board member since 2002. He estimated that he spends about 20 hours a week on county business. He said that estimate surprises people, but they don't understand all that goes into making important decisions that will affect counties residents for years.
The most time-consuming issue in the past couple of years has been the board's decision to build a justice center and move the court system from the downtown.
"We've spent a lot of time in meetings about the Courthouse and space needs," he said. "It was a long process."
Thomm also serves on the Property, Land Use and Zoning, and Conservation and Parks committees.
Richard Thoman, who was appointed to the board in October 2006, serves on the Green County Development Corporation Committee. His committee meetings can take up to four to five hours a month, he said.
"It's more work than I thought it would be," he said. "I didn't expect it to be an easy job, though."
County board members say they spend a lot of time at various county committees and in preparation before their meetings.
Every month the board gets together to discuss countywide issues. When a topic generates interest, people from the public might come to hear what supervisors say and to see how they vote.
Visitors from the public, once an issue is decided, are free to get up and leave.
That's not the case for the supervisors who have to stay for the entire meeting.
There are 30 supervisors on the Green County Board. One spot has remained open since Gary Keegan resigned his position late last year after he moved out of his district. His position will be filled in the April election.
There are more than 25 committees that require representation of county board members. Each of the supervisors serve on at least one committee.
Herb Hanson has been a county board supervisor since 1998. He said it's difficult to determine how much time he spends every month on county work.
Hanson serves on the Zoning, Pleasant View Nursing Home, Human Services and Personnel committees. There are also subcommittees such as the Long-term Support Committee.
It's easy for a committee meeting to last for at least an hour and half, he said. Some of the committees meet a couple times a month.
"It's more than just committee meetings," he said.
There are phone calls from constituents and plenty of reading to be familiar with the issues that come before the county board.
"People will call to tell you they agree with you or that you did something wrong, but you always want to talk to them," he said.
Supervisor Jeff Thomm, who serves on the Justice Center Committee, has been a board member since 2002. He estimated that he spends about 20 hours a week on county business. He said that estimate surprises people, but they don't understand all that goes into making important decisions that will affect counties residents for years.
The most time-consuming issue in the past couple of years has been the board's decision to build a justice center and move the court system from the downtown.
"We've spent a lot of time in meetings about the Courthouse and space needs," he said. "It was a long process."
Thomm also serves on the Property, Land Use and Zoning, and Conservation and Parks committees.
Richard Thoman, who was appointed to the board in October 2006, serves on the Green County Development Corporation Committee. His committee meetings can take up to four to five hours a month, he said.
"It's more work than I thought it would be," he said. "I didn't expect it to be an easy job, though."