Wanted: A few good men and women ? fifty to be exact ? minus the four who have already stepped forward.
Robert Voegele, a Bolton Township resident, is one of those four. He was the second person to file for election to a township board.
“I served 16 years earlier,” he said. “It’s kind of stupid to go back on, huh?”
Each of the 25 townships in Cowley County need to elect a treasurer and a trustee in the November general election. The third township board officer ? the clerks ? aren’t up for election this year.
Voegele filed for treasurer but he’s thinking he might change and go for trustee instead. “I don’t really want to take care of the checkbook, that’s the main reason,” he said.
He’s estimating the budget is $125,000 annually. The money is raised through a mill levy determined by the township board. Most of the expense in Bolton Township is for the maintenance of township roads although two cemeteries are also kept up.
The board meets monthly and earns about $600 a year. Not many people show up for meetings ? if the board is doing what it’s meant to do.
“Sometimes, if you’re doing a good job, we’ll go two or three years we don’t see anybody,” Voegele said.
Rural representation for the rural communities is important, and as “grassroots” as you can get in America,” Voegele said.
“That’s what townships are – rural communities,” he said.
County Clerk and Election Officer Karen Brooks said the trustees usually focus on road maintenance while the treasurer keeps the books. The clerk records minutes of the meetings and handles other paperwork.
The township officers gather at the courthouse each summer when Brooks helps them work out the budget for the next year. As with any other public entity, the proposed budget is published and a public hearing held before the board takes a budget vote. The average pay is $50 a month per officer.
“None of them make very much – just minimal amounts,” Brooks said.
Traditionally, Windsor Township officers are elected with write-in votes.
“No one files,” Brooks said. “Obviously, they (write-ins) don’t have to accept. Then the county commission would appoint someone.”
Harold Bannon of Maple Township has the distinct honor of being the first to file for a township office this year. He was on the board six years ? off a few ? and on again for about a total of 12 years.
“It keeps me active,” he said. “It’s pretty well just basic local government, nothing to be too fond of. You just do your job.”
Like the Bolton Township board, his board meets monthly and looks after the county roads and three cemeteries. Each officer earns $60 monthly
“I’m the trustee and keep the road grader man busy, and give him advice on where we want him to work,” Bannon said.
Maple Township is located in the northwest corner of the county and borders both Butler and Sumner counties. Most township residents work and haven’t the time to serve on the township board, Bannon said.
“I’m retired. The other two board members are not retired, and it takes up some time,” he said. “It’s kind of a thankless job.”
The other two who recently filed are Jack Shelter who is running for Creswell Township trustee and Michael Reynolds who is running for Pleasant Valley Township trustee.
That just leaves 46 more offices to fill during the election. The filing deadline is noon June 10.