Aug. 7 hearing planned for applicants to East County fire board

The East County Fire Protection District board of directors held a special meeting Thursday night so current member Pamela Allen could explain the circumstances surrounding the upcoming appointments to the two vacancies.

On Aug. 7, Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William L. Syler will preside over a hearing for applicants to the open positions on the fire board.

The hearing will be at 9 a.m. at the Cape Girardeau Common Pleas Courthouse, and anyone wishing to apply for consideration should send a letter explaining their qualifications to Syler's court by Aug. 1.

Allen said all board members must have been residents of the district for at least one year prior to appointment and be above age 25.

Once appointed to the board, all members must attend an introductory class offered by the Missouri Association of Fire Protection Districts.

The association is in Columbia, Mo., but offers day courses all over the state.

One member appointed to the board will be replacing someone whose term will expire in April 2009, so Allen explained election guidelines at the meeting.

Candidates can begin filing with either the county clerk or the board secretary Dec. 16, and Jan. 20 will be the last day.

Allen said she'd like to hold an election for both of the positions so taxpayers can have the opportunity to choose, but the new members of the board would need to consent to that.

Like most fire districts in Missouri, East County board members serve a term of six years, and those terms are staggered, so a new member is elected every two years.

One of the current vacancies has been empty since April 2007. The second opening was left when former chairman Gary Fornkahl resigned several weeks ago.

Allen said she doesn't know if Syler plans to make a ruling at the Aug. 7 hearing but knows he senses the urgency to fill the empty seats.

"I really expect that at the next meeting, there will be two other people sitting up here at this table," Allen said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 245