COUNTY SEEKING APPLICATIONS FOR INTIAL SENIOR SERVICES BOARD

JACKSON - Cape Girardeau County citizens interested in serving on the Senior Services Board that will determine how to spend a 5-cent property tax levy for senior citizen programs should submit a letter of application, Presiding Commissioner Gene Huckstep said Monday.

Only eight applications had been received as of Monday and Huckstep said the commission would like to have at least 20 names to choose from in appointing its seven-member board.

"We're not in any rush to get a board named because they don't have to function until this fall, but we want to get enough applicants to insure we have a cross section of the county represented," explained Huckstep.

"We just want some good, solid taxpaying citizens that will recommend wisely how to spend these dollars."

The new tax, approved by voters April 2, will be collected when 1991 tax bills are mailed late in the fall. About $220,000 will be collected from the tax levy each year.

State law requires the commission to appoint a board to recommend what agencies to distribute the funds to; however, the county commission has the final say on how to spend the funds.

Huckstep said the County Commission does not want to get in the position of vetoing decisions by the board; instead, it wants to appoint a quality board that will see that the funds are properly distributed.

Anyone interested in serving on the board should send a letter of application to the commission with several paragraphs on why they want to serve and any background information they feel is relevant. Huckstep said applicants can include resumes.

He said it is not necessary for the letters to be typed, but the commissioners want some indication in writing that a person is interested.

Applications should be mailed to Cape County Commission, Administration Building, 1 Barton Square, Jackson, Mo. 63755. The board will likely be appointed in June.