County seeks members for 11 boards

SEBRING --

No need to ask Fred Arbelo if he enjoys being on the Veterans Services Advisory Board, or if he's dedicated to serving veterans.

Ask him one question, and Arbelo, an ex-Marine who's also the local commander of the Order of the Purple Heart, will give a monologue for minutes. In fact, he offered his phone number (it's 465-7074) to any veteran with a problem.

The veterans board on which Arbelo serves meets once a month, and it advises the local veterans service office.

"We meet once a month, and we talk about how we can help veterans," Arbelo said.

The county has 34 such boards. Some have the power to act on their own or resolve disputes; some only advise the county commission.

"The efficient operation of government is dependent upon the input of citizens on committees, boards and commissions," said an e-mail from county information director Gloria Rybinski. "We look for highly qualified individuals who represent a diverse cross-section of our community."

Arcane boards

Some panels are infrequently employed, like the Dangerous Dog Hearing Board.

"Just when there's a need," said Dr. Bill Jernigan, a local veterinarian. "I think we've only met maybe twice in the past 10 or 12 years."

Nevertheless, when a dog bites someone, or neighbors are afraid, the canine owner and the pet cops can go before the board, which acts.

"Sometimes the local animal control officials aren't empowered to deal with the problem themselves," Jernigan said. "Sometimes we're there to give backing what county needs to do."

Highlands County doesn't have an animal problem, he reminded. "It has a people problem. People who lack responsibility."

Jernigan brings up the point that board members may need to fill out state-mandated disclosure forms.

"The open records law sometimes leads to disadvantages," he said. Newspapers rarely ask for that information, but it is a public record, he pointed out.

Essential boards

Two imperative boards are the Long Range Transportation Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The transportation committee has the cool job of looking 25 years into the future, pointing to a map where housing and developments are planned, and saying, "We're going to need a road here." That's how roads like Sebring Parkway get built.

"It's really important too," said Don Hanna, a planner who assists the committee. "We've had many real-life experiences where we wind up paying six, 10, 12 times what we should have, if we had only thought ahead a little bit."

P&Z - two members short after John Tallent resigned - is a state-mandated board.

"They also fill the role of the board of zoning appeals," Hanna said. "They're the final word. The next step is the circuit court."

Most boards meet once or twice a month, usually on the same weekday. The boards usually need every member to attend every meeting, since 3-2 votes on controversial matters aren't unusual.

Gratifying boards

Arbelo, who was the sergeant of a Korean War rifle company, is satisfied that the Veterans Services Advisory Board makes a difference to the 20,000 vets in Highlands County.

For instance, they pushed for a new veterans services office in Highlands County. Last year, they won the federal grant and got it built.

"You've got to be willing to go out there to help veterans, to find them," Arbelo said. "There are a lot of veterans with a lot of pride, and they don't want to be asking for help."

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at 863-386-5828 or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com

Want to be a member?

The Highlands County Commissioners have announced vacancies on these committees.

Applications are available at the Government Center, second floor, 600 S. Commerce Ave. Sebring, or at www.hcbcc.net

Children's Services Council

Construction Licensing, Enforcement and Appeals Board

Dangerous Dog Hearing Board

Fire Safety Board of Appeals

Highlands County Health Facilities

Hospital District Board

Istokpoga Marsh Watershed Improvement District Advisory Committee

Long Range Transportation Committee