City of Benson needs volunteers

A few good citizens willing to give as little as one hour a month to make the City of Benson a better place to live and work, ensure its economic vitality, and make it a more attractive community are being sought.  They are needed to fill vacancies on the city’s boards and commissions, vacancies that in some case have existed for months.

Benson’s boards and commissions keep an eye on a wide variety of city operations, taking citizen input and making recommendations for improvements to the city council.  For the five-member Benson City Council to keep on top of all that is going on in the community and all that needs to be done, and how it should be done, is a daunting task.

Yes, it does have a staff of professionals that oversee the day-to-day operations of the city headed by City Manager Robert Wolfington. But that staff doesn’t have the time or authority to make all the decisions necessary to keep the community growing, operating efficiently, and continually improving.

That is why the city council and the administration rely on the input of the people in the community willing to advise it on everything from economic development, to the parks, to the cemetery, to the airport, to general city planning. But over the years, it seems as if it has been harder and harder to get people to volunteer their time.

Currently, there are four city boards or commissions short members. In all, nine volunteers are needed.