Pate resigns from WECRD; replacement sought

Western Elmore County Recreation District board member Dee Pate has resigned from the three-person board.

Pate, known for her energetic and comprehensive volunteer efforts in the community, has been suffering from ill health recently.

"For the past five years Dee has served on the WECRD board with distinction and integrity, but due to health reasons she has felt it necessary to offer her resignation," the WECRD said in a press release.

She follows Doug Belt, who resigned several months ago, leaving Mollie Marsh, the current district director, as the only original member of the WECRD board. Belt was replaced by Jana Borgholthaus.

Pate's position representing Sub-district One is being opened for applications for those wishing to serve on the board. Although each position on the board is an elected position, the work is done without pay. An election is not required to fill the remaining portion of any resigning board member's term.

According to the WECRD board's press release, it is establishing certain criteria for the applicants who would like to complete Pate's term of office, including "involvement with the WECRD," and "being supportive of the WECRD mission," which currently is focused on building a community center.

Although state law only requires that a person, to be eligible for the position, be a qualified elector in the sub-district in which the vacancy exists, the board is adding some additional criteria, including requiring that, to be considered, anyone seeking the open position be 21 years of age (rather than 18, the minimum age to be an elector in Idaho), that they be "knowledgeable of Idaho Recreation District purposes, be aware of the "fiduciary responsibility of public funds," and demonstrate "involvement in the community." They must also be able to "communicate (verbally and written)," have a "willingness to learn," and a "willingness to assume and execute WECRD tasks."

Applications and resumes need to be submitted to the WECRD office by 2 p.m. on March 19.

On Tuesday, March 17, the Blue Ribbon Support Group, formed to support the efforts of the Western Elmore County Recreation District (WECRD), will be hosting a potluck dinner at the Senior Center from 6-8 p.m.

Marsh will be the guest speaker for the group, and "will be updating the group about the progress of the recreation center. If time is allowed, Mrs. Marsh will take questions," according to a press release describing the event.

Those attending are being asked to bring a dish that would feed up to six persons. If your last name starts with A through K, those attending are being asked bring in a hot dish; L through S are being asked to bring a salad, and T-Z are being asked to provide a dessert.

All "supporters of the district" are being encouraged to attend.

Questions about the dinner can be directed to Beth Reed at 580-0888 or Teri Smith at 587-3292.

The group is named after the original Mayor's Blue Ribbon Committee that helped lead to the formation of the WECRD. Among its purposes is to provide support for the WECRD board, which has been under fire for nearly a year by some citizens who believe that the board's emphasis on developing a community center, the original purpose for which the WECRD was created, is not financially feasible and the tax dollars should be spent on other programs.