Battle Creek Accepting Applications for Board Service Volunteers

The City of Battle Creek is accepting applications from residents who wish to volunteer to serve on various boards. Applications are due by Friday, January 13, 2017 and can be downloaded here. Applicants must be a resident of the City of Battle Creek.

Battle Creek City Manager Rebecca Fleury tells WBCK the city is seeking volunteers to fill positions on the following boards:

Planning Commission, which the city says "is responsible for planning the future growth of the community and reviewing specific development projects, including special use permits, zoning ordinance amendments, and property rezoning requests. Members must be representative of segments of the community such as agriculture, natural resources, recreation, education, and public health."

Zoning Board of Appeals, which "has authority to waive zoning ordinance requirements when an ordinance’s conditions or requirements create a hardship or difficulty for property owners to use their property."

Historic District Commission, which is charged with "reviewing applications and plans for the construction, alteration, repair, moving, or demolition affecting the exterior of a structure/property within a Local Historic District. State and local laws require one member to be an architect, if available, and a majority of members to have a clearly demonstrated interest in or knowledge of historic preservation."

Board of Appeals, which serves "to hear and decide on appeals concerning the application or interpretation of provisions and standards of the International Property Maintenance Code, the minimum maintenance requirements for existing buildings. It also hears appeals from decisions by the Dangerous Buildings Hearing Officer."

Click the player below to hear the city manager talk about how folks generally decide their interests in this area, as well as what kind of experience may or may not be necessary in order to volunteer.

Hear The Richard Piet Show weekday mornings from 5:30-9 on WBCK.